How to Watch the 2025 Military Parade Live Today: Start Time, Free Streams & TV Channels

Washington, D.C., is staging one of the largest U-S military parades in decades today, marking the Army’s 250th birthday—and millions are asking the same question: how do you watch it live? Below is a consolidated viewing guide with start times, streaming links, TV channels, and on-the-ground tips so you never miss a fly-over or tank rumble. When and where • Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 • Kickoff: Pre-show begins 5:45 p.m. ET; main procession steps off at 6:30 p.m. ET and runs roughly two hours. • Route: The parade forms near the U.S. Capitol, rolls west along Constitution Avenue, swings around the Ellipse, and finishes at the Lincoln Memorial. Large-screen viewing zones line the Mall between 4th and 14th streets. Official livestreams (free, no login) 1. U.S. Army YouTube channel – 4K feed with multiple camera angles and descriptive audio. 2. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) – ad-free, global access. 3. C-SPAN.org – raw pool cameras plus sign-language interpretation. 4. PBS NewsHour website and YouTube – anchored coverage with historical context. Cable and broadcast TV • CNN, Fox News, and NewsNation carry the entire procession live. • C-SPAN broadcasts commercial-free. • Select CBS and ABC affiliates will cut in during peak moments; check local listings. • Unlike July-Fourth fireworks, the parade will not air on the big-three network primetime schedules, so set DVRs manually if you rely on antenna feeds. How to watch without cable • YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, and DirecTV Stream all include CNN and Fox News in free trials—perfect for a one-day watch-along. • Pluto TV and The Roku Channel will mirror C-SPAN’s coverage at zero cost. • If you prefer mobile-only viewing, download the free C-SPAN Now or PBS apps and select “Live TV.” On-site tips for parade-goers • Security gates open at noon; expect airport-style screening. • Best vantage points: the National Archives steps (elevated view) and the WWII Memorial (head-on armor shots). • Pack water in clear plastic bottles; coolers and folding chairs are prohibited after 4 p.m. • Metro’s Smithsonian and Archives-Navy Memorial stations remain open but may close temporarily for crowd control—plan an alternate exit at L’Enfant Plaza. What you’ll see Over 3,000 troops, 160 armored vehicles, 60 aircraft, and military working dog teams will march or roll, capped by a 21-gun salute near the Reflecting Pool. Expect vintage Sherman tanks, M1A2 Abrams, the Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and a closing fly-over featuring the F-35, Apache helicopters, and the Golden Knights parachute team. Social and second-screen extras • Follow #Army250Parade and #MilitaryParadeLive on X (Twitter) for real-time route updates and behind-the-scenes photos. • TikTok creators embedded with marching units will post short-form clips; search “Army Parade 2025” in-app. • Instagram Stories from the National Park Service provide crowd-density heat maps to help spectators relocate if sections fill up. Quick troubleshooting Buffering? Drop your stream to 720p or switch from Wi-Fi to cellular LTE where networks are less congested. VPN users may need to select a U.S. exit node to dodge geo-blocks on DVIDS. If you lose the livestream altogether, C-SPAN’s audio-only feed rarely fails and keeps you synced until video returns. With multiple free livestreams, broad cable coverage, and easy no-cable workarounds, catching every moment of today’s historic military parade is simpler than ever. Bookmark a feed, charge your devices, and enjoy the sights and sounds of 250 years of Army history rolling down the National Mall tonight.