Fleet Week Media Image / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Schumaker

Look up in the sky when you hear the roaring of jet engines and head down to SF’s northern waterfront and for San Francisco’s annual Fleet Week airshow and festival.

Although there is a full week of events, the epochal annual air show takes place October 11-13, 2024 when fans from across the Bay converge on hills, rooftops and all along the waterfront to behold the spectacular taking place over San Francisco Bay between Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

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.

San Francisco Fleet Week 2024
– Full Festival: October 7-14, 2024
– Airshow: October 11-13, 2024
San Francisco
FREE

See the full air show schedule 

2024 Fleet Week Details

Air Show & Blue Angels – Oct. 11-13, 2024

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.

The show is free to watch from the waterfront, or you can purchase grandstand tickets

Parade of Ships – Oct. 11, 2024

11-12 pm | Along the San Francisco waterfront

See the ships of 2024 San Francisco Fleet Week sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and learn about the different types of vessels. 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. The San Francisco Fire Department will lead the parade with their fire boat shooting jets of water into the air to celebrate the Fleet’s arrival.

Royalty Free / Pixabay

Ship Tours – October 9 – 14

See Schedule |  Piers 27, 30/32, 35, and 15/17

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.

We have several guides on this site to help you with information about planning your experience at Fleet Week under “Plan Your Trip”.

Please Note: For tours of the LHA on Pier 30/32, please follow signs to check in at the information booth located in Fleet Fest located on the Pier. Note that this pier is 1.5 miles from Pier 27. 

All ship tours are free of charge.

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

SHIP TOURS SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY

October 9

Pier 27:
US Navy LPD
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

THURSDAY

October 10

Pier 27:
US Navy LPD
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 35:
US Coast Guard Cutter
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

FRIDAY

October 11

No Ship Tours

SATURDAY

October 12

Pier 27:
US Navy LPD
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 30/32:
US Navy LHA*
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 35:
US Coast Guard Cutter
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 15/17:
Royal Canadian Navy Frigate
10:00 am – 3:30 pm

SUNDAY

October 13

Pier 27:
US Navy LPD
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 30/32:
US Navy LHA*
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 35:
US Coast Guard Cutter
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Pier 15/17:
Royal Canadian Navy Frigate
10:00 am – 3:30 pm

MONDAY

October 14

Pier 27:
US Navy LPD
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Pier 30/32:
US Navy LHA*
9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Fleet Fest – Oct. 12-13

Pier 30/32

• Saturday, October 12, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Sunday, October 13, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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 – Oct. 10-13

10am-5pm | FLEET WEEK EXPO – On The Marina Green

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

STEM Center

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) innovation is critical to our economy, our planet and our future. Are you ready?

Rapid changes in the environment, climate, artificial intelligence, cyber and communications demand workers skilled in critical thinking. The U.S. military provides training and advanced education for their service members to develop cutting edge solutions to complex problems.

Career counselors from the Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, California National Guard and civilian agencies can discuss STEM-related job opportunities with you.

High School Band Challenge – Oct. 14

10am-2pm | Golden Gate Park Bandshell

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 – Oct. 10

6-7:30pm | The Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave, SF

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.

Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series – Oct. 7-14

See Schedule | All Over SF

We are proud to welcome the Navy and Marine Corps bands each year as part of San Francisco Fleet Week’s Neighborhood Concert Program.

This is an opportunity for San Franciscans to interact with our inspiring service men and women through performances right in your neighborhood throughout the City. Check out our 2024 free concert calendar listed below to see when we’re performing in your neighborhood!

Port Chicago 50 Play – Oct. 11-12

7pm | Greater Star Theater, 636 Jackson St., San Francisco Chinatown

“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.

Silent Drill Platoon – Oct. 11-13

See Schedule | Marina Green, Union Square, Fleet Fest

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.

FRIDAY, October 11

11:00 AM
Marina Green

4:00 PM
Union Square

Saturday, October 12

11:00 AM
Marina Green

3:00 PM
Fleet Fest

Sunday, October 13

11:00 AM
Marina Green3:00 PM
Fleet Fest