SAN DEIGO — Fleet Week 2024 in San Diego is an unforgettable celebration of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. Taking place from Nov. 1 – 11, this annual event honors San Diego’s military community through a range of exciting public and military-exclusive events. Highlights include ship tours, a Veterans Day Boat Parade, a Military Appreciation Concert at Balboa Park and STEM Days to inspire young minds.
According to Larry Blumberg, president and CEO of Fleet Week San Diego, last year’s event attracted nearly 20,000 visitors. “These attendees had the unique opportunity to meet sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel up close, while also getting a firsthand look at the equipment they use daily. For those touring the Navy ships and Coast Guard cutters, they were able to experience the environment these service members live in when they’re at sea,” he said.
(Credit: Fleet Week San Diego image)
This year’s events will be held at various locations, including Broadway Pier, Naval Base San Diego and Snapdragon Stadium, offering something for everyone, from interactive military displays to the iconic Boot Camp Challenge for fitness enthusiasts. The Innovation Zone on Nov. 7 will showcase cutting-edge military technology and provide a glimpse into the future of defense and engineering.
“The Military and Veteran’s Concert at the Spreckels Organ pavilion is a great opportunity to see the talented musicians from the Navy and Marine Corps Bands playing together,” said Blumberg. “Visiting the Navy Ship and the Coast Guard Cutter at Broadway Pier along with the Marine Corps equipment on display is always a highlight. Inside the Innovation Zone, the public will be able to see the latest technology, including Robotics, AI (and) Virtual Reality that the sailors and Marines use on a daily basis.”
The concert and all the events at the Broadway Pier (except the kickoff reception) are free and open to the public.
(Credit: Fleet Week San Diego image)
In addition, Tim Hurley and his country band, long-time supporters of Fleet Week, will perform on Nov. 10. A Post Boat Parade Concert will follow on Veterans Day around 2 p.m. Throughout the weekend, the Coast Guard will host helicopter search-and-rescue demonstrations on San Diego Bay near Broadway Pier. Military security teams will showcase their skills with military working dogs and military divers will demonstrate their dive tank expertise.
Fleet Week promises fun for military families too, and participants can celebrate with a dedicated Military Family Day and a unique MRE Cooking Contest, where entrants show their skills with military-issued meals. The 11-day celebration will conclude with a grand finale, the Veterans Day Boat Parade, which will take place at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 11, to close out the week with a display of patriotism as vessels sail across San Diego Bay in honor of those who have served.
“All of the events and displays at the Broadway Pier, are family friendly,” said Blumberg. “Many of the displays are interactive [and] Navy and [Marine] Corps Bands will be playing on the Fleet Week Stage along with other musical venues throughout the weekend. The children always enjoy climbing on the Marine Corps Equipment as well as touring the Navy and Costa Guard ships.”
The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel and equipment displayed at Fleet Week San Diego represent only a fraction of the military’s broader impact on the local community. According to the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s (SDMAC) Annual Military Economic Impact Report, San Diego is home to 60,000 active-duty Navy personnel, 46,000 Marines, 1,000 Coast Guard members and 25,000 Department of Defense civilian employees, with $56 billion in defense spending. That in turn supports 354,000 jobs and 24% of the local economy. The 2024 MEIR is set to be published on Oct. 18.
“There is a special relationship between the Military and the San Diego community,” said Blumberg. “The annual San Diego Fleet Week series of events allows the community to enhance that relationship. The men and women of the military and their families are an integral part of San Diego’s way of life, and this celebration provides the citizens of San Diego with the opportunity to thank them and their families for the sacrifices, dedication and professionalism they demonstrate while serving our nation and our community.”
