The culmination of a midshipmen’s academic career at the U.S. Naval Academy — graduation and commissioning — comes with nearly two weeks of celebratory and historic activities .

Annapolis and the Naval Academy will be host to thousands of visitors waiting to see first-class midshipmen graduate and become commissioned officers in the Navy or Marine Corps.

Some events are open to the public, however, the May 23 graduation is limited to family and guests of midshipmen. Here’s what to expect.

May 13: Sea Trials

Sea Trials, modeled after the Marine Corps’ Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Station recruit programs, kick things off and offer an opportunity for bragging rights.

The capstone event for freshmen, otherwise known as fourth-class midshipmen or plebes, is both a final physical and mental test.

Over a 14-hour period, there will be a variety of challenges around the academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis. The event begins in the dark morning hours and lasts through late evening, testing the plebes’ teamwork and reinforcing their bonds.

The group with the top performance and spirit throughout the event will be recognized as Iron Company.

The Naval Academy Bridge will be closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additional closures will be in effect from 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Route 450, Route 648, Greenbury Point Road and roads inside of Naval Support Activity Annapolis.

Sea Trials are not open to the public.

May 14: Herndon Monument Climb

The Herndon Climb is the culmination of plebe year at the academy and a symbolic transition from plebes to third-class midshipmen.

The Class of 2028’s final test as midshipmen fourth-class comes in the form of a 21-foot climb up an obelisk greased with 200 pounds of vegetable shortening. After being hosed down with water, the barefoot plebes, led by Iron Company — the top company from the previous day’s Sea Trials — will form a human pyramid to retrieve a white hat, known as a “Dixie Cup,” from atop the monument and replace it with an upperclassman’s hat.

The monument is named for Cmdr. William Lewis Herndon, who drowned with his ship off the coast of North Carolina in 1857 after trying to save as many passengers as possible.

Members of the Class of 2028 will attempt to scale the obelisk faster than last year’s plebes, who completed their climb in 2 hours and 19 minutes .

The Herndon Climb is open to the public and begins at 8 a.m.

May 21: Blue Angels flight demonstration

The U.S. Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron’s Blue Angels will perform a variety of high-speed, aerobatic precision-maneuvers in an approximately two-hour performance over the Severn River. The show begins at 2 p.m.

The Naval Academy bridge will be closed to all traffic from 10:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. or until the conclusion of the flight demonstration. The Severn River will be closed to boats and other watercraft from the bridge to Spa Creek. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard at 410-576-2693 for further details.

Gate 1 will be closed from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Gate 8 will only be open for staff, faculty, residents and high priority traffic.

Held on Worden Field at the academy, the final formal parade of the spring highlights the presentation of the color company pennant by the superintendent, the company commander and the “color honoree” to the newly designated spring color company.

The color company is chosen each semester by virtue of its excellence in academics, athletics and professional accomplishments. The color company competition dates to 1867.

This event is open to the public and starts at 11 a.m.

The week reaches its pinnacle with a graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Parking at the stadium will open at 6:30 a.m. and stadium gates open at 7 a.m.

Midshipmen will begin their procession into the stadium at 9 a.m. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. with a Blue Angels flyover set for 10:04 a.m.

Vice President JD Vance will address the Class of 2025 . Former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to the Classes of 2023 and 2024.

The ceremony is open to a limited number of guests of graduates.

Parking

Heavy traffic is anticipated in Annapolis throughout the week, particularly May 21 and 23.

There is limited parking available on the Naval Academy grounds. The best option for getting onto The Yard is parking at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and taking the free shuttle to enter through the visitor center at Gate 1 , according to the City of Annapolis .

Parking will be limited in downtown Annapolis, as well. For visitors coming for the Blue Angels flight demonstrations, city parking garages are best.

Gate 8 : This gate is open 24 hours. Access is at Bowyer Road off of Route 450 near the Naval Academy Bridge. GPS address: 675 Decatur Road, Annapolis, 21402.

Directions to Stadium : Take U.S. 50 to exit 24 (Rowe Boulevard) and turn right at first light onto Farragut Road.