San Francisco Fleet Week is an annual event honoring the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response personnel. This year’s Fleet Week will take place October 3-10.
The United States Marine Corps 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.
History of Fleet Week
Fleet Week in San Francisco has been around since 1981 when Mayor Dianne Feinstein began this annual celebration of America’s sea services. Since then, every October Fleet Week takes place on the Marina Green overlapping Italian Heritage Weekend, SFFW’s air show, parade of ships and many community events.
As the largest and most significant event of its kind in the nation, San Francisco Fleet Week features a unique training and education program that brings together civilians and the military to develop and share best practices in humanitarian assistance and emergency disaster response.
This incredible event attracts millions of visitors and is recognized by the United States Department of Defense as the model for fleet weeks across the country.
Special Fleet Week Exhibitions
This year Fleet Week in San Francisco will host the Tactical Demonstration Team, the F-22 Raptor, to join the headlining U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration squadron.
The F-22 Raptor will wow the crowd with demonstrations of the super maneuverability of the stealth combat aircraft. These demonstrations include the power loop, split, and tail slide, as well as a high-speed pass and dedication pass.
The Humanitarian Assistance Village is an interactive demonstration of US Military and Civil capabilities in responding to a disaster. The 2016 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: Mass Care and Shelter, Power and Utilities, Community Response & Rescue, and Environmental Management & Decontamination. Participants who turn in a completed Passport with 4 stamps will be eligible for a prize drawing.
Tickets for Fleet Week
The Fleet Week Air Show is a free show and visible from most areas on the waterfront, reserved seats offer the best views along with the narration broadcast.
Reserved seat and VIP tickets are available on the show’s website.
The Schedule
Air Show Schedule
Thursday Oct 6
Blue Angels survey flights 1PM-5PM
Friday Oct 7
Parade of Ships
Air Show rehearsal 12-4PM (Blue Angels 3PM-4PM)
Saturday Oct 8
Air Show 12-4PM (Blue Angels 3PM-4PM)
Sunday Oct 9
Air Show 12-4PM (Blue Angels 3PM-4PM)
K-9 Heroes
Duboce Park
Saturday, October 8, 2016
11 am – 1 pm
Free for everyone!
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