Fleet Week on Oct 7-9 is a military demonstration in San Francisco held each year. One of the main attractions, the Blue Angels, was canceled on Sunday due to fog in the city. 

History and Attractions

Formed in 1982 by President Roosevelt, Fleet Week continues to bring a sense of patriotism to the hearts of Americans all over the country, which was its intended purpose. In addition, it brings the city $10 million in revenue yearly. 

“I love watching the Blue Angels from the water. My dad has a boat and we go to Alcatraz Island and watch them every year,” said Sofia Carreira (‘26). 

The main attraction consists of six F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets that perform stunts such as barrel rolls, loops, various formations flying vertically and upside down, and all at speeds up to 700 miles per hour and as high as 8000 feet off the ground. 

The planes can be seen and heard from all over San Francisco, but crowds mostly gather at the Marina District by the water to watch the show. Booths and vendors set up at Crissy Field and profit from the tourism that the event attracts. 

“We loved walking by the food trucks in the park. I bought a hot dog and a magnet souvenir for my fridge,” said Carreira’s father. 

Budget and Taxpayer money

Although the show is free to watch, the cost to maintain and deploy the Blue Angels costs roughly $112 million yearly in taxpayer dollars. Some argue that this is an absurd amount to be spending on a two-hour air show. 

“I think there are other ways to show patriotism without having to spend taxpayer’s dollars,” said Vivian Liu (‘23).