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.
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.

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

Albanian Armed Forces BandAlbania
Albanian National Ensemble of Folk Songs and DancesAlbania
51 ACU Swan Regiment Drums and PipesAustralia
Scotch College Adelaide Pipe BandAustralia
Scotch College Perth Pipe BandAustralia
OzScot Australia Dance TeamAustralia
Presbyterian Ladies’ College Pipe BandAustralia
Scotch College Adelaide Highland Dance CorpsAustralia
Royal Band of the Belgian NavyBelgium
Bermuda Islands Pipes and DrumsBermuda
H&H Gombey DancersBermuda
Band and Corps of Drums of the Bermuda RegimentBermuda
Vasco Da Gama Folklore DancersBermuda
12 Wing Shearwater Pipes and DrumsCanada
14 Wing Greenwood Pipes and DrumsCanada
2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Pipes and DrumsCanada
3 Area Support Group Gagetown Pipes and DrumsCanada
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Pipes and DrumsCanada
8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton Pipes and DrumsCanada
Amethyst Scottish DancersCanada
Atlantica GymnasticsCanada
Essex Scottish Regiment Pipes and DrumsCanada
Fraser Holmes Memorial Ladies Pipes BandCanada
La Musique du Royal 22e RégimentCanada
Measha Gosman, SopranoCanada
Paris/Port Dover Pipe BandCanada
Rhythmic ExpressionsCanada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Tattoo TroopCanada
Schiehallion Highland DancersCanada
The Pipes and Drums of The Cameron Highlanders of OttawaCanada
The Delta Police Pipe BandCanada
Winnipeg Police Pipe BandCanada
Woods Manufacturing Company Brass EnsembleCanada
2nd Mechanized Brigade Pipes & DrumsCanada
Land Forces Atlantic Electrical Mechanical EngineersCanada
Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Pipes and DrumsCanada
The National Defense Band of the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
Flying Danish SuperkidsDenmark
Royal Danish Naval Band Denmark
Club PiruettEstonia
Kaartin SoittokuntaFinland
French Paratroopers BandFrance
La Musique de l'Air France
Le Bagad Lann BihoueFrance
North West Region Army BandFrance
The Paris Police Gymnastic Display TeamFrance
Flying GrandpasGermany
German Baltic Sea Naval BandGermany
German Mountain Army BandGermany
Gym Wheel Team, TaunussteinGermany
Heeremusikkorps Kassel, German Army Band KasselGermany
Motorcycle Display Team of the Berlin Police ForceGermany
Jordanian Armed Forces Bagpipe BandJordan
SamulnoriKorea
Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation Multi-National Ceremonial DetailNATO
The Juliana Bicycle TeamNetherlands
Band of the Netherlands Mounted Arms RegimentNetherlands
Fifers and Drummers of the Royal Netherlands Marine CorpsNetherlands
Rotterdam Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands NavyNetherlands
Lochiel Marching TeamNew Zealand
New Zealand Academy DancersNew Zealand
Pipes and Drums of Christchurch CityNew Zealand
His Majesty the King’s Guard 3. CompanyNorway
Chag Hyang-Soon Joong/Ang Song and Dance GroupRepublic of Korea
Kim Misook Korean Dance TeamRepublic of Korea
Korean International Tae-Kwon-Do Mission Display TeamRepublic of Korea
Republic of Korea Traditional Army BandRepublic of Korea
Yepuri Korean Traditional Dance TeamRepublic of Korea
Nalmes: The State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance of AdygheaRussia
Russian Cossack State Dance CompanyRussia
Singapore Armed Forces BandSingapore
South African National Defense Force Joint Services Military BandSouth Africa
Symphonic Band of the Spanish Marine CorpsSpain
Band of the Swedish National Guard MarinesSweden
Swiss Army Central BandSwitzerland
Top Secret Drum CorpsSwitzerland
Tonga Defence Services Royal Corps of MusiciansTonga
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel OrchestraTrinidad & Tobago
Traditional Turkish Mehter BandTurkey
Ailsa Craig Highland DancersUnited Kingdom
Band of the Brigade of GurkhasUnited Kingdom
Closkelt Pipe BandUnited Kingdom
Drums and Pipes of the Irish GuardsUnited Kingdom
Highlands & Islands Highland DancersUnited Kingdom
Imps Motorcycle DisplayUnited Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the 7th Battalion, "51 Highlanders"United Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon GuardsUnited Kingdom
Queen's Colour SquadronUnited Kingdom
Band of Her Majesty's Royal MarinesUnited Kingdom
Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots GuardsUnited Kingdom
Police Scotland Fife Pipe BandUnited Kingdom
Inverary and District Pipe BandUnited Kingdom
Band of the Royal Regiment of ScotlandUnited Kingdom
Churchland High School ChorusUnited States
Dr. Craig JessopUnited States
U.S. Armed Forces School of MusicUnited States
The Talking DrumsUnited States
Bank of America Voices of Vision ChoirUnited States
Cantaré, Vox Harmonia and Academy Choral Ensemble ChoirsUnited States
Caribbean Symphonic DancersUnited States
Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and DrumsUnited States
Flowing Tide Ceilidh BandUnited States
Granby High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training CorpsUnited States
Hampton Roads Police & Fire Department Honor GuardsUnited States
Hellenic Youth DancersUnited States
Million Dollar Funk Squad, Norfolk State UniversityUnited States
Norfolk Public School's Mass ChoirUnited States
Ocean Tumblers GymnasticsUnited States
Poisoned DwarfUnited States
Police Emerald Society of TidewaterUnited States
Portsmouth Mounted PoliceUnited States
Reel Thing Irish DanceUnited States
Rhythm of Ireland Irish DanceUnited States
Rhythm ProjectUnited States
Sara RhodesUnited States
Scottish Dance Theatre of VirginiaUnited States
Second Marine Aircraft Wing BandUnited States
Swing VirginiaUnited States
The Fort Lee Army BandUnited States
The Governor's School for the Arts Dance DepartmentUnited States
The James River Ramblers of the U.S. Continental Army BandUnited States
Old Guard Fife and Drum CorpsUnited States
Tidewater Pipes and DrumsUnited States
Todd Rosenlieb DanceUnited States
Trad Na Trad Pipes and DrumsUnited States
Tuskegee AirmenUnited States
Two Steps East Dance StudioUnited States
U.S. Marine Corps Security Forces FAST CompanyUnited States
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America BandUnited States
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Pipe BandUnited States
U.S. Air Force Standard BearersUnited States
United States Army Drill TeamUnited States
United States Army Herald TrumpetsUnited States
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response TeamUnited States
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team Explosive Canine DetectionUnited States
U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown 1790 Color GuardUnited States
U.S. Continental Army BandUnited States
U.S. Continental Army Brass QuintetUnited States
U.S. Military Joint Services Color GuardUnited States
United States Navy BandUnited States
United States Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill TeamUnited States
United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill TeamUnited States
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command BandUnited States
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Fanfare TrumpetsUnited States
U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band, United States NavyUnited States
U.S. Coast Guard 1790 Color GuardUnited States
United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor GuardUnited States
U.S. Continental Army BandUnited States
U.S. Fleet Forces BandUnited States
U.S. Joint Forces Color GuardUnited States
U.S. Marine Corps Band QuanticoUnited States
Virginia Children's ChorusUnited States
Virginia Orchestra Symphony ChorusUnited States
Wake & District Pipe BandUnited States

Tattoo Weekend Events

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. The civil-military parade and pageant involves a cast of over 800 artists from many different countries, 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.
Norfolk NATO Festival Flag Raising
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.