SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco Fleet Week is happening. Day one of the airshow happening Friday over the Bay – it’s a smaller show due to the government shutdown but the big crowds showed up like in years past.
A big, visual welcome came from one of San Francisco’s fire boats for the HMCS Nanaimo, an impressive coastal defense vessel belonging to the Royal Canadian Navy.
It’s on its way to the Atlantic Coast, but it made a much-anticipated stop in San Francisco for Fleet Week 2025.
“Any opportunity we have to visit San Francisco or anywhere in California, where we take the opportunity,” said Assistant Naval Attache Cmdr. Richard Lane.
The Fleet Week airshow, taking flight over San Francisco Bay with planes doing their thing.
SF FLEET WEEK 2025 SCHEDULE: Air show, performances and more
Royal Canadian Airforce’s Snowbirds headlining the show. The government shutdown is preventing the U.S. Military from taking part.
“It was nice of the Canadians to send their air team,” said Kim Balchios from San Bruno.
It’s likely why Canada’s national anthem was played before the Star Spangled Banner.
“That’s good, we like the Canadians, God bless them,” said Lou Windhurst from Point Richmond.
“That’s great but I love the Blue Angels,” Balchios said.
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The ARC Gloria made a grand entrance to the Bay Area Thursday for San Francisco Fleet Week, and the public is invited to step aboard the Colombian Navy’s flagship and training vessel.
No Blue Angels flying this year. It might be why parts of the Marina Green were looking sparse.
“It’s completely empty, the whole field has military exhibits from every branch, right now, it’s an empty field not many people here,” Balchios.
“We still chose to come down, looking forward to Snowbirds,” said Ingrid Ream. I
Ingrid Ream from Reno is here with her family. We asked her how the crowds compared to last year.
“Oh my gosh, so different, we actually found parking in the Marina,” Ream said.
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“I’m enjoying it, but the feeling around the city is subdued, as opposed to it being fleet week, everyone settles down here,” said David McNiece from Ohio.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps still have a small presence here despite the shutdown, with local recruiters who didn’t have to travel.
If you can’t watch the Blue Angels fly, you can always pick up a jacket or a toy plane, vendors were still selling merch.
“These toy planes are hot tomatoes, $20, usually we have to call and order more and more and more,” said Traci Watson-Akbar.
The San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show continues Saturday and Sunday.
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