Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial

Tuesday Nights at the Iwo Jima Memorial

On summer Tuesday evenings, the Marines put on a free 45-minute performance at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, and it's one of those DC-area traditions that visiting relatives rave about and locals somehow never get around to. The Sunset Parade features The Commandant's Own, the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, followed by the Silent Drill Platoon, who spin and toss 10-pound rifles with fixed bayonets in total silence and perfect unison. Kids go quiet watching it. So do adults. The parades run Tuesdays at 7pm through August 11, so there are only a few chances left this summer.

It's free with no tickets or reservations, and the setting does half the work: you're on a grassy hill next to the massive Iwo Jima statue, with the Washington Monument and Capitol dome lined up across the river behind it as the sun drops. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic dinner, and get there 30 to 45 minutes early for a spot with a clear view. Between the music, the drill, and the monuments turning gold in the background, it's the best free show in Arlington.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Arrive by 6:15-6:30. The hillside spots with a straight view of the drill area and the monuments behind it go first.
• ✓Pack a picnic dinner. Eating on the lawn while the sun drops is the move. There's no food sold on site.
• ✓Bring something to sit on. It's all grass. A blanket beats standing for 45 minutes with a toddler on your shoulders.
• ✓Prep the kids for the silence. The Silent Drill Platoon performs without commands. Kids who know to listen for the rifle slaps get chills.
• ✓Check the Marine Barracks site before heading out. Weather cancellations are announced there and on their socials.