It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a… yep, it’s a plane. Fleet Week took over San Francisco over the past few days, with the Blue Angels scorching through the skies, bringing San Franciscans to their rooftops to take in the spectacle and causing pets to cover in fear. And of course, it brought swarms of sailors out to the Marina, North Beach and other shore-adjacent neighborhoods.
The yearly tradition began in 1981 as an initiative launched by then-mayor Dianne Feinstein to honor our sea-faring armed services. The week of festivities includes air shows and a parade of ships, plus community events scattered throughout the city, including a slew of performance by navy and air force bands. There are also memorials for fallen marines, a Duboce Park party for K9 heroes, ship tours and a mini festival on Fisherman’s Wharf. The festivities also coincide with America’s oldest Italian American parade, which features actor Joe Mantegna (“Criminal Minds,” “The Godfather Part III” and the voice of Fat Tony on “The Simpsons”) as this year’s grand marshall.
LTJG Frank Trinh of Pomona, Calif., stands for a portrait the USS Ashland docked at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, 2026. “I love the vibrancy and culture of Chinatown, from the food to the lion dancers who we actually got to see rehearsing this weekend. It’s been such a good trip, thank you San Francisco.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
SN Lucas Tuberquia of Newark, N.J., poses for a photo during Fleet Week, on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2026. Tuberquia makes a point to visit The Buena Vista Cafe every time he’s in the City for the Irish Coffee and mentioned some other favorites, “I love the history, the cable cars, the buildings, Alcatraz.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
E5 James Pegues of Ft. Worth, Tex., left and E5/T2 Maverick Delva of Meridian, Miss., enjoy a San Francisco Fleet Week liberty night out in the city’s North Beach neighborhood on Friday night, Oct. 9, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Cpl. Eleanor Chirico of DuBois, Penn., poses for a portrait outside Westwood before her Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series set at the San Francisco Marina bar on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
If you make it out to a bar this weekend, the scene will likely look far different thanks to Fleet Week. With over a thousand men and women in uniform coming into the city on shore leave, naturally they flock to local watering holes to let off some steam. It’s a boon for local businesses, with bars like North Beach’s Legacy Bar and the Marina’s Silver Cloud stating that its one of the busiest weekends of the year.
To capture all of the festivities, we sent freelance photography team Kevin Kelleher and Emily Trinh out into the city. Scroll down to see all of their best photos from the weekend.
Gunner’s Mate 1st Class Matthew Woody of Roswell, New Mexico, poses for a photo in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood on Friday night, Oct. 9, 2026. On the topic of his time in San Francisco, he said,”I just met this guy right here and he gave me a White Claw. Then I was at The Saloon earlier and started chopping it up with the band who just handed me their CD. First time in SF and I’m coming back. Love this place.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
The 1st Marine Division Band performs as part of the Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina District on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Marine Corp serice members cheer for the 1st Marine Division Band as part of the Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina District on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
The crowd at Westwood responds to the Marine Corps performances at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina District on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Lance Cpl Jacob Post of New Berlin, Penn., stands on the stage at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina district on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. Post performed with the 1st Marine Division Band as part of the Fleet Week Neighborhood Concert Series where Navy and Marine Corp bands perform free concerts across the City. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Cpl Duncan Love-Grove of Orleans, Vt., kicks back after the 1st Marine Division Brass Band and Popular Music Group performances at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina district on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. “When compared to all the places I’ve been like Paris, Budapest, Manila, or Vienna, San Francisco has always been my favorite city.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
MSgt David Birkby of Syracuse, N.Y. unwinds after running the sound board for the 1st Marine Division Brass Band and Popular Music Group performances at Westwood in San Francisco’s Marina district on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. “Everywhere you look there’s something unique or historic to see. I keep going back to all of them-The Presidio, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and especially the redwoods.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
SSgt Elizabeth Kelson of Columbus, Ohio and her boyfriend SSgt Jesse Sylvester of Ft Collins, Colo., hang out at Westwood in San Francisco following their annual performance at the Marina bar on Saturday night, Oct. 10, 2026. Kelson shares, “I’ve been here multiple times, but I always love to be reminded everyone’s gratitude for our service and how much everyone loves fleet week. We will be back!” Adds Sylvester, “This is my first time here and I love how welcoming everyone out on the streets has been.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
San Francisco’s own, Lt. Joseph Baba of Glen Park takes a moment between tours for a portrait aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Baba explains what he loves about residing in the City, “It’s just fun to live here and there’s a lot of deep-rooted civic pride. There’s also nothing like walking through an urban environment and a then being in a forest within twenty minutes. Like right where I live for instance in Glen Park. Everyone has to go visit Glen Park Canyon.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
During Fleet Week, San Francisco neighborhoods become full of uniformed servicemen and women. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
HM3 Lauren Calvert of Austin, Texas stands for a portrait on the USS Ashland on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, 2026. Calvert was just promoted on the ship during a ceremony that was held while sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. “That’s kinda hard to top for a favorite thing about this amazing city but I also love the people, everyone I’ve met has been so, so nice and welcoming.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
From left, ENS James Crowley, Fairfax, Va., and ENS Patrick Baldwin-McCurdy, of Seattle, Wash., pose for a photo on Fisherman’s Wharf during San Francisco Fleet Week, Oct. 10, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Left to right, Lance Corporal Julian Barrios of Orlando, Fla. and Corporal Hunter Bryant Wills of Seattle Wash. stand aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. “When I first saw the fog,” said Barrios, “that it was actually a real thing here like that, it felt like a movie. Like, we literally didn’t see the Golden Gate Bridge until we were right under it. That’s crazy.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Engineman 2nd Class Mitchell Mann stands topside while working aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. “This is such a beautiful city with some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
1st. Lt. Michael Fraticelli of Raliegh, N.C. stands for a portrait next to a Light Armored Vehicle (LAR) aboard the USS Ashland in San Francisco at Pier 35 on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, 2026. Fraticelli cites the weather as his favorite part of San Francisco. “It’s a little bit cold, I have to say, but just the right amount of cold and that’s perfect for me, I’ve been enjoying it.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Cpl Joseph Wiwakan takes a moment for a portrait aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, 2026. Wiwakan reflects on his time here, “I fell in love with San Francisco when I first drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, the natural beauty of the entire Bay Area really captured my attention. A few of my favorite places in San Francisco include the City Lights bookstore, Specs’ bar and Club Fugazi. I cannot wait to visit San Francisco again.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Ensign Samuel Kennedy of Knoxville, Tenn. stands for a portrait aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. When asked what his favorite part about San Francisco is, the Knoxville-native chooses his words thoughtfully. “The cultures of the local communities then so many other small communities within them. And I’ve gotten to experience them in a unique way through my father. He came here with friends in 1969 and lived here about a year and a half during a pivotal time for music. He got to see the Grateful Dead in their heyday and turned me onto the music and brought me here as a kid. That was really special.” Kennedy is a Public Affairs Officer providing thorough and insightful tours during Fleet Week. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Lance Cpl. Connor J. Eiriksson of Seattle, Wash. stands for a portrait aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. “I went up to Coit Tower yesterday and it was incredible looking out over the city and seeing how vast and expansive it is. Just being here has been nothing shy of amazing.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Lance Cpl. Collin Turner of Berkeley springs, W. Va. keeps watch aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Turner doesn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite part of the City by the Bay, “The people in Chinatown for sure. They’re all so supportive and welcoming of us. We were at Bow Bow on Grant for karaoke. Of course, I had to sing Country Roads by John Denver but I call it Mountain Mama. Y’know, West Virigina and everything.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
ENS Nikolaos Pelekanos of Rockville, Md., stands aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco before opening the Navy ship to tours on Sunday morning, Oct. 10, 2026. He shares his thoughts on the City, “I mean, we might not have a naval base here but when walking around, we’ve gotten the sense that people not only appreciate what we do but with all these tours, they have a genuine interest in what we do. I’ve had people stop me on the street and shake my hand thanking me for what I do. I love being here in this city.” (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
Marine Corps members from left, Cpl. Hunter Bryant Wills of Seattle, Wash., Lance Cpl. Julian Barrios of Orlando, Fla., Lance Cpl. Agustin Luna of Denver, Colo., HM3 Lauren Calvert of Austin, Texas, Lance Cpl. Connor J. Eiriksson of Seattle, Wash., 1st. Lt. Michael Fraticelli of Raliegh, N.C., Lance Cpl. Collin Turner of Berkeley springs, W. Va., and Cpl Joseph Wiwakan, all of the 1st LAR Jump Platoon stand on deck aboard the USS Ashland at Pier 35 in San Francisco before offering tours and demos on Sunday morning, Oct. 11, 2026. (Kevin Kelleher & Emily Trinh/For SFGATE)
This article originally published at Partying sailors descend on San Francisco for Fleet Week.