Virginia International Tattoo

The Virginia International Tattoo is a military tattoo that began in 1997 and is the signature event of the Virginia Arts Festival. Presented annually in Norfolk, Virginia, the tattoo is an exhibition of military bands, massed pipes and drums, military drill teams, Celtic dancers, and choirs. It is presented in cooperation with NATO and the Norfolk NATO Festival.

Virginia International Tattoo
The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards at the tattoo in 2015.
GenrePatriotic, concert band, military, marching
DatesLate April Each Year
Location(s)Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Years active1997–present
WebsiteOfficial website

It is the largest show of its kind in the United States, involving a cast of over 1,000 artists from many different countries, and over 38,000 people attend each year, including over 16,000 area students at the annual student matinees. The Virginia International Tattoo was listed as American Bus Association's Top North American Event for 2016. The tattoo is considered to be one of the seven “founding members” of the International Association of Tattoo Organizers (IATO).

History

The term "tattoo" derives from the cries of the 17th and 18th-century Dutch innkeepers who, as the fifes and drums of the local regiment signaled a return to quarters, would cry, "Doe den tap toe!" "Turn off the taps!". The sound of "taps" led to an impromptu parade back to barracks. Over time, the words of that cry evolved into the term "tattoo," which now refers to a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands.

Highlights
The United States Navy Ceremonial Guard
The Fanfare Band of the Royal Marechaussee
Albanian Armed Forces Band Albania
Albanian National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances Albania
51 ACU Swan Regiment Drums and Pipes Australia
Scotch College Adelaide Pipe Band Australia
Scotch College Perth Pipe Band Australia
OzScot Australia Dance Team Australia
Presbyterian Ladies’ College Pipe Band Australia
Scotch College Adelaide Highland Dance Corps Australia
Royal Band of the Belgian Navy Belgium
Bermuda Islands Pipes and Drums Bermuda
H&H Gombey Dancers Bermuda
Band and Corps of Drums of the Bermuda Regiment Bermuda
Vasco Da Gama Folklore Dancers Bermuda
12 Wing Shearwater Pipes and Drums Canada
14 Wing Greenwood Pipes and Drums Canada
2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Pipes and Drums Canada
3 Area Support Group Gagetown Pipes and Drums Canada
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Pipes and Drums Canada
8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton Pipes and Drums Canada
Amethyst Scottish Dancers Canada
Atlantica Gymnastics Canada
Essex Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums Canada
Fraser Holmes Memorial Ladies Pipes Band Canada
La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment Canada
Measha Gosman, Soprano Canada
Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band Canada
Rhythmic Expressions Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Tattoo Troop Canada
Schiehallion Highland Dancers Canada
The Pipes and Drums of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Canada
The Delta Police Pipe Band Canada
Winnipeg Police Pipe Band Canada
Woods Manufacturing Company Brass Ensemble Canada
2nd Mechanized Brigade Pipes & Drums Canada
Land Forces Atlantic Electrical Mechanical Engineers Canada
Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums Canada
The National Defense Band of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Flying Danish Superkids Denmark
Royal Danish Naval Band (Sovernets Tamburkorps) Denmark
Club Piruett Estonia
Kaartin Soittokunta Finland
French Paratroopers Band France
La Musique de l'Air (Band of the French Air Force) France
Le Bagad Lann Bihoue France
North West Region Army Band France
The Paris Police Gymnastic Display Team France
Flying Grandpas Germany
German Baltic Sea Naval Band Germany
German Mountain Army Band Germany
Gym Wheel Team, Taunusstein Germany
Heeremusikkorps Kassel, German Army Band Kassel Germany
Motorcycle Display Team of the Berlin Police Force Germany
Jordanian Armed Forces Bagpipe Band Jordan
Samulnori Korea
Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation Multi-National Ceremonial Detail NATO
The Juliana Bicycle Team Netherlands
Band of the Netherlands Mounted Arms Regiment Netherlands
Fifers and Drummers of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps Netherlands
Rotterdam Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy Netherlands
Lochiel Marching Team New Zealand
New Zealand Academy Dancers New Zealand
Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City New Zealand
His Majesty the King’s Guard 3. Company Norway
Chag Hyang-Soon Joong/Ang Song and Dance Group Republic of Korea
Kim Misook Korean Dance Team Republic of Korea
Korean International Tae-Kwon-Do Mission Display Team Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea Traditional Army Band Republic of Korea
Yepuri Korean Traditional Dance Team Republic of Korea
Nalmes: The State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance of Adyghea Russia
Russian Cossack State Dance Company Russia
Singapore Armed Forces Band Singapore
South African National Defense Force Joint Services Military Band South Africa
Symphonic Band of the Spanish Marine Corps Spain
Band of the Swedish National Guard Marines Sweden
Swiss Army Central Band Switzerland
Top Secret Drum Corps Switzerland
Tonga Defence Services Royal Corps of Musicians Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra Trinidad & Tobago
Traditional Turkish Mehter Band Turkey
Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers United Kingdom
Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas United Kingdom
Closkelt Pipe Band United Kingdom
Drums and Pipes of the Irish Guards United Kingdom
Highlands & Islands Highland Dancers United Kingdom
Imps Motorcycle Display United Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the 7th Battalion, "51 Highlanders" United Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards United Kingdom
Queen's Colour Squadron United Kingdom
Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines United Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards United Kingdom
Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band United Kingdom
Inverary and District Pipe Band United Kingdom
Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland United Kingdom
Churchland High School Chorus United States
Dr. Craig Jessop United States
U.S. Armed Forces School of Music United States
The Talking Drums United States
Bank of America Voices of Vision Choir United States
Cantaré, Vox Harmonia and Academy Choral Ensemble Choirs United States
Caribbean Symphonic Dancers United States
Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums United States
Flowing Tide Ceilidh Band United States
Granby High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps United States
Hampton Roads Police & Fire Department Honor Guards United States
Hellenic Youth Dancers United States
Million Dollar Funk Squad, Norfolk State University United States
Norfolk Public School's Mass Choir United States
Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics United States
Poisoned Dwarf United States
Police Emerald Society of Tidewater United States
Portsmouth Mounted Police United States
Reel Thing Irish Dance United States
Rhythm of Ireland Irish Dance United States
Rhythm Project United States
Sara Rhodes United States
Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia United States
Second Marine Aircraft Wing Band United States
Swing Virginia United States
The Fort Lee Army Band United States
The Governor's School for the Arts Dance Department United States
The James River Ramblers of the U.S. Continental Army Band United States
Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps United States
Tidewater Pipes and Drums United States
Todd Rosenlieb Dance United States
Trad Na Trad Pipes and Drums United States
Tuskegee Airmen United States
Two Steps East Dance Studio United States
U.S. Marine Corps Security Forces FAST Company United States
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band United States
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Pipe Band United States
U.S. Air Force Standard Bearers United States
United States Army Drill Team United States
United States Army Herald Trumpets United States
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team United States
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team Explosive Canine Detection United States
U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown 1790 Color Guard United States
U.S. Continental Army Band United States
U.S. Continental Army Brass Quintet United States
U.S. Military Joint Services Color Guard United States
United States Navy Band United States
United States Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team United States
United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team United States
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Band United States
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Fanfare Trumpets United States
U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band, United States Navy United States
U.S. Coast Guard 1790 Color Guard United States
United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard United States
U.S. Continental Army Band United States
U.S. Fleet Forces Band United States
U.S. Joint Forces Color Guard United States
U.S. Marine Corps Band Quantico United States
Virginia Children's Chorus United States
Virginia Orchestra Symphony Chorus United States
Wake & District Pipe Band United States

Tattoo Weekend Events
Performers on Scope Plaza during Hullabaloo.

Hullabaloo is a free outdoor festival of pipers, dancers, drill teams and drum lines which starts three hours prior to each performance of the Virginia International Tattoo. A variety of food and beer is available for purchase. The event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.

DrumLine Battle at the Tattoo

A Hullabaloo favorite, DrumLine Battle™ showcases marching percussion ensembles of any instrumentation and any skill level year-round, spotlighting their unique talents and creativity in a high energy face-to-face competition. DrumLine Battle is a program of Drum Corps International. This event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.

Highland Heavy Athletic Championship

The Virginia International Tattoo is partnering with Brute Strength Gym for a Heavy Athletic Championship, Highland-style, with a caber toss, keg toss and more. Free, Norfolk, Virginia

Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship

The Virginia International Tattoo will host the Third Annual Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship on Scope Plaza in Norfolk, Virginia. The competition, which coincides with the Tattoo performance weekend, will feature hundreds of bagpipers and drummers as they compete for the honors in this annual competition. This event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.

Norfolk NATO Festival

The Norfolk NATO Festival is a celebration and reflection of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and the bond they have. Member nations are on display through the kickoff parade, NATO village, kids zone, music, performances and food. Attendees learn about each culture and its history.

Parade of Nations

The Norfolk NATO Festival's highlight is the annual Parade of Nations, the longest continuous parade in Hampton Roads and the only Parade in the United States honoring NATO. Over 100 Parade Units with local and visiting high school bands, US and International Military bands, and colorful floats which represent each of the 29 NATO member nations and their respective armed forces, are featured. Local community organization and Festival partners are also featured. This event is located at Town Point Park, Norfolk, Virginia.[1] The civil-military parade and pageant involves a cast of over 800 artists from many different countries,[2] and has over 28,000 people attending every year, including over 12,000 area students at the annual student matinees.

The Virginia International Tattoo is, since 2007, one of the seven founding members of the International Association of Tattoo Organizers (IATO).[3]

Norfolk NATO Festival Flag Raising
The massed band finale.

The Flag Raising ceremony is a cultural sampling of music and a colorful display of NATO Member National flags and uniforms in this military presentation representing all 29 NATO member nations. Each Nation's representative will present the national flag, while a portion of their national anthem is performed by the United States Fleet Forces Band.

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References
  1. "ABA RELEASES 2008 LIST OF TOP INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN EVENTS". 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  2. "Hamptonroads.com".
  3. "IATO". Archived from the original on 2007-10-04.
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