The City of San Francisco welcomes the return of Fleet Week to the Bay Area from October 1 to October 8.
BC STAFF REPORT
Published: October, 2018
The City of San Francisco welcomes the return of Fleet Week to the Bay Area from October 1 to October 8. As the largest and most significant event of its kind in the nation, San Francisco’s Fleet Week is now recognized by the United States Department of Defense as the model for fleet weeks across the country. This year marks the 37th anniversary of this popular event.
Fleet Week became an annual event in 1981 when then Mayor Dianne Feinstein led the nation in celebrating America’s sea services. Since then, Fleet Week’s air show, parade of ships and many community events have become a significant and integral part of the city’s local culture and economy with millions of residents and visitors celebrating San Francisco’s long history of naval service and maritime tradition.
This year’s events will include the return of the Blue Angels airshow and the parade of ships, and will also feature the Humanitarian Assistance Village, veterans events, concerts and ship tours.
Friday through Sunday, October 5 to 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Marina Green will host the Humanitarian Assistance Village, an interactive demonstration of U.S. military and civil capabilities in responding to a disaster. The 2018 village will include an educational program for participants to learn about these capabilities. Guided by a “passport,” participants will be encouraged to explore four different theme camps and receive a stamp from each. Participants who turn in a completed passport with four stamps will be eligible for a prize drawing.
On Friday, October 5 at 11:30 a.m., the Fleet Week Parade of Ships will sail into the San Francisco Bay beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Many of the participating ships will be available for public tours from Wednesday, October 3 through Monday, October 8. Thousands of visitors can climb aboard amphibious carriers, destroyers and cruisers docked at the Embarcadero to get a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the sailors serving in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian Navy.
The Navy’s Blue Angels will be back to dazzle with their thrilling high performance maneuvers over San Francisco Bay. There will be full air shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 5 to 7, from 12 to 4 p.m. each day. This air show event, which also includes the Patriots Jet Team, Navy Leap Frogs skydivers, a United 777 flyover and stunt planes, attracts over a million people around the Bay.
A variety of family-oriented special events will be staged along the waterfront from Fisherman’s Wharf to Marina Green. PIER 39 joins the celebration with live entertainment from local and military bands, interactive exhibits, military vehicles and displays, and more. Marina Green, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien and PIER 39 are some of the best viewing places for the airshows (see page 22 for cruises).
For more information on San Francisco Fleet Week events and activities, visit www.fleetweeksf.org. All events are free, and premium paid tickets are available with an unobstructed view of the airshow from Marina Green.
All Photos by Joel Williams
Fleet Week Schedule of Events
(Subject to change)
Tuesday -Sunday, October 2-8
Veterans Art Exhibit: The Cannery Galleries: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday, October 2
32nd Street Brass Band at PIER 39: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Veterans Resource Fair: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, October 3
Ship Tours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thursday, October 4
Ship Tours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, October 5
Humanitarian Assistance Village: Marina Green: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Parade of Ships: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
1st Marine Division Band Combo at PIER 39: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Air Show: 12:00 – 4 p.m.
Destroyers from Navy Band Southwest at PIER 39: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 6
Ship Tours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Humanitarian Assistance Village: Marina Green: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bark at the Park / K9 Heroes at Duboce Park: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Air Show: 12:00 – 4 p.m.
Sunday October 11
Ship Tours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Humanitarian Assistance Village: Marina Green: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WMJ The Band at PIER 39: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Air Show: 12:00 – 4 p.m.
Destroyers from Navy Band Southwest at PIER 39: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Blue Angels Meet & Greet at PIER 39: 6:15
Monday October 12
Ship Tours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
High School Band Challenge: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Large crowds gather along the waterfront at Pier 39 for prime viewing of the annual Fleet Week Air Show.
