When, Where to See Blue Angels in Annapolis, Plus Boating Restrictions

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Road closures and boating restrictions on local waterways will be common next week during events tied to graduation week at the U.S. Naval Academy, including aerial performances by the Blue Angels.

The Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron will perform above the Severn River, Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25 as part of the Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week. These events are free and open to the public.

Viewing areas for the show will include Ingram Field, portions of Farragut Field and Hospital Point on the Naval Academy grounds. Visitors may experience delays due to an increased number of visitors on the Yard. All pedestrians are urged to leave bags at home in order to reduce wait times at the gates.

The Blue Angels fly a team of six Navy F/A-18 Hornets and a C-130 Hercules, affectionately known as “Fat Albert.” The team will perform various high-speed, aerobatic, precision-maneuvers during their approximately two-hour long, narrated air show at the Naval Academy.

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Blue Angel Flight Times

On Tuesday, May 24, the Blue Angels will arrive in Annapolis and circle the city between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. They will rehearse their flight demonstration between 2 and 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 25, the performance and flight demonstration will begin at 2 p.m. Spectators in the Ingram Field viewing areas will be able to hear the show’s narration. Spectators in other viewing areas can tune-in to WNAV radio on 1430AM and 99.9FM to hear the broadcast of the narration.

Flight times depend on the weather conditions.

Public Access to Academy

Pedestrians must walk through USNA Gates 1, 3 or 8. All persons over 21 are required to present a valid government-issued photo ID for entry into the Naval Academy and all personnel and vehicles are subject to search.

Handicapped visitors may bring vehicles onto USNA with handicapped plates or placards and they must be present in the vehicle; vehicles will be searched before access is granted.

Guests may bring daypacks, diaper bags, camera cases, and purses. Larger bags and large coolers are prohibited. All bags are subject to search; weapons and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. For the most up-to-date security information, visit www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/.

Parking is available at the blue side of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a $5 fee for cars, $10 for RVs. There is a free daily shuttle between the stadium and the academy; shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible.

Bridge Closures

When the Blue Angels are flying, Route 450/Naval Academy Bridge over the Severn River will be closed to all traffic, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian, according to Annapolis Police. The bridge will be closed on Tuesday, May 24, between 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. and between 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m., as well as on Wednesday, May 25, between 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.

In event of foul weather the bridge could also be closed on Wednesday between 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Roads affected by the bridge closure include Maryland Route 450, U.S. Route 50, Roscoe Rowe Blvd, King George Street, Annapolis Street, and Taylor Avenue

Graduation Ceremony Traffic

The Naval Academy graduation ceremony will be held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 27. The roads around the stadium are expected to be congested with crowds.

Police said roads affected may include U.S. Route 50, Roscoe Rowe Blvd, Farragut Road, Taylor Avenue, Cedar Park Road, Annapolis Street, and Maryland Route 450. Traffic delays are expected to start at 6 a.m. and peak between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. There will also be congestion after 1 p.m., when the ceremony ends.

While no roads will be shut down for the duration of the graduation, some roads will be closed on a rolling basis as escorts move to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and when the Brigade of Midshipmen march from the U.S. Naval Academy to the stadium.

For more information about Commissioning Week, including entry restrictions to the Naval Academy, go to http://www.usna.edu/CommissioningWeek/index.php.

Boat and Water Restrictions:

The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a temporary regulated area Tuesday and Wednesday, May 24 and 25, in designated waters in the Severn River and College Creek for the Blue Angels air show.

The regulated area will be in effect from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, which may limit or prohibit navigation by commercial and recreational waterway users.

The regulated area will include the Severn River north of the Severn River Bridge from shore to shore, and south from Luce Creek to Greenbury Point.

Buoys marking the boundary zone for Coast Guard safety and enforcement patrol operations will be set by 9:30 a.m. each day, and can be a visual reference for spectators setting up anchorage.

A temporary access channel marked with red and green buoys will be established near Horn Point, to allow vessels to transit into and out of Annapolis Harbor during the event; vessels operating in this area will do so at their own discretion.

At no time will spectators be permitted to obstruct both the temporary access channel and the federal navigation channel outside the regulated area. In addition, a Commercial Vessel Spectator Zone is located immediately adjacent to the temporary access channel: only pre approved commercial passenger vessels will be permitted within this designated on-water spectator zone.

For more information about the Blue Angels, visitwww.blueangels.navy.mil.

»PHOTO: Lt. Commander Nate Barton snapped a self-portrait above the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 2014 and shared on Twitter