Fleet Week—which honors the contributions of the individuals of the United States Armed Forces—has been a cherished San Francisco tradition for the past forty years. This multi-day event is packed with exciting air shows, ship tours and more while providing a rich education to both residents and military personnel. Held from October 4–11, this year’s lively happenings will take place all over the western side of the city. Read on to discover some of the top events you can look forward to.

San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show

Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10
Get tickets here for guaranteed seating and the best views.

Attending the air show is an experience that you won’t soon forget. As the highlight of Fleet Week, the air show attracts people from across the country. It is the only air show in the country with a commercial plane (the United 777), as well as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the USAF F-35 Demo Team.

Visiting Ship Tours

Wednesday, October 6 through Thursday, October 7 and Saturday, October 9 through Monday, October 11
Free of charge; first come, first serve
Full schedule and visiting info here

Want to get a glimpse into the daily life of a sailor on a military ship? Over the course of the week, you’ll have the opportunity to climb aboard a carrier from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Australian Navy.

Parade of Ships

Friday, October 8
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Event info here

Taking place along the San Francisco waterfront, visitors can enjoy the largest parade of ships on the West Coast. Head somewhere with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge to take in the views up close-and-personal. The parade typically showcases the San Francisco Fire Department’s fire boat, followed by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. This year’s parade will also feature the Royal Australian Navy. Due to U.S. Navy security protocol, you’ll have to wait until the day of to see the participating ships.

K-9 Heroes

Duboce Park
Saturday, October 9, 2021 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Head over to Duboce Park to meet and honor the canine heroes of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, S.F.P.D., S.F.F.D., San Francisco and Alameda County Sheriffs, various search and rescue teams and more. This family-event event is an opportunity for the canines to showcase their abilities, such as therapy tasks and food detection. 

For a full list of events, ticketing info and more, visit the official SF Fleet Week site.