San Diego Fleet Week
Fleet Week is an opportunity for the public to see San Diego’s rich military tradition in action. This fall event offers free public tours of ships and entertainment at Broadway Pier in downtown.
WEBSITE: https://fleetweeksandiego.org/
Fleet Week was created in 1997 to honor and celebrate the men and women of the military through public events. These events are designed to entertain, show support and thank heroes of the military.
Most of the events are primarily for members of the military. However, during the final weekend of Fleet Week, the general public is welcome to ship tours and military demonstrations on Broadway Pier.
We went to Fleet Week in 2018 on Saturday October 27. We combined this with a tour of the Midway Museum next door.
During Fleet Week, entrance to the exhibits and ship tours on Broadway Pier is free. However, you did have to go through the standard security check.
In 2018, there were two ships that the public could tour including a U.S. Coast Guard ship and a landing ship, the Harper’s Ferry. The Harper’s Ferry is designed to land large equipment and smaller landing craft from sea to land.
A big highlight was the tanks and military equipment that visitors could actually climb on board.
Inside the Port Pavilion Building there was the Innovation Zone. This featured vendor booths and interactive displays. The focus was on technology and high-tech jobs in the military.
Outside there was live music, wine, beer and food trucks. This included the Big Idaho Potato Truck.
There were military personnel demonstrating various weapons and gadgets. This included some cool robots.
A highlight was watching an actual demonstration of a Coast Guard helicopter rescue in San Diego Bay. Volunteers jumped from the helicopter and were then “rescued” by that helicopter.
Fleet Week in 2019 will occur from November 4 to November 11. The events open to the general public will occur during Veteran’s Day weekend from November 8 to 11.
UPDATE: We made it Fleet Week 2019 on Veteran’s Day. They had a tour of the brand new state-of-the-art Coast Guard search and rescue craft the USCG Cutter Robert Ward. They also had a tour of the USS San Diego, a large amphibious transport dock. Pictures below.
Note that the Midway Museum and the Greatest Generation Walk are right next to Broadway Pier.
