Fleet Week returning to Baltimore next week with new flyovers, festivities
BALTIMORE -- Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover returns as an in-person event to Baltimore's Inner Harbor next week. The event is packed with flyovers and some of the most impressive vessels to set sail.
Visitors will be able to tour vessels from the United States, British and Canadian navies, as well as ships from the US Coast Guard, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and Army Corps of Engineers.
The Danmark, a training ship run by the Danish Maritime Authority, will also be there.
On the weekend of Sept. 9-11, military aircraft, including F-18s and A-10s, will conduct hourly flyovers between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. over the harbor.
The free event draws thousands to the Inner Harbor with a variety of military aircraft in the skies while the water hosts a variety of vessels.
The massively popular event will be in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
"Fleet Week hasn't been here since 2018. So it gives us an opportunity to really showcase the city," said Jerry Early, senior marketing manager of the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, where there are only a few rooms still available.
With the festival's return, local businesses look forward to the economic boost.
"You really couldn't have a better vantage point," Early said. "You walk right out our front door and it's about 10 steps to the harbor, so it's a great location."
City Cruises lets you see the ships from the water, and they've expanded their schedule to offer sightseeing cruises every day during Fleet Week.
"There's nothing like seeing the city and the vessels from the water," said Linda Circo, the company's regional director of sales. "We're going to go right past the naval fleet along with the historic ships that will be docked at the Inner Harbor as well as Fells Point."
Phillips Seafood will give guests a taste of Maryland.
"We're excited. It brings tons of families down, locals out," said Michelle Torres, corporate director of marketing and business development. "We'll be doing our blue crab margarita, orange crushes. We're gonna have hard shell crabs and, of course, our famous crabcakes."
In addition to the ships and flights, there are not one but three festivals.
The first will be held at West Shore Park in the Inner Harbor on Sept. 9-11 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
There will be a new event at Port Covington to be held on Sept. 10-11 from 11 a.m-7 p.m.
An open house will be held at Martin State Airport Fleet Week Open House in Middle River on September 10-11 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
More information is available on the event's website.