Fleet Week rocks! A joyful celebration of San Diego's deep connection with the military, Fleet Week is all about family! And it just seems to get bigger, and better, every year.
Two of Hollywood's hottest stars, LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell of "NCIS Los Angeles," will appear at the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation's newest event, the Big Bay Family Festival, to be held this Saturday and Sunday, September 18-19.
The festival is just one of the many fun events open to the public on Fleet Week's roster to honor our military. The weekend kicks off at Dick's Last Resort in the Gaslamp with Operation Liberty Call this Friday, September 17, from 4:00-9:00 pm. Attendance by our military is expected to be high so this is a great opportunity to show your appreciation in person. Admission is free and prizes will be given away.
Continue the fun the next day at the new, free event, the Port of San Diego Fleet Week Big Bay Family Festival, at the B Street Cruise Terminal featuring ship tours, military static displays, in-water demonstrations, live music, a beer garden and children's fun zone. LL Cool J and O'Donnell are scheduled to be on-stage at 1:00 pm. Ships available for tour are the USS Gary, USS Pinckney and the new high-tech littoral combat ship the USS Freedom. For more information and to see a list of restricted items please visit Fleet Week's official website.
Of course, the Fleet Week flagship event is the Coronado Speed Festival September 25-26. San Diego's military community, their families and the local community are invited as Naval Air Station North Island opens its gates ' an unprecedented opportunity to visit a working U.S. Navy base including public tours of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier.
Members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are the primary honorees of these events but the local community is of course welcome and invited to these activities:
Operation Liberty Call: Friday, September 17, 4:00-9:00 pm ' Dick's Last Resort
Port of San Diego Fleet Week Big Bay Family Festival: Saturday & Sunday, September 18-19, 10:00 am-4:00 pm ' B Street Cruise Terminal
Coronado Speed Festival Car Procession: Thursday, September 23, 4:00 pm ' Rotary Par
Coronado Speed Festival: Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26 ' Naval Air Station North Island
Navy Open House: Saturday & Sunday, September 25-26, 10:00 am-4:00 pm ' Naval Air Station North Island
MCRD Boot Camp Challenge: Saturday, September 25, 9:00 am ' MCRD San Diego
MCAS Miramar Air Show: Sunday ' Tuesday, October 1-3, Gates open 8:00 am daily ' MCAS Miramar
For more information, you can also find Fleet Week on Facebook and twitter.
