Fleet Week, New York’s annual celebration of sea services, brings Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen into the city for a week of fun events and more traditional pomp and circumstance. This year, service men and women will be honored with events across the city on Wednesday, May 20-Tuesday, May 26. With impressive ships, snazzy uniforms, and powerful planes, Fleet Week events can make for a fun family outing, and below, we’ve rounded up a few great options. For a full schedule of Fleet Week events, visit fleetweeknewyork.com!
Navy Band Concert in Bryant Park
Tuesday, May 19
12:30-1:30pm
The Navy Band Northeast “Pops Ensemble” will give a free concert in Bryant Park on Tuesday! 35 talented Navy musicians from across the country will perform everything from traditional concert band tunes to popular standards to jazz and patriotic favorites.
Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum Fleet Week Celebration
Wednesday, May 20-Tuesday, May 26
Various times
Celebrate Fleet Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum! Enjoy hands-on activities led by NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and other military partners; hear from astronaut and naval pilot Scott Altman, who served as Tom Cruise’s flight double in “Top Gun,” and other former astronauts and military aviators at a special Meet the Pilots event.
Spirit Cruises Fleet Week Cruises
Wednesday, May 20-Tuesday, May 26
Various times
There’s no better place to celebrate Fleet Week than on the water! Witness a a special gathering of military ships to celebrate Fleet Week 2015 aboard a Spirit lunch, brunch, or dinner cruise. Crusies will depart from NYC’s Chelsea Piers and Lincoln Harbor, New Jersey.
Parade of Ships
Wednesday, May 20
10am
Come out to the New York Harbor for the Navy Ships Parade! Check out a flotilla of three US Navy ships, four U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol boats, and two US Coast Guard cutters. The parade can be seen along the Hudson River from Battery Park to south of the George Washington Bridge. Get a good spot in any park along the water and enjoy a picnic lunch with your family while watching the parade! The event is free and open to the public.
US Navy Aviation Demonstrations
Thursday, May 21-Monday, May 25
Times vary
To celebrate Fleet Week, the US Navy and Marine Corps will exhibit their fighter planes, jets, and helicopters in aviation demonstrations as well as flyovers around the city. The events are taking place across the metropolitan region from May 21 to May 25. The aviation demonstrations on the weekend of May 24 are free and open to public. On Sunday May 24, the event takes place at Eisenhower Park (in East Meadow, NY) at 10am, and on Monday May 25, the events will be held at both Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum at 11am and Citi Field at 1:10pm.
