frequently asked questions
Q – Do I need a reservation to attend a Friday Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.?
A - Guaranteed seating for the Evening Parade requires a reservation. Parade reservations must be requested online by accessing the Parade Schedule & Reservations tab. General Admission begins at 8 p.m.
Telephonic and faxed reservations will not be accepted.
For guests with reservations, gates open at 7 p.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Q – Do I need a reservation to attend a Tuesday Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial?
A – No. Reservations are not required to attend the “Sunset Parades” at the Marine Corps War Memorial. It is open seating, you can also bring lawn chairs to this event.
Q - I made my parade reservation request on the website, but have not received my confirmation e-Ticket.
A - If you have made Evening Parade reservations online, and did not receive an email response by two weeks prior to the dates requested, please check your spam and junk mail folders. If you still do not have the email response, please contact the Marine Barracks Washington Protocol Office for confirmation and any additional information. (202) 433-4073
Q – The date(s) I am looking to attend are not published on your website.
A – If the date(s) you are looking for are NOT published on our reservation website that means those date(s) are not available. There is either no parade scheduled for that day or that particular parade has already reached maximum capacity.
Q – I have a large group that I would like to bring to the parade.
A – For groups with 7 or more guests, (max is 200 per organization), you will need to send a group reservation form to: M_MBW_PROTOCOL@usmc.mil.
Telephonic and faxed reservations will not be accepted.
The request should include the name of the party (either group or individual); the number of guests in the party; a return email address; and a point of contact with a telephone number. An alternate parade date should be included in the request in case the first date requested is unavailable.
Q – Where do I park?
A – For a flat rate of $10, guests attending the parade may park at Maritime Plaza. Shuttle service will run from Maritime Plaza to Marine Barracks Washington from 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Shuttle service returning to Maritime Plaza will run from 9:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Additionally, metered parking is available in southeast D.C. near the barracks. MBW encourages the use of public transportation (Uber, Lyft, taxis, and metro) for guests attending the Friday Evening Parades.
Q – Can I bring in food and drinks to parade venue?
A – No food or beverages are permitted with the exception of water and baby food/bottles
Q – What is your policy on wearing concealed weapons?
A – No weapons of any kind, including knives are allowed inside the Barracks. As a security precaution, all guests entering the Barracks pass through magnetic detection devices.
Q – What is your policy on service animals?
A – Military Working Dogs (MWD) are used to screen guests during parades, service animals must be kept on a leash at all times and cannot interfere with the MWDs. Service animals must be identified as service animals. NOTE: At various parades during the year, we fire live cannon shots, this may startle some service animals, so ensure to bring appropriate hearing protection.
Q – Do you have lodging facilities aboard Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.?
A – No, we do not have any lodging facilities on Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. There are many lodging facilities/hotels near and around Marine Barracks Washington.
Q – Do I need identification to enter Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.?
A – Yes, all visitors are required to provide proper identification along with your E-confirmation ticket request (if you made a reservation online).