Tuesday Sunset Parade
Established in 1801, Marine Barracks Washington, is the "Oldest Post of the Corps" and has been the residence of every commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806. The selection of the site for the Barracks was a matter of personal interest to President Thomas Jefferson, who rode through Washington with Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in search of a suitable location. The site now occupied was approved due to its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and because it was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.
Marine Barracks, 8th & I
Washington, D.C.

Attendance at this parade is a one-of-a-kind experience. For more than 60 years, the "Oldest Post of the Corps" has displayed the pride, professionalism, and esprit de corps of Marines throughout the world. The Tuesday Sunset Parade is a 45-minute performance at the Marine Corps War Memorial or Lincoln Memorial featuring "The Commandant's Own" United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the esteemed United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

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June 18, 2024
 

July 9, 2024
 

August 6, 2024
 

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July 30, 2024
 

 

 

 

 

 

Marine Corps War Memorial

Address
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
Arlington, VA 22209

Parking
There is limited visitor parking available at the memorial grounds on parade evenings on a first come, first serve basis.
Bus parking is available on the south side of the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Handicapped parking is available on site.

Public Transportation

Public Transportation is the best option for reaching the Marine Corps War Memorial easily and conveniently. There are many options to reach us via Washington, DC's Subway system known as Metro, or bicycle via Capital Bikeshare. The National Mall Circulator Loop bus will provide easy access around the National Mall and convenient connections to other Circulator buses for visits to uptown sites. Trains including AmtrakMARC, and VRE service Union Station and/or L'Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.

Lincoln Memorial

Address
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
Washington, D.C.

Parking
There is limited visitor parking available surrounding the memorial grounds. General visitor parking is available along Ohio Drive, SW between the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials.
Bus parking is available primarily along Ohio Drive, SW near the Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials and along Ohio Drive, SW in East Potomac Park.
Handicapped parking is located on the south side of the Lincoln Memorial.

Public Transportation

Public Transportation is the best option for reaching National Mall and Memorial Park sites easily and conveniently. There are many options to reach us via Washington, DC's Subway system known as Metro, or bicycle via Capital Bikeshare. The National Mall Circulator Loop bus will provide easy access around the National Mall and convenient connections to other Circulator buses for visits to uptown sites. Trains including AmtrakMARC, and VRE service Union Station and/or L'Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.

Marine Corps War Memorial

Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the parade from the lawns surrounding the Memorial.

Seating in the reviewing area may be open to the general public after the official party is seated but is not guaranteed. 
Please wait for a Hosting Marine to invite the general public into the reviewing area.

Lincoln Memorial

Seating on the Lincoln Memorial steps is available on a first come, first served basis. Seating in the reviewing area may be open to the general public after the official party is seated but is not guaranteed. Please wait for a Hosting Marine to invite the general public into the reviewing area. 

On November 10, 1954, the 179th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, a bronze monument modeled after the famous photo of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, was unveiled at the Arlington National Cemetery. President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial to all Marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice during wars in our nation's history. 

Since September 1956, marching and musical units from Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., have been paying tribute to those whose "uncommon valor was a common virtue" by presenting Sunset Parades in the shadow of the 32-foot-high figures of the United States Marine Corps War Memorial. 

Weather Cancellations

In the event of inclement weather, our standard procedure is to plan to proceed as scheduled, unless  weather conditions pose a safety risk to our guests or Marines. In such cases, we prioritize safety above all else. The decision to postpone or cancel parades is not taken lightly, and is typically delayed until as close to the scheduled time as feasible, to provide the most precise and up-to-date weather evaluation. For the latest information regarding the impact of weather on Marine Barracks Washington ceremonies, please refer to our official Facebook or Instagram pages.  

Marine Barracks Facebook
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Tuesday Sunset Parade

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Barracks Washington perform the sunset parade at the United States Marine Corps War Memorial.

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Tuesday Sunset Parade

Marines with Marine Barracks Washington march into formation during a Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, Va., June 28, 2022....