Okanagan Military Tattoo

What is a Tattoo? This is a tattoo for the ears, eyes and soul. Our musical extravaganza features piping, drumming and choirs as well as the dances and sounds of performers from around the world. A musical tattoo is a demonstration of military drumming, piping and skills. It’s called a ‘tattoo’ because when the British Army was fighting in Belgium 300 years ago, soldiers were called in from the pubs each night for curfew, or Doe den tap toe, Dutch for ‘Turn off the tap.’ The expression evolved—to tap-too and then tattoo: an exhilarating showcase of bands, choirs and skills as well as the sounds and dances of today’s finest performers around the world. Vernon is home to an expansive Department of National Defence grounds, where hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members and cadets have trained for more than 100 years. Today, many Canadian veterans have retired in the sunny Okanagan and keep the traditions of military drumming and piping alive. Boost tourism and the economy. When hundreds of performers and audience members visit Vernon to take in the Okanagan Tattoo each year, they’ll enjoy our musical extravaganza and all of the area’s amenities.