Fleet Week on the Battleship IOWA

LA Fleet Week 2025 is Southern California’s largest Memorial Day weekend event, celebrating the U.S. military services and honoring those who have served. From May 21 to 26, there will be tall ships, big ships, live music, military talent and cooking competitions, and plenty of food, drinks and patriotic pride on the LA Waterfront. This annual event is free and a wonderful mix of heritage and high-energy fun for the whole family.

Fleet Week activities, including performances by the Navy and Marine bands, commence May 22 and occur throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties before shifting from May 24-27 to the LA Fleet Week Expo taking place on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro.

LA Fleet Week kicks off with a welcome party on Thursday, May 22, in downtown San Pedro with an evening featuring food trucks, a beer and wine garden and performances by the U.S. Navy Band and local groups. The following day, May 23, the Fleet Week Expo opens on the LA Waterfront (600 E Fifth St, San Pedro) located next to the Battleship IOWA (250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro).

The Expo, open Friday-Monday from 10 AM to 6 PM, will have a dizzying array of hands-on displays and equipment demonstrations as well as plenty of food and entertainment. Some highlights include popular military competitions like dodgeball, “Military Has Talent” showcase and Galley Wars culinary competition, where teams from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Army showcase their cooking skills.

Friday will also kick off Fleet Week’s Festival of Sail. Presented by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, it not only allows visitors to tour tall ships, but also offers sailing opportunities, historic reenactors, crafts and scout maritime demonstrations. Festival of Sail takes place at the West Harbor Promenade located just south of the LA Maritime Museum (Berth 84, San Pedro).

One of the main attractions of the weekend is the opportunity to tour active-duty military ships docked in San Pedro’s Outer Harbor. Visitors can access these ships via shuttle services from the main event area near the Battleship Iowa Museum. Ship tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all adults must present a valid government-issued ID to board. Though ships to be featured cannot be announced in advance for security reasons, they are always fascinating to behold. Last year’s featured vessel was the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

As the event concludes on Memorial Day, a solemn ceremony will be held to honor those who have given their lives in the defense of the country. This observance will take place on the LA Fleet Week Expo main stage, adjacent to the Battleship Iowa, providing a meaningful end to a weekend of celebration.

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Veterans Memorials in Long Beach

Long Beach has a long, proud history as a major naval, aviation and aerospace center for the US armed forces, making Memorial Day in the city that much more meaningful. There are numerous locations throughout the city that have either served or honor those who served and sacrificed for the freedom we enjoy today.

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Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.