Best Places to Watch Blue Angels San Francisco

Fleet Week San Francisco 2022: Events, Blue Angels Shows & Pictures

Fleet Week San Francisco is an annual event that draws thousands of people into the city. It's a free event in the Fisherman's Wharf district that features the Blue Angels, a full air show over the SF Bay, and ship tours all weekend long.

This year, Fleet Week is October 2 - 10, 2022. Most activities and the large air show are over the weekend of October 7 - 9. You will find additional ship tours throughout the week.

It began in 1981 to honor the US Armed Forces and to educate civilians and military personnel about best practices in humanitarian assistance. It's held every year in San Francisco on the first or second weekend in October.

The US Navy Blue Angels are set to perform on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 7, 8, & 9) afternoon from 3 pm to 4 pm. They will usually do some practice runs on Thursday also.

The Blue Angels performing over the San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week The view of the Blue Angels from the bottom deck at Pier 39.

Other air show performers include the U.S.A.F. F-16 Viper Demo Team, United 777, Navy Parachute Team, Aaron Fitzgerald/Red Bull Helicopter, Kirby Chambliss/Red Bull Edge 540, Red Bull Air Force Wingsuit Skydivers, C-17 Demonstration, and more.

You can also enjoy the Parade of Ships on Friday or head out on a cruise to watch the Blue Angels perform from the water.

San Francisco Fleet Week Schedule (TBD for 2022)

Almost all of the Fleet Week San Francisco activities are along the northern waterfront district of Fisherman's Wharf. This week's schedule of events includes the airshow featuring the Blue Angels, ship tours, live music and other entertainment all weekend long.

Here is the schedule for 2021 so you have an idea on what to expect in 2022.

Wednesday, October 6

10 am to 4 pm: Ship Tours (learn more about this year's ship tours)
6 pm: Honor Our Fallen Concert

Thursday, October 7

10 am to 4 pm: Ship Tours (learn more about this year's ship tours)

Friday, October 8

10 am (opening time): Humanitarian Assistance Village at the Marina Green
10am (opening time): STEM Center at the Marina Green
11:00am - 12:00pm: Parade of Ships
12pm - 4pm: Air Show (Blue Angels: 3 pm - 4 pm)

Saturday, October 9

10 am: Humanitarian Assistance Village at the Marina Green
10am (opening time): STEM Center at the Marina Green
10 am to 4 pm: Ship Tours (learn more about this year's ship tours)
11 am: K9 Heroes at Duboce Park
12pm - 4pm: Air Show (Blue Angels: 3 pm - 4 pm)

Sunday, October 10

10 am: Humanitarian Assistance Village at the Marina Green
10am (opening time): STEM Center at the Marina Green
10 am to 4 pm: Ship Tours (learn more about this year's ship tours)
12pm - 4pm: Air Show (Blue Angels: 3 pm - 4 pm)

Monday, October 11

9 am to 12 pm: Ship Tours (learn more about this year's ship tours)

*Schedule of events is subject to change at anytime.

Cruises During Fleet Week San Francisco

One of the best ways to watch the Blue Angels fly over the San Francisco Bay is from a special Fleet Week cruise. These sell out quickly, so I recommend booking your cruise as soon as you have your plans finalized.

Fleet Week Lunch Cruise on the SF Belle

Dates: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

Time: Boarding at 1:30 pm, cruising from 2:30-4:30 pm

Boarding Location: Pier 3 Hornblower Landing

Includes:

2-hour lunch cruise on the SF Bay
Buffet includes entrees, salads, and desserts
Free flowing sparkling wine, coffee, orange juice, water, and soft drinks
Purchase wine, beer, and cocktails throughout the cruise
DJ during the cruise
Visit their site for ticketing details

Red & White Fleet 2.5-Hour Fleet Week Cruise (TBD for 2022)

2-hour afternoon cruise to see the Blue Angels over San Francisco
Offered Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Fleet Week
Cruise leaves at 2 pm (please arrive at least 30 minutes before departure)
Outdoor decks with incredible views of the performance
Two drinks with every ticket, more drinks available for purchase on board
Leaves from Pier 43 1/2 in Fisherman's Wharf
$100 for Adults (18+), $80 for Youth (3-17), free for those 2 and under, but they must have tickets to manage capacity on the boat

Cruise on the SS Jeremiah O'Brien

Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 from 10 am to 5 pm (boards at 9 am)
Cruise around the bay in the morning and get front row seats for the air show in the afternoon
Catch the air show from 12:30 pm to 4 pm (with the Blue Angels performing from 3 pm to 4 pm)
Complimentary food and drink
Tickets are $165 for adults (age 17+) and $100 for children (age 5-16)
There is also a $440 family group option for up to 2 adults and 2 youth

Blue & Gold 2-Hour Cruise (TBD for 2022)

Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 4pm (please arrive at least 45 minutes in advance)
Two drinks per ticket for beer, wine cocktails, and other non-alcoholic drinks
One boat per day leaving at 1:30 pm and returning at 4pm, boarding time starts at 12:45 pm
Tickets start at $110 for adults and $75 for children

Best Places to Watch the Air Show & the Blue Angels

The northern side of San Francisco along the bay is CROWDED during the air show. If you want to sit down, you will need to arrive at least an hour before the Blue Angels perform.

Most of the Air Show takes place over the bay, around Fisherman's Wharf and Fort Mason.

Here are a few places to watch the Air Show with some additional notes to think about for each option:

Pier 39: You will be close to the action, but it gets really crowded here. However, it's a great place to see most of the show. Try to find a spot with a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Aquatic Park: There is a small stadium here with seats facing out over the bay. You will get a great view of the Fleet Week San Francisco Air Show from here, although the maneuvers over the Golden Gate Bridge will be harder to see.

Crissy Field: There will be fewer people on this side, which makes it a nicer viewing area. This is a great place to see the Blue Angels maneuvers near the bridge. It is a little further away from the main action though, so the trees may block out a little bit of the show.

Marina Green: Just to the east of Crissy Field is the Marina Green. This large green space offers a great look at the air show. You can also buy premium tickets for this area so you don't have to fight for a place to watch the fun. Tickets for the premium section are already on sale. You will find them on the official Fleet Week website.

Here are a few places to see the Blue Angels at this year's Fleet Week San Francisco. You won't get great views of the entire airshow, but you will get some great views of the Blue Angels over San Francisco and the Bay.

Golden Gate Bridge Walkways: You can also see the airshow from the walkways of the Golden Gate Bridge. The eastern walkways are open during the airshow, but they fill up early. I would arrive at least a couple of hours in advance of the start of the airshow in order to get a good spot to see the entire show.

Twin Peaks: You can also see the Blue Angels during Fleet Week San Francisco from Twin Peaks. You won't get a close up view, but some good views of the Blue Angels.

Marin Headlands: Another great place is the Marin Headlands. You will see the airshow, but the biggest benefit to this location is being able to see the Blue Angels near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Again, these are not the best spots for the Fleet Week San Francisco airshow, but some alternative to watching it from the shore along Fisherman's Wharf.

More Things to Do this Weekend in San Francisco

These are some of the other fun things to do during Fleet Week San Francisco or as you are waiting for the big airshow to begin.

San Francisco Theater

Catch a theater performance during your time in San Francisco. Every year, the Golden Gate and Orpheum Theaters welcome hit Broadway musicals. In addition, smaller theater companies perform at a variety of venues all over town.

>> Find a full list of theater performances this weekend in San Francisco

Free Walking Tours

Every day of the week, SF City Guides offers free walking tours in different districts all over town. Learn more about the Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, the Palace of Fine Arts, and more.

>> More details on SF's free walking tours

Concerts in San Francisco

If you love to listen to live music, then you will find plenty of options this weekend in SF. We have venues large and small with everything from well known artists to popular local bands.

>> Click here for a full schedule of concerts this weekend

Hotels for San Francisco Fleet Week

Since more than a million people attend Fleet Week San Francisco each year, I highly recommend booking your hotels early.

Note: Most hotels will not guarantee that you will get a waterfront room to see the show from your room. Plus, you won't get great views of most of the show so I recommend heading outside to watch it.

All events are in Fisherman's Wharf and it's a great place to stay. You can easily walk to and from your hotel to see the shows and enjoy all of the activities.

Here are a few recommendations in this San Francisco neighborhood.

Courtyard by Marriott: 3-star hotel, 2 blocks from the waterfront, next door to In-N-Out Burger, 580 Beach Street, read recent guest reviews on Booking

Marriott Fisherman's Wharf: 3.5-star hotel, 2.5 to 3 blocks to the waterfront, great for those also visiting North Beach, 1250 Columbus Street, read recent reviews on Booking

Hotel Zoe: 4-star hotel, 3 blocks to the waterfront, steps away from the Powell/Mason cable car turnaround, 425 North Point Street, read reviews from recent guests on Booking

Find additional hotel recommendations for Fisherman's Wharf.

Fleet Week San Francisco Ship Tours (TBD for 2022)

The Fleet Week San Francisco ship tours are wildly popular. All tours are free, and they encourage you to interact with the sailors on board. I recommend showing up well before they open their doors, as it's first come, first served and the lines get long fast.

Note: This is the schedule from 2021. They usually release the full schedule and details about the ships just a few days before each one arrives in San Francisco for safety reasons. This will give you an idea on what to expect in 2022. I'll update this in early October which is when they usually announce these details.

Wednesday 10/6, Thursday 10/7, Saturday 10/9 and Sunday 10/10

10 am to 4 pm all four days
SF Pier 30/32
Pier 35

Monday, October 11

9 am to 12 pm
Pier 30/32
Pier 35

Here are the ships for 2021:

USS Michael Monsour : DDG 1000-class guided missile destroyer
USS John S. McCain : DDG 51 class guided missile destroyer
USS Shoupe : DDG 51 class guided missile destroyer
USS Rushmore : Dock landing ship

More Pictures and What to Expect in 2022

Below are a few of my photos from previous years for each activity. They will give you an idea of what to expect this year.

Parade of Ships 2022: Friday, October 7 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

The Parade of Ships is the official start of the Fleet Week San Francisco celebrations. All of the ships for the event come in under the Golden Gate Bridge and head to their designated pier in San Francisco. You can tour all of these ships during the three-day celebration.

A couple of years ago, my mom, sister, and I were on Alcatraz Island during the Parade of Ships, which is one of the best places to be for this event. Here are just some of my pictures from that day.

Several boats waiting, in the San Francisco Bay, for the Parade of Ships at the start of Fleet Week

The Parade of Ships is about ready to begin. The boats at the bottom of the picture are all waiting for the parade to start. In the background is the Golden Gate Bridge, which is where all the boats enter the San Francisco Bay for the event.

One of the first boats coming into the San Francisco Bay for Fleet Week

This is one of the first boats coming in for Fleet Week San Francisco. You can see the downtown San Francisco skyline in the background.

The large aircraft carrier for Fleet Week entering the San Francisco Bay

This is one of the largest ships that come into San Francisco for Fleet Week. It's an aircraft carrier and is open for tours all weekend. In the background are the Presidio and the Palace of Fine Arts.

Another shot of the large aircraft carrier ship in the San Francisco Bay for Fleet Week

This is a second look at the aircraft carrier heading into San Francisco. It's close to Alcatraz Island and making its way to its pier to set up for tours. You can again see downtown San Francisco including the Transamerica building in the background.

Fleet Week San Francisco Air Show: Friday, Saturday & Sunday

The event that most people come out for is the air show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm. There are several performances during the four-hour show.

All three days, the air show finishes with an amazing performance by the Blue Angels. They always start their performance a little after 3pm. Even if you have watched them before, you will never get tired of seeing their performance over the San Francisco Bay.

Here are just a few of my Blue Angels photos from previous Fleet Week San Francisco performances. This is a shot of just four of the six Blue Angels doing a maneuver. This is another shot from Pier 39.

Blue Angels performing over the San Francisco Bay at Fleet Week

This is another shot of the Blue Angels, in the distance, performing over the San Francisco Bay. In front is a crowd of people and the sea lions near Pier 39.

Fleet Week San Francisco and the Blue Angels

The smoke trailing the Blue Angels as they perform another maneuver.

Single Blue Angels jet flying over Pier 39 during Fleet Week

The Blue Angels get daringly close during their performance. My camera does not have a great zoom, so this shows just how close you will feel from the viewing area!

You can also head out to catch some of the practice session on Thursday. There are fewer people around and they don't perform their entire show. However, it's a great way to catch the action if you are not going to be around on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

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Source: https://www.sftourismtips.com/fleet-week-san-francisco.html