Preceding the parade, there was over an hour wait in a line that stretched from the Native American museum to the Smithsonian Castle to get into the Army festival on the mall. Tightest security I've ever seen for a festival. Free birthday cake, but no mention of Trump anywhere to be seen. Also no protests anywhere to be seen. Unrelated but coincidentally coinciding DMV food festival a couple blocks over on Pennsylvania was completely desolate though...felt bad for those vendors. I got the impression locals were avoiding the area plus the weather was sort of threatening.
For the parade, you had to go through another security check into the grounds around the Washington monument. I have no idea how one got to the grandstands but my impression is that they weren't for normal civilians. There was a sizable crowd that spanned up to the top of the hill where the Washington monument is but they had strictly fenced off the parade route, streets, and areas all around the mall and from the east you had to enter across one of 2 temporary pedestrian bridges that got all backed up. People continued to cram in for an hour after the start of the parade...didn't see like they really had that part planned well. Not gigantic crowd like an inauguration and not anywhere near what you see on the 4th, but it wasn't "empty" so those twitter posts are deceiving. Threatened to rain and spit a little but never started. Obviously lots of active and ex-military in attendance and way more read hats than you'd see for other events on the mall.
There was absolutely zero about Trump's birthday mentioned during the whole thing. Strictly honored the Army. The highlights for me were the vintage equipment, WW2 planes, helos, and companies marching in vintage uniforms from every major war. Modern ground equipment was pretty much just Bradley's, Abrams, Paladins, and Strykers. Soldiers riding on the vehicles were waving and smiling to the crowd...everything but throwing candy....looked like they were really enjoying the crowds so it was a well deserved reward for those who got to participate and feel some appreciation. It looked nothing like what you see in Red Square or Pyongyang. Really a shame that some people stayed away because this got politicized. Even more of a shame people continuing to try to politicize it.