Mark Your Calendars: The Blue Angels Are Coming To Town

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The U.S. Naval Academy's Commissioning Week in May not only signals a new class of graduating midshipmen, but also marks the arrival of the Blue Angels.

Residents and out-of-towners hoping to catch a glimpse of the treasured Super Hornet jets will have two opportunities to do so in a few short weeks.

A schedule released by the city indicates a Blue Angels flight rehearsal will be held May 19, and that the official flight demonstration for the graduating ceremony takes place on May 20.

The flights will get underway on both days at 2 p.m., as the jets prepare to fly over the Severn River in the area of the Naval Academy Bridge.

Officials will temporarily close the bridge on May 19 between 10:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. for the flight rehearsal. The bridge will close a second time for the demonstration from about 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. the following day.

Maritime Restrictions

The city is calling on all boaters to take note of exclusionary zones that will be marked by red and green buoys in the Severn River on both days.

Restrictions will be in place from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 19 and from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 20.

"Please look for public safety boats and follow instructions promptly," reads a notice issued by the officials. "The best places to anchor are off of Greenbury Point by Carr Creek, or on the other side of the flight box closer to the Rt. 50 Bridge."

A map of the restriction zones can be found below.

Maritime patrols will be carried out in Spa Creek and the Severn River 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.

What About Parking?

Residents driving into Annapolis for the Blue Angels are urged to use the four city parking garages and take advantage of downtown's new Magenta shuttle bus.

The parking garages include:

• Hillman
  Address: 160 Duke of Gloucester
  Alternate entrance: 150 Gorman St.
  Price: Starts at $3 for the first hour, with a daily max of $23.25. Sundays are free, but guests must enter after 6 a.m. and exit before 2 p.m.
• Knighton
  24-hour parking garage with a height clearance of 7'2"
  Address: 1a Colonial Ave.
  Price: Starts at $3 for the first hour, with a max charge of $10 for the day. Sundays are free, but guests must enter after 6 a.m. and exit before 2 p.m.
• Park Place
  24-hour parking garage with a height clearance of 6'10"
  Address: One Park Place
  Price: Starts at $2 for the first hour, with a max charge of $22 for the day. Sundays are free, but guests must enter after 6 a.m. and exit before 2 p.m.

• Gotts Court
  24-hour parking garage, height clearance 6'6
  Address: 25 Northwest St.
  Alternate entrance: 25 Calvert St.
  Price: Starts at $3 for the first hour, with a max charge of $15 for the day. Sundays are free, but guests must enter after 6 a.m. and exit before 2 p.m.