The
Blue Angels have returned to Annapolis, Maryland, where the team will perform a special flyover during the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and perform during the Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week. Fans will get a chance to see the
Blue Angels perform a practice show over the Severn River on Tuesday before seeing the full air show on Wednesday afternoon. Here’s what to know about the Blue Angels Annapolis performance and the schedule.
When do the Blue Angels fly in Annapolis?
The Blue Angels will perform over Annapolis at 2 p.m. on May 20-21.
Is the Blue Angels performance in Annapolis open to the public?
The public is able to catch the Blue Angels performance at the Naval Academy Commissioning week from several vantage points around the city. In past shows, people have lined up along the bridge between Eastport and Annapolis and City Dock. Onboard the Naval Academy, the Hospital Point is another favorite. And, of course, anyone with a boat is able to anchor in Severn River or Spa Creek, though they should be mindful of maritime restrictions put in place during the duration of the show.
Is the Severn River open to public boats?
Spectators can watch the Blue Angels fly above Annapolis by boat, but they will need to be aware of zones that will be temporarily restricted during the show. These channels will be marked with red and green buoys. The channel must be kept clear of anchored boats throughout the show. Anchoring outside of these zones is fine. The best places to anchor are off Greenbury Point, by Carr Creek, or on the other side of the flight box, closer to the Rt. 50 Bridge, according to the Annapolis website.
Where to park at Blue Angels Annapolis air show
The Blue Angels Annapolis air show isn't a typical show, so finding a place to park and a vantage point can be difficult. The city of Annapolis posted traffic information that can help you find the best option.
Parking : Parking at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and taking the free shuttle to enter through the Visitor Center at Gate One is the easiest option. A Real ID is needed to enter. If you're headed downtown, the city garages are another safe bet. These options include Hillman (150 Gorman St.), Gott’s (45 Calvert St.), Knighton (1A Colonial Ave.), and Park Place (One Park Place).
Heavy traffic : Give yourself plenty of time to account for an increase in vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Download the “Prepare Me Annapolis” mobile app (Apple/Android) to receive local traffic alerts. The city says that traffic around the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Rowe Boulevard could be especially slow until about 3 p.m. on Friday.
Downtown parking : Expect parking to be limited throughout the week. Visit
www.AnnapolisParking.com to reserve garage parking at Gott’s and Knighton garages. The city says there will be strict enforcement of metered parking, two-hour limited spaces, Residential Permit Zones and red zones. Visitors are strongly encouraged to park at Knighton (Corner of Colonial Avenue and West Street) and Park Place (Just off of West Street and Spa Road) garages and take the free downtown “magenta” shuttle. The shuttle can be tracked using the transloc app or on the web:
https://accessannapolis.transloc.com/routes .
Road and bridge closures during Blue Angels Annapolis air show
The U.S. Naval Academy just announced the following road closures and traffic restrictions ahead of the air show. The following roads will have some traffic restrictions: McNair Road, Sims Road, Holloway Road, Turner Joy Road, Ericson Court, Mid Store lot, 5th and 7th Wing parking lots, Osborne Road and Ramsey Road. Cooper Road will be open for outbound traffic. The Anne Arundel County Police Department provided details on the impacted traffic patterns.
What to know about boating to the Blue Angels Annapolis air show
Boaters must pay close attention to markers that delineate exclusionary zones and temporary channels (marked by red and green buoys) on both Tuesday and Wednesday. The Annapolis Harbormaster operates on VHF 17. The area of Spa Creek and the Severn River will be patrolled by the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Natural Resources Police, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Annapolis Harbormaster, Annapolis Police and Annapolis Fire Rescue boats. For complete information on maritime traffic rules and procedures, visit: the Annapolis
Harbormaster’s web page on maritime rules for Blue Angels .
Blue Angels schedule at Annapolis for Naval Academy Commissioning week
When will the Blue Angels perform their flyover?
The Blue Angels are currently scheduled to perform a graduation flyover around 10:04 a.m.
How long do the Blue Angels fly?
A Blue Angels air show is typically an all-day event spanning about eight hours. Civilian acts and other military performers take to the skies throughout the day leading up to the final event: the Blue Angels. Fat Albert will lead the Blues with a short 10-15-minute demonstration, and the Blues will perform for about an hour afterward.
What planes do the Blue Angels fly?
In 2021, the Blue Angels started flying in a new airplane for the first time in more than 30 years — the
Super Hornet F/A-18 E/F . The new jets are 25% larger, fly 40% further, remain on station 80% longer and can carry more weapons than their predecessors. The team previously flew F/A-18 Hornets, which they transitioned to from the A-4F Skyhawk II in 1986.
Editor's note: This story was updated to add a photo gallery.
