Fleet Fest 2026

Mark your calendars for the FREE Fleet Fest on Naval Station Norfolk! Fleet Fest is open to the public and includes ship tours, live music, children’s activities and more.

Where: Naval Station Norfolk (listed with entry through Gate 2)

When: Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 10am-5pm. Rain or Shine

Cost: Free and open to the public

Description: Naval Station Norfolk’s annual Fleet Fest is free and open to the public. Join the base on Saturday, October 24 for ship tours, live entertainment, a car show, family activities and more.

Activities: Featured activities listed for this year’s Fleet Fest include:

• Live music from the United Fleet Forces Rock Band and more
• A Coast Guard Silent Drill Team performance
• A car show
• Bounce houses, a rock wall and a petting zoo
• A gaming trailer, face painters and stilt walkers

Ship Tours: This year’s listed ship tours are the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Frank Drew (WLM-557).

Chili Cook-Off: The chili cook-off is a competition between military commands, so it is not open to public entries.

Heading onto the base: Naval Station Norfolk is an active military installation. Plan to bring a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a passport, and check the official Fleet Fest page for current gate, ID, bag and parking rules before you leave home. Double-check the link below for updates on the official event page before you go.

For more information and updates: Official Fleet Fest page.