What is Fleet Week?:
Since 1984, New York City has held Fleet Week to honor the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The week features extensive military demonstrations, as well as the opportunity for the public to tour some of the visiting ships. The Memorial Day commemoration is a highlight of the week's festivities, featuring the singing of Taps and a military aircraft fly over in honor of those who lost their lives in service to the United States.
What Is There To Do During Fleet Week?:
- Tour visiting ships
- lectures
- watch the parade of ships in the harbor
- watch competitions, including tug of war and eating contests
- Memorial Day ceremony
- musical performances by sailors and marines
Fleet Week Event Schedule:
All events are free, unless they are held at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, which means you'll need to buy tickets to enter the museum (though admission to the Intrepid is free for active and retired military). All events are held in Manhattan, unless otherwise indicated.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009:
- 10 am-1 pm
Parade of Ships
Where: Hudson River on Manhattan's west side
Thursday, May 21, 2009:
- 8 am-5 pm
Free Navy & Coast Guard Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway - 8 am-5 pm
Free US & Canadian Ship Tours
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 9 a.m.-noon
USMC Air/Ground Demo
tactical insertion/extraction of helicopter borne, combat equipped Marines into a landing zone, static displays
Where: Coney Island, Brooklyn - 9 am-4 pm
Marine Day in Central Park
Bands, static displays, martial arts demos, military working dogs
Where: Central Park – 5th Ave/72nd Street - 11 am-noon
USCG Search & Rescue Demo
Location: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 3-5 pm
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Central Park
Friday, May 22, 2009:
- 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of Navy & Coast Guard Ships
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway, Manhattan - 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of US & Canadian Ships
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 9-10:15 am
Reenlistment/Promotion Ceremony
Where: World Trade Center - 10 am–noon
USMC Display
Aviation and personnel equipment
Where: Orchard Beach/Pelham Bay Park, Bronx - 11 am-noon
Iwo Jima Wreath Laying
Where: Intrepid Museum
Saturday, May 23, 2009:
- 7:30-9 am
Tug Of War – USN vs. USMC on the NBC Today Show
Where: Rockefeller Plaza, 49th Street, 5th/6th Avenues - 8 am-5 pm
Free Navy & Coast Guard Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway - 8 am-5 pm
Free US & Canadian Ship Tours
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 9 am-4 pm
USMC Day in Times Square
bands, static displays, martial arts demos, military working dogs
Where: 7th Ave & 46th St. - 10 am-noon
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Eisenhower Park, Long Island - 3-5 pm
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Clove Lake Park, Staten Island - 5-8 pm
USMC Band Performances
Where: Central Park Band Shell
Sunday, May 24, 2009:
- 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of US & Canadian Ships
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 10 am-noon
USMC Air/Ground Demos
Where: Intrepid Museum - 12-4 pm
Intrepid Band Performances
Where: Intrepid Museum - 3-4 pm
Intrepid Best Chow Contest
Where: Intrepid Museum - 5-7 pm
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Playland Park, Rye NY
Monday, May 25, 2009:
- 8 am-5 pm
Free Navy & Coast Guard Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway, Manhattan - 8 am-5 pm
Free US & Canadian Ship Tours
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 11 am-1 pm
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens - 11 am-2 pm
Kings County Memorial Day Parade
Where: 3rd Ave & 87th St, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn - 11 am-2 pm
Glendale Memorial Day Parade
Where: Ridgewood/Glendale, NY - Noon-3 pm
Staten Island Memorial Day Parade
Where: Hart Blvd/Forest Ave - 1-2 pm
Manhattan Memorial Day Parade
Where: Broadway/Dyckman Streets - 2-5 pm
Memorial Day Parade: Bronx City Island
Where: City Island, Bronx
Tuesday, May 26, 2009:
- 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of Navy & Coast Guard Ships
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway, Manhattan - 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of US & Canadian Ships
Where: Stapleton Pier, Staten Island - 9-11 am
USMC Air/Ground Demo
Where: Westbury High School, Long Island
Wednesday, May 27, 2009:
- Ships and service members depart New York City
