Armored tanks, combat aircraft and soldiers dressed in historical garb will be in the spotlight Saturday as part of the Army’s 250th anniversary celebration in the nation’s capital.
The Secret Service anticipates “hundreds of thousands” of parade spectators along the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the Ellipse just south of the White House.
Black Hawk, Chinook and Apache helicopters will fly over the parade route along Constitution Avenue Northwest.
The parade will include Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. More than 6,000 soldiers will march in historic and modern uniforms before the Army Golden Knights present a parachute routine.
The celebration also includes an all-day festival, concert and a fireworks show. The event coincides with Flag Day and President Trump’s 79th birthday.
“We will celebrate a spectacular military parade in Washington, D.C., like no other,” Mr. Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social last week. “It’s going to be better and bigger than any parade we’ve ever had in this country.”
Federal organizers said security will be tight.
Matt McCool, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service Washington field office, said 18 miles of “anti-scale” fencing will surround the festival and parade grounds.
Those attending must go through security checkpoints with 175 magnetometers. Drones overhead will monitor the crowds.
Officials said they are prepared for protests around the celebration site.
Demonstrations against deportations and other Trump policies are expected to include a march to the White House.
Authorities said they would watch for any skirmishes between police and protesters.
Los Angeles has endured riots over the past week as agitators spar with police over illegal immigration raids in the city. Similar protests have spread across the country, and hundreds of demonstrators have been arrested in confrontations with officers.
“We’re paying attention, obviously, to what is happening there. We’ll be ready,” Mr. McCool said. “We have a robust plan for civil disobedience.”
Agent Phillip Bates said the FBI had received “no credible threats.”
The U.S. Park Police and the Metropolitan Police Department said every officer would be on duty.
The parade has been declared a national special security event on par with a presidential inauguration or state funeral.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith warned of traffic disruptions because of extensive road closures downtown.
All roads around the National Mall from 23rd to 14th streets Northwest will be closed through the weekend, as will be all roads north of Constitution Avenue Northwest to E Street Northwest. Parts of Madison and Jefferson drives just east of 14th Street Northwest also will be closed.
Since Wednesday, the Office of Personnel Management has recommended that federal agencies allow employees to work remotely to accommodate the changes in traffic patterns.
Chief Smith urged attendees to use public transit where possible. With the Smithsonian Metro Station closed, people are encouraged to use the L’Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle stations instead.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she would seek federal funding to repair road damage expected from the 60-ton Abrams tanks and other vehicles.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the celebration will cost $25 million to $40 million, depending on the damage to pavement caused by the Paladins, a self-propelled howitzer that looks like a tank, and Strykers, an armed troop transport vehicle with eight large wheels.
Col. Jesse Curry, director of the Army Office of the Chief of Engineers, said metal plates were laid where heavy equipment was most likely to cause trouble.
“Primarily, it is metal plating that’s being put down to address those areas where tanks have to steer sharply and we get a little bit of grinding reaction from between those tracks,” Col. Curry said this week. “Throughout the straightaways, we really have very little or no concerns about there being any other damage.”
The festival will open at 11 a.m., and the parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. Once the parade finishes at 7:30 p.m., a concert will be held on the Mall until the fireworks show starts at 9:45 p.m.
