Participants gather for the third day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleetman, Associate Photographer)
A firefighting helicopter glides past a crane at the Port of Los Angeles on its way to a flyover of the Battleship Iowa during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
A team from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier competes in a military dodgeball tournament during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
The Army Desert Donkeys show off their championship trophy after winning the 3rd Annual Military Dodgeball Tournament during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Sunday, May 26, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
A firefighting helicopter flies over the USS Iowa during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
A flag flies near the Battleship Iowa during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro on Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
The Garvin family, from Torrance, tours some of the tall ships on display at the Festival of Sails, part of LA Fleet Week, Saturday, May 25, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
The tall ship, with its elaborate 90-foot mast, will be open for free tours at the Festival of Sails on Saturday, May 25, 2024, as part of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
The Garvin family, from Torrance, tour one of the tall ships on display at the Festival of Sails, part of LA Fleet Week, Saturday, May 25, 2024, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Tall ships lure visitors for free tours at the Festival of Sail, Saturday, May 25, 2024, as part of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associated Photographer)
Participants gathered on the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Friday, May 24, 2024, giving them a chance to interact with military personnel and see vehicle and weapon demonstrations up close. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors line up to tour the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday morning, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier with San Pedro in the background early Friday, May 24, 2024, on the first day of Fleet Week in Los Angeles. (Photo by Howard Fleetman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors get an up-close look at an E-2 Hawkeye on display on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors tour the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
An E-2 Hawkeye is moored on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors board the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
Visitors line up to tour the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during the first day of LA Fleet Week in San Pedro early Friday morning, May 24, 2024. (Photo by Howard Fleshman, Associate Photographer)
San Pedro hosted a welcome party for Fleet Week 24 on Thursday night. The celebration took place on Mesa Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, featuring a beer garden, food trucks and vendors. Area businesses also got involved, flying red, white and blue flags and putting up welcoming signs. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associated Photographer)
San Pedro hosted a welcome party for Fleet Week 24 on Thursday night. The celebration took place on Mesa Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, featuring a beer garden, food trucks and vendors. Area businesses also got involved, flying red, white and blue flags and putting up welcoming signs. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associated Photographer)
San Pedro hosted a welcome party for Fleet Week 24 on Thursday night. The celebration took place on Mesa Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, featuring a beer garden, food trucks and vendors. Area businesses also got involved, flying red, white and blue flags and putting up welcoming signs. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associated Photographer)
The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier enters the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 20, 2024, greeted by Los Angeles County Fireboat No. 2. The ship is taking part in the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week celebrations. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The ship is part of the port’s weekend-long Fleet Week festivities. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Associate Photographer)
More than 100,000 people gathered in San Pedro over Memorial Day weekend to take part in the ninth annual Los Angeles Fleet Week, organizers said.
These crowds proved once again that Fleet Week has become one of San Pedro’s most popular annual events.
That wasn’t a big surprise: After all, the four-day event had a big draw, with aircraft carriers making an appearance on the tour for the first time in several years.
But getting a tour of the impressive USS Carl Vinson means waiting for hours, so it’s not for the faint of heart – although many say it was worth the wait.
“It was really worth it,” said Cathy Gooley, a former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher and Panorama City resident. “How many people can say they’ve been on or below the deck of one of the 11 active aircraft carriers currently deployed around the world?”
Some people were turned away because it was determined that the boat tours had reached capacity for that day.
“I talked to people who were disappointed,” said Elise Swanson, president and CEO of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, which coordinated the information booth. “It was probably the largest turnout for a Fleet Week that I’ve ever been involved with.”
Some people who had previously been denied entry were adamant about boarding the giant aircraft carrier in the Outer Harbor, and returned before dawn on Monday, the final day of Fleet Week, and began lining up at 4:30 a.m., Swanson said.
On Saturday, organizers implemented a time-stamped ticket distribution system that offered tickets to people who were in line within a designated time slot, which Arlie Baker, senior director of public affairs for the Port of Los Angeles, said has helped.
“For the most part, people were understanding and patient,” Baker said, “and of course some were heartbroken that they couldn’t get on the Carl Vincent.”
Despite the disappointment, Baker said, “I think everyone understood it was first come, first served.”
This demand is likely due to the fact that booking an aircraft carrier for Fleet Week is extremely rare.
“It’s going to be historic,” Baker said of this year’s event. “We’re the only carrier-based fleet week event this year, so it’s a great honor.”
Also available for tours are the U.S. Coast Guard’s Terrell Horn patrol boat and San Pedro’s World War II-era battleship, the USS Battleship Iowa.
But beyond touring the ship, there was plenty to do during the four-day event, including exhibits throughout the Expo next to the Iowa, military equipment, and continuous entertainment on the main stage.
Dodgeball, music and cooking competitions were held, pitting the military services against one another.
The closing day also featured several off-site events, including a gathering of 500 uniformed sailors walking across the 6th Street Viaduct in downtown Los Angeles.
While in port, the crew enjoyed trips to Dodger Stadium and Disneyland.
Baker said the weather was cool and near ideal.
LA Fleet Week originally began as a Labor Day weekend event, but was moved to Memorial Day weekend due to favorable weather conditions, a time that typically brings scorching heat in Southern California.
Milder weather may also be a factor in the event’s increased popularity, but Baker said the still-under-construction West Harbor has helped ease crowds this year by hosting some events.
And it could be even more of a help next year, when at least some of West Harbor’s waterfront attractions will likely be open for business by the time the 2025 L.A. Fleet Week rolls around next Memorial Day.
“West Harbor hosted some after-hours events this year,” Baker said, “which did a great job of moving people out of the expo area.”
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