SAN FRANCISCO — Fleet Week kicks off in the Bay Area with the Parade of Ships arrival to the Port of San Francisco and other events open to the public this Thursday through next Monday.
With the Bay Area's largest military presence with more than 4,000 men and women based in San Francisco, Coast Guard personnel and assets will participate and provide maritime security for the Fleet Week events. These Coast Guard personnel perform a variety of missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, inspections, fisheries enforcement, aids to navigation, port security, anti-terrorism patrols, environmental protection and illegal drug and migrant interdiction.
The following is a list of Fleet Week events featuring the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy along the San Francisco waterfront:
Tuesday:
K9 Heroes "Bark in the Park" at 3 p.m.
Wednesday:
Parade of Ships arrival to Port of San Francisco at approximately 12 p.m.
Thursday:
Blue Angels arrival and practice at San Francisco International Airport from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
32nd Street Brass Band at Pier 39 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday:
Joint services softball tournament at Moscone Field at 8 a.m.
U.S. Marine Corps Band Performance at Pier 39 at 11 a.m.
Parade of Ships tour at Northern Waterfront at 11 a.m.
Air Show rehearsal from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Veterans War Memorail Dedication and Reception at Van Ness Ave. at 3 p.m.
The Destroyers Band Performance at Pier 39 at 4 p.m.
Saturday:
Ship tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Humanitarian Assistance Village at Marina Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art Exhibit at the The Cannery frmo 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Powell St. Band Concert at 11 a.m.
The Destroyers Band Performance at Pier 39 at 12 p.m.
Air Show frmo 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Blue Angels Meet & Greet at Pier 39 at 6:15 p.m.
Fireworks show at Pier 39 at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday:
Ship tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Humanitarian Assistance Village at Marina Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Art Exhibit at the The Cannery from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
USNSCC Band of the West Performance at Pier 39 at 12 p.m.
Italian Heritage Parade, starts at 12:30 p.m. at intersection of Powell & Jefferson and ends at Washington St.
Air Show from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday:
Ship tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
High School Challenge Band at Golden Gate Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
*Editor's note: Requests for interviews of Coast Guardsmen and embeds aboard Coast Guard vessels during Fleet Week are advised to contact the 11th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (510) 437-3808.
For more information on this year's events, contact the San Francisco Fleet Week Association at (415) 306-0911, or visit http://www.fleetweek.org/; www.airshownetwork.com