Fleet Week 2025: Your Guide to San Francisco’s Biggest (and Loudest) October Tradition

From October 5–13, the skies above San Francisco come alive with Fleet Week 2025 — one of the city’s most thrilling and beloved annual events. Whether it’s your first time hearing the roar of the Blue Angels or you’re a seasoned local with a favorite viewing spot, Hotel Julian is the perfect place to stay for a front-row seat to the action — and a quiet, stylish retreat when it’s time to recharge.

What Is Fleet Week?

Fleet Week is San Francisco’s celebration of the sea services — the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard — and features ship tours, humanitarian demonstrations, and, of course, the world-famous Blue Angels Air Show. It’s equal parts patriotic, awe-inspiring, and just plain fun.

The Main Events (And What Not to Miss)

• Blue Angels Air Show: Oct 11–13 (Friday–Sunday afternoons)
  Watch F/A-18 jets perform jaw-dropping aerobatics over the Bay — best seen from the waterfront or high vantage points.
• Ship Tours: Available most days along the Embarcadero
  Tour active military vessels docked at SF piers.
• Humanitarian Village at Marina Green
  Learn how disaster response teams mobilize in real time.

Best Places to Watch

• Crissy Field or Marina Green (biggest crowds, clearest view)
• Pier 39 or Fisherman’s Wharf (classic tourist energy)
• Coit Tower or Telegraph Hill (if you like a view with fewer crowds)
• Or… from your stroll around Union Square or Nob Hill — jets can be seen and heard all over town.

Stay Stylishly Close to It All

Hotel Julian places you minutes from the Embarcadero, Marina, and key public transit — so you can experience the buzz of Fleet Week without giving up comfort or style. After a day of ship tours and sky-gazing, wind down at Carlotta’s with a bold cocktail and artful ambiance that feels worlds away from the crowds.