Hundreds kick off Day 1 of LA Fleet Week, with much more to come this weekend
LA Fleet Week officially kicked off on Friday, May 24, with hundreds of people converging at San Pedro’s waterfront to get an opportunity to meet visiting service members, go on ship tours, interact with equipment and more.
The star of this year’s ninth annual Fleet Week was the USS Carl Vinson, one of 11 mega warships in the nation’s Navy fleet. The show-stopping aircraft carrier being in the lineup for the first time in 13 years, it drew in crowds of hundred – causing tours to be spotted by mid-day.
But there was still a lot more to enjoy from other tours of active duty ships, equipment demonstrations, aircraft flyovers, food trucks, and live music and entertainment.
People from near and far attended the first day of Fleet Week, which officials call the largest Memorial Day weekend even in Southern California.
“It’s excellent,” said Ray Gonzalez, who traveled from Utah to attend the event and spend time with family. “I would definitely recommend people come out, I do think it is one of the best Fleet Weeks.”
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, which gives them the opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, which gives them the opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Eddie Allen of Los Angeles has his picture taken atop a tank by a soldier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, giving them an opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, which gives them the opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees turn out for the first day of LA Fleet Week, which gives them the opportunity to interact with military personnel and see close-up vehicle and weapons demonstrations, on Friday, May 24, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors get a closeup view of a Sikorsky SH-60 Seahwak helicopter on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors begin a tour of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors queue up for a tour of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
With San Pedro in the background, visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
With San Pedro in the background, visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Vanderveen family, stationed on the nearby USS Iowa, take a tour of the visiting USS Carl Vinson on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Alan Johnson, third from left, stationed on the nearby USS Iowa, is joined by friends and family from Lake Tahoe in front of an E-2 Hawkeye on the USS Carl Vinson on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A chain of command display welcomes visitors near the entrance of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An E-2 Hawkeye sits on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An E-2 Hawkeye sits on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors get a closeup view of an E-2 Hawkeye on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Navy pilot Jess Flanagan hands out stickers to youngsters alongside a Sikorsky SH-60 Seahwak helicopter on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An E-2 Hawkeye sits on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Navy Lt.j.g. Suzelle Thomas tells visitors about the F-35 fighter jet behind her on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors queue up for a tour of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier early Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier on Friday, May 24, 2024, the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Many people were able to make it onto the USS Carl Vinson, taking pictures and touring the famed aircraft carrier, as they lined up as early as 7:30 a.m. But others were not so lucky – by noon on Friday tours had stopped to make time for the hundreds still in line.
Tours for the USS Carl Vinson, as well as the ACTUV Sea Hunter and the US Coast Guard ship will continue daily throughout Fleet Week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Memorial Day, May 27.
“There was probably two hours worth of line still waiting to get on the aircraft carrier, which is why I came here, by 1 p.m.,” said Torrance resident Robert Henderson, who is planning to get in line for the tour earlier tomorrow to get a chance to see the USS Carl Vinson.
Henderson said that he comes every year to support Fleet Week because his brother was in the military for 22 years and his father was in World War II.
“I absolutely would recommend people come out to Fleet Week, especially because children can climb inside the tanks, and all the big equipment,” he said. “(Service members) always ask if they can answer any of your questions, and everyone is very friendly.”
At the main expo venue, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., crowds in the early afternoon were taking in the many displays of equipment operated by the Navy, Marines and Army, and getting to interact with military personnel – which is always a highlight emphasized during Fleet Week events.
There are also different booths such as the Los Angeles Fire and Police department, the Port Police, military recruitment booths, local boy scout troops, and local vendors.
“I personally think that it is extremely important for people to see what they actually do,” said Lisa Bernatc, from Redondo Beach, whose two siblings and partner are in the military, “and to celebrate this Memorial Day weekend.”
The festivities are only just beginning as Fleet Week will run through Monday, May 27.
There is plenty lined up for Saturday, including:
–9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Festival of Sail at LA Fleet Week.
–10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Aircraft Flyovers.
–10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Saturday Entertainment Line Up.
–10 a.m.: Battleship Iowa Tours.
–10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Military Has Talent qualifying round.
–11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: LA Fleet Week comes to Venice Beach.
–Noon to 2:30 p.m.: Galley Wars at the Main Expo.
–5 to 10 p.m.: West Harbor After Party.
–7 to 10 p.m.: Concert for the troops at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club.
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