page_title: Military tattoo
section_title: North America
hierarchical_section_title: Military tattoo / Notable examples / North America
caption_attribution_description: English: The Commander-in-Chief's Guard from 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), stand in formation during Twilight Tattoo at Summerall Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., May 7, 2014. The Old Guard conducts ceremonies and special events to represent the Army. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alyssa Madero/Released)
context_page_description: A military tattoo is a performance of music or display of armed forces in general. The term comes from the early 17th-century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe, a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and for soldiers to return to their barracks, and is unrelated to the Tahitian origins of an ink tattoo.
  The tattoo was originally a form of military music, but the practice has evolved into more elaborate shows involving theatrics and musical performances. It is also used to designate military exhibitions such as the Royal International Air Tattoo.
context_section_description: Canada's Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is the largest annual indoor tattoo in the world today, each year featuring over 2000 performers from around the world. The tattoo has been produced since 1979 by Colonel Ian Fraser, who also produced the Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo 1967, the world's largest travelling show. Through the course of his career Fraser has produced and / or directed more than 1000 international tattoo productions across the globe. This tattoo is unique in that it is a full theatrical production, comprising costume designers, props designers, full wardrobe staff, and is presented as 'theatre in the round'. The show is intensely rehearsed over a two-week period and is a wholly combined military and civilian production. The Nova Scotia Tattoo was the first tattoo to receive royal designation on the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 80th Birthday in 2006.
  The Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo 1967 was the largest mobile tattoo in history performing 155 performances in 47 cities from coast to coast from the end of March to the middle of October 1967. Tattoo '67 was a completely a military production involving over 1700 personnel from the Canadian Army, Navy and Air Force.  The first leg of the tour involved transporting two shows across Canada by rail.  The second phase saw "the show" performed in stadiums in major cities including a week-long run in Montreal, Quebec during EXPO 67.  The third phase was a tour of East Coast cities and Quebec performing in arenas.  The show received rave reviews and standing ovations and was called upon by the press to become an annual event and to have it tour not only throughout the United States but Europe as well but with the last performance on October 11, 1967 at Shawinigan, Quebec, the Tattoo was mothballed.  Eventually, all the costumes and uniforms were sold off to museums or private collectors and the show that was hailed as "the greatest single presentation during Centennial year" has never been produced since. The producer of Tattoo 1967, Colonel Ian Fraser also produced the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo noted above.
  The annual Fort Henry Tattoo is held each July at Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario. The event combines military drill, with an assortment of musical acts from across Canada, and is capped off with a fireworks display at the end of the evening. It is one of the largest annual events held at the National Historic Site.
  The now-defunct Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands, and its Quebec City Military Tattoo, took place in August between 1998 and 2013.
  The Ceremonial Guard conducts many different military tattoos in the Ottawa–Gatineau Region, including the Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony on Parliament Hill in July and the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief's Military Tattoo at Rideau Hall. The latter event honours the Queen of Canada in her position as Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. The former emulates the British Beating Retreat while including the practice of lowering of the Canadian flag. Aside from the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, participating units in both events included the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian National Drill Team, and the Royal Military College of Canada Band.
  The different services of the Canadian Forces have held local tattoos in their areas of operations. In September 2010, the Royal Canadian Navy sponsored the Canadian Naval Centennial Tattoo in Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RCN. Among the bands that performed were the Band of the Royal Marines, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band, the Pipe Band of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific. In August 2013, a Sunset Ceremony was held at CFB Greenwood, featuring the 14 Wing Band and Pipes and Drums as well as the Stadacona Band of Maritime Forces Atlantic, the Bridgewater Fire Department Band, the RCMP Pipes and Drums, and the drill team of the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. The Black Watch Military Tattoo is an event spo
caption: A member of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard (3rd Infantry Regiment) during the Twilight Tattoo.
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