SgtMaj
Guest speaker
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The 251st United States Marine Corps Birthday Ball
Hosted by 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines · America's Battalion
Born in a Bar. Formed for Battle. Built to Party.
They call us the world’s finest fighting force, but we started over a couple of pints at Tun Tavern in 1775. We’ve been dominating the battlefield ever since—and we party exactly the way we fight. This is the one night a year we trade our cammies for Dress Blues, raise a glass to our history, and tear down the house. You will not want to miss this.
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Time Remaining Until T-Hour (Libo Commences)10 Nov 2026
T-hour is set to the 251st birthday, 10 November 2026, until the Ball Committee confirms the date and time.
- Date
- To be announced
- Venue
- To be announced
- Attire
- Dress Blues · Black Tie
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacqueline Parsons · 2/8 machine gunners, night live-fire attack, Range G-29, Camp Lejeune, 5 March 2021
The Commanding Officer and Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, with the Marines and Sailors of America’s Battalion, request the pleasure of your company.
Your hosts
The tradition
Two hundred fifty-one years, one evening
Every Marine Corps Birthday Ball follows the same spine. Ours will too.
Tun Tavern
On 10 November 1775 the Second Continental Congress resolved that two battalions of Marines be raised. The Corps counts its birthdays from that resolution, and the ball opens by marking it.
Lejeune’s Message
Major General John A. Lejeune directed that his birthday message be read to every command each 10 November. It has been read at every ball since, and it will be read at ours before the cake is cut.
The Cake
The first piece goes to the guest of honor. The second goes to the oldest Marine present, who passes it to the youngest: the Corps handed from one generation to the next, in front of the whole battalion.
The evening
Order of the evening
Times are published by the Ball Committee once the venue is confirmed. The sequence is the one Marines will recognize.
- Time TBA
Cocktail Hour
Social hour, photographs, and the receiving line.
- Time TBA
Ceremony
Adjutant's call, posting of the colors, the Commandant's birthday message, and the reading of General Lejeune's 1921 message.
- Time TBA
Cake Cutting
The first piece to the guest of honor; the second to the oldest Marine present, who passes it to the youngest.
- Time TBA
Dinner
Seated dinner. Meal selections are confirmed by the Ball Committee closer to the date.
- Time TBA
Dancing
The floor opens after dinner and runs until the close of the evening.
Tickets
Reserve your seats
Choose a ticket tier, tell us who is coming, and pay at secure checkout. One order covers you and your guests.
Attire
Dress for the evening
The ball is formal from the receiving line to the last dance. Final uniform guidance comes from the battalion; confirm with your chain of command.
Dress Blue “A”
- Blue Dress “A” with large medals, as published in the battalion's uniform guidance.
- Evening Dress is appropriate for officers and SNCOs who own it.
- Medals and ribbons squared away before you arrive; the receiving line starts at the door.
Dinner Dress Blue
- Dinner Dress Blue Jacket for officers and chief petty officers.
- Dinner Dress Blues (Service Dress Blue with miniature medals) for E-6 and below.
- Corpsmen, RPs, and the chaplain's office: you are the battalion's guests of honor as much as its shipmates.
Formal
- Black tie or a dark suit and tie.
- Floor-length gown or formal cocktail dress.
- Cameras welcome during the social hour; the ceremony itself is observed in silence.
Details
Where, when, and who
Details are published here as the Ball Committee confirms them. Ticket holders are emailed when anything changes.
Date & timeTo be announced
VenueTo be announced
Guest of honorTo be announced
LodgingTo be announced
Parking & transportTo be announced
Ball CommitteeContact to be announced
Questions
Before you buy
How many tickets can I buy in one order?
Up to 10 per order, all in the same tier. Buy for yourself, your guest, and your fire team in one go; enter each attendee's name so the door list is right. Need a different tier for someone else? Place a second order.
What do I receive after paying?
An emailed receipt with your order reference (it looks like MCB-7K3F9Q). There are no paper tickets: your names are on the list at the door. Keep the email in case the committee needs to reach you.
Why offer payment from a bank account?
Card processing costs the ball about 2.9% plus 30¢ per payment; a bank transfer costs 0.8%. On a single ticket that is roughly $2 more that stays with the battalion. Bank payments take up to four business days to clear, so the bank option closes a week before the ball; card payments confirm instantly.
Is my payment information safe?
Checkout runs on Stripe, the same processor used by many large retailers. Your card or bank details are entered on Stripe's page and never touch this site. We keep only what the door list needs: names, your email, and your company.
Can I get a refund or change names?
Name changes are free; email the Ball Committee with your order reference. The refund policy is published by the Ball Committee before sales close.
Who do I contact?
The 2/8 Ball Committee. Contact details are posted in the Details section above as soon as they are confirmed.