Fleet Week San Diego is returning this fall with an 18-event schedule running November 1 through November 15 that stands in sharp contrast to last year, when a federal government shutdown disrupted the celebration. Fleet Week San Diego programming includes ship tours, a boat parade, military concerts and student STEM activities.
The rebound comes as the nation counts down toward 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, as The Log reports. The Navy and Marine Corps were established in 1775, making their 250th anniversaries fall in 2025.
Last year told a very different story. The shutdown forced organizers to cancel the annual boat parade and ceremonies at Miramar National Cemetery, underscoring just how vulnerable civilian-facing military events can be to federal budget fights.
A Schedule Rooted in 1997
Fleet Week San Diego traces its beginnings to 1997, when the San Diego Chamber of Commerce originally supported the effort to honor sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, according to The Log. The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation had become an independent nonprofit by 2001, a structure confirmed by the Port of San Diego, which notes the event grew out of a regional community initiative before formalizing into a California public benefit corporation. The Port has partnered with the Fleet Week Foundation as the official nonprofit partner for fundraising for the 2026 Big Bay Boom fireworks show.
This year's festivities open Sunday, November 1, with a free outdoor concert by Navy Band Southwest at Chula Vista's Bayfront Park, a one-hour program beginning at 2 p.m. featuring the 40-member ensemble, per The Log. Navy Band Southwest is scheduled to perform at the event.
Fleet Week Concerts
A Navy and Marine Band concert is among the events on this year's schedule, The Log reports.
The schedule includes the Enlisted Recognition Luncheon, a Military and Veteran Appreciation Concert, and the Fleet Week Community Breakfast.
Meet the Fleet Returns to Naval Base San Diego
Meet the Fleet and student STEM events are included in this year's Fleet Week schedule, The Log reports.
Fleet Week Boat Parade
The Veterans Day parade is scheduled for November 11 on Harbor Drive. A Fleet Week boat parade is also included in the schedule, according to The Log.
San Diego County has more than 200,000 former and retired military service members.
Fleet Week's Broader Event Program
Fleet Week San Diego has featured public ship tours, a Fleet Week Football Classic and Military Family Day. Its programming has also included a boat parade, concerts, educational programs and community events.
The military's footprint in the region goes well beyond the festival grounds. Fleet Week's expanded schedule offers a chance to reconnect a region built around service with the people who provide it.
