Participating in the festival are Russian and foreign military bands, folk groups, and honor guards.

The festival is considered to be one of the most significant events in the cultural life of the capital of the Russian Far East.

The idea of a military tattoo in Khabarovsk came from Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, then in his position as director of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Russia, during his visit to the city in 2009 as one of the judges for the Nikolai Mikhailov Massed Bands Contest.

Seeing the potential in the contest, Khalilov saw an opportunity to create a festival similar to the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in Moscow.

Sixteen military bands have taken part in the Festival in the since its foundation.