Update 2025-06-03: We are aware that the Coast Guard website currently only shows the restriction going into Place on Saturday June 14. However, we were just called by the Coast Guard, who indicated that indeed the river would be closing Friday June 13 as well starting at 2 PM. They also indicated that they expect many changes from the Secret Service between now and the event time. As we become aware of these changes, we will update the article.
This year marks the 250 anniversary of the US Army, and they are putting on a massive parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, ending in a fireworks show. Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t be able to see it from the boat. The US Coast Guard and Secret Service has decided to enact a Security Zone during the event which basically includes the entire river from the Key Bridge and the Sousa Bridge, all the way down to the Wilson Bridge. Yes, this includes Alexandria.
According to the latest information from USCG (we just got off the phone with them), the regulations for Security Zone 6, in 33 CFR 165.508, will be enforced from 2PM on June 13 until 10PM on June 14, 2025. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining in this large zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region. Public vessels and vessels already at berth at the time the security zone is implemented do not have to depart the security zone. All vessels underway within the security zone at the time it is implemented are to depart the zone at the time the security zone is implemented. Vessels at anchor will also have to depart the zone.
To seek permission to transit the zone (good luck with that!), the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region can be contacted at telephone number (410) 576-2693 or on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). Coast Guard vessels enforcing this zone can be contacted on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz).
This info is subject to changing rapidly, but so far the long and short of it is, “Don’t enter or traverse this part of the river between 2PM on June 13 and 10PM on June 14.” If there’s a change, we will update this article as needed. For the visual learners here, we used crayons to mark this map:
