#FleetWeekSF Celebration in San Francisco

OCTOBER 7 – 14, 2024

Ships, planes, pomp and celebrations honoring the men and women of our nation’s armed forces is making its return to the Bay Area this week! Fleet Week is back and taking the San Francisco Bay by storm kicking off the many exciting October events to come. The event runs from October 7 through October 14, and includes ships and planes from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps participating in parades and air shows.

There are a ton of events taking place all week long but to help you easily navigate this Bay Area wide celebration, I've put together a list of my personal favorite ways for families to experience the festivities.

Air Show

October 11-13

Held annually between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, The San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show Presented by United attracts fans from all over the globe. The waterfront event is headlined by The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and is the only air show in the United States with a commercial airliner, the United 777, to perform a fully choreographed act.

Fleet Fest

This celebration of our Nation’s sea services is a dynamic festival right on the pier hosting the Navy’s Fleet Week flagship.

Experience performances by local musicians and featured military bands. Exhibitors include city organizations, local businesses, veteran and active duty support organizations, educational experiences and fun activities for kids and parents alike. Grab a bite from our food truck lane and pop-up vendors. Visit our bar for a variety of beverages while our stage rocks all day long.

Humanitarian Assistance Village

Did you know that military and civilian agencies have disaster response plans for events like an earthquake or flooding in San Francisco?

Come to the Humanitarian Assistance Village (HAV), an open-air exhibition!

Learn about how to prepare for disasters

Meet military and civilian medical, rescue and logistics teams who are prepared to help San Franciscans

Touch and climb on the military equipment

Talk with a sailor, marine, coast guard or army personnel and learn about what their job is in the military

High School Band Challenge

The United States Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band kicks off this event with a stirring performance of patriotic songs and a musical celebration.

The thrill of the music continues as select Bay Area high school bands then take the stage, competing for prize money to support their school music programs.

$30,000 was donated across eight Bay Area High School music programs as part of “The High School Band Challenge” in 2023!

Honor Our Fallen Concert

This special performance by the United States Marine Corps 1st Marine Division Band is a poignant tribute to the service members who volunteered to defend their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Free Concert Calendar

See website for scheduled concerts.

Parade of Ships

Friday 10/11

See the Fleet enter the Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge as the visiting ships steam towards their ports, and Liberty Call for our honored Sailors and Marines. San Francisco Fleet Week hosts the largest Parade of Ships on the West Coast.

The procession of ships can be seen from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge, with the reviewing stand at the Marina Green.

San Francisco Fire Department will provide lead escort with their fire boat shooting jets of water into the air to celebrate the Fleet’s arrival.

Port Chicago 50

"Port Chicago 50" takes audiences back to July 17th, 1944, at a munitions naval base in Port Chicago, California, located 30 miles north of San Francisco. It was a cool summer Friday night, and World War II was in full swing. Despite the prevalent segregation in the United States, African American sailors were being pushed by their commanders to load tons of dangerous missiles and explosives onto two large munition ships. Lacking proper training in handling munitions, these men were expected to load the highly dangerous cargo as quickly as possible. At approximately 10:18pm, a series of devastating explosions rocked the base, shaking the ground with the force of an earthquake. The blasts were so powerful that windows were shattered, and buildings were shaken as far away as Boulder City, Nevada. What followed the explosions was a whirlwind of chaos, anger, blame, and finger-pointing, as none of the higher-ranking officers were willing to take responsibility for the tragedy. Through the eyes of Freddie Meeks, one of the survivors, the play vividly recounts the events of that fateful night, revealing a story of love for country, the American Dream, and a relentless quest for equality and fairness.

Ship Tours

Come climb aboard the amphibious carriers, cutters, destroyers and cruisers docked at the Embarcadero and get a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the sailors serving in the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Join us on the San Francisco waterfront to tour our visiting ships docked at the Port of San Francisco and get a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of the sailors serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.

All ship tours are free of charge.

Tour lines are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Silent Drill Platoon

Precision. Determination. Discipline.

See the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon at San Francisco Fleet Week 2024

This elite 24 marine unit, known for their flawless execution of a unique drill exhibition without verbal commands, represents the very core of Marine Corps tradition and professionalism.