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It’s a great year to observe d-day right where it happened.

Omaha Beach is one of the five famed D-Day landing beaches along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast in France. (iStock)

Should attending D-Day commemoration ceremonies in Normandy, France, have been pinging on the travel radar for some time already, there’s perhaps no better year than this one to finally make it happen. With this year marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, regional authorities are pulling out all the stops to make this year’s program a memorable one. Add to that the fact that the veterans who took part in the military action of June 6, 1944, are by now well into their 90s at the least, the chance to take part in commemorations in the presence of firsthand witnesses is an ever-diminishing possibility.

There are many parts to this year’s D-Day Festival, to be celebrated June 1-16 throughout Normandy. The region still bears the scars from this moment in history, and each year, it remembers and pays tribute not only to veterans from the U.S., but those hailing from Britain, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland and Australia, as well as to France’s own men and women.

In addition to the solemn official ceremonies for heads of state and dignitaries, some activities will be accessible to the general public. One such program point comes at the beginning. On the night of Saturday, June 1, more than 20 huge fireworks displays will be launched from the five famed D-Day landing beaches — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword — Allied code names given to beaches found along a 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast.

The official international ceremony to take place on Thursday, June 6, on Omaha Beach will be a high-level, invitation-only event attended by representatives of all Allied nations. For security reasons, many beaches and sectors will be cordoned off with no access to visitors or vehicles. A map on the Normandy tourism website illustrates the closed-off areas. Official ceremonies continue into the next day, when U.S. President Joe Biden will be attending an event in Cherbourg. Online: tinyurl.com/2pdzaef8

The Normandy American Cemetery will also be the site of a D-Day commemorative event on June 6. Access on the day to this cemetery overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission is for ticket holders only. Although the ticket request portal has by now closed as capacity has been reached, the ABMC suggests would-be attendees monitor their website page for any updates. Family members of an individual buried or memorialized in the Normandy American Cemetery, or those traveling with a World War II veteran, can send an email to [email protected].

It’s also worth noting that in preparation to this event, the Normandy American Cemetery will be closed to the public throughout the day on June 5. On June 6, the property will be open only for the duration of the ceremony and solely to ticketed guests. Online: abmc.gov/d-day80

The D-Day Festival Normandy is the name given to an event organized annually between the end of May and into mid-June by the tourist offices of the landing beaches. Some 200 events, exhibitions and activities are slated to unfold along the coastline between Pegasus Bridge and Sainte-Mère-Eglise from June 1-16, from parades to balls to historical re-enactments. The following information represents only a small fraction of what’s on.

A “Picnic Concert of Freedom of Omaha Beach” is planned at Vierville-sur-Mere from 6 p.m. June 1. Five hours of concerts will help build anticipation for the day’s main event, the fireworks display scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Entry is free and no tickets are required.

A concert titled “Tribute to the Heroes” takes place at Sword Beach starting at 9 p.m. on June 1. Musical ensembles including a pipe band and soloists are on the program. Entry is free and no tickets are required.

“The Forgotten Heroes of Utah Beach,” a re-enactment of an air and sea landing including a demonstration by the Navy Seals accompanied by around 150 re-enactors and amphibious vehicles, is set to take place opposite the museum in Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont from 6 p.m. June 6.

France’s largest gathering of C-47 airplanes will take place in Gonneville-Le Theil June 6-9. Enthusiasts can enjoy watching these huge aircraft take off and land, particularly on June 9, when parachutists will jump into the surrounding marshes, weather permitting.

Grandchamp-Maisy is the site of the re-enactment of a 1940s-era village on June 8-9. More than 300 military vehicles, a wedding ceremony and more than 100 town residents dressed in period clothing will lend this event its special flavor.

An air show featuring the Patrouille de France and many vintage aircraft in the air and on the ground makes Arromanches-Les-Bains the place to be from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. June 8.

Mass parachute drops are on the agenda at La Fière, Sainte-Mère-Église from 9:45 a.m.-4 p.m. June 9. Parachutists dressed in period costume will jump from C-47s and other historical aircraft, followed by military troop drops. The drops will only take place if weather conditions allow for it.

A pdf copy of the entire program of events is available online at tinyurl.com/yybnh7pj .

A fortunate collision with another of France’s great events slated for the summer of 2024 will occur in Normandy on May 30-31, as the Olympic Torch Relay passes through Omaha Beach, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Saint-Lô and numerous other towns and villages. The Olympic Torch is presently making a 68-day tour through the various territories of France prior to the kickoff of the Olympic Games on July 26. Online: tinyurl.com/ya5un539

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Breaking news, rock hudson’s wife secretly recorded gay confession for private investigator, book claims.

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Rock Hudson’s wife had no qualms playing the role of a Hollywood wife – until her closeted husband came swinging with a divorce.

While it is known today that the 1950s heartthrob was gay, Universal Studios went to great lengths to protect his image, including keeping his sexuality a secret. Hudson was married to talent agency secretary Phyllis Gates from 1955 to 1958.

“During the marriage, she kept quiet,” author Josh Young told Fox News Digital. “But it obviously affected her life. And in the end, when it was clear that he was going to leave her with nothing, I think that’s when she felt she needed to do something.”

Young recently teamed up with Manfred Westphal to write  “The Fixer: Moguls, Mobsters, Movie Stars and Marilyn.”  It delves into shocking revelations from notorious private detective Fred Otash based on his never-before-seen investigative files.

For the book, Westphal was given access to Otash’s archives with the blessing of his daughter, Colleen. Westphal, who first met Colleen at Otash’s funeral, developed a close friendship with her over the years.

Otash, a World War II Marine veteran, died in 1992 at age 70.

“Fred Otash fought to get Phyllis Gates what she deserved in their divorce settlement when Rock was kicking her to the curb and refusing to support her,” Young explained. “It was surprising to learn what an advocate he was for women and how interesting those cases were.”

According to the authors, Otash was the son of Lebanese rug merchants whose life was marked by tragedy. 

He lost his father and only brother during the Great Depression, prompting him to drop out of high school at age 16 to join the Civil Conservation Corps to support his mother and sisters. He went on to volunteer for the Marine Corps and, at the outset of World War II, fought in the South Pacific. 

Otash landed in Los Angeles in 1945, when he signed up for the LAPD. There, he made a name for himself as a renegade officer before launching his own detective bureau in 1955, which, thanks to his access to emerging technology, eclipsed his contemporaries. He served as a freelancer for the Los Angeles tabloid, Confidential.

“There were a lot of tabloid rumors about Rock Hudson at the time,” said Young. “Fred was a fact-checker for Confidential, which was the nastier version of the Enquirer, the precursor to that. It was a magazine that didn’t play ball with the Hollywood studios and would run whatever story they could get their hands on.”

“Early on, they had a lot of stories about Rock Hudson and his relationships – his homosexual relationships,” Young shared. “A lot of those stories were traded out and killed by Rock’s manager in exchange for other tabloid stories.”

According to the book, Gates was a “wholesome farm girl and former Sunday school teacher” from Minnesota who was set up with Hudson. Hollywood agent Henry Willson, who “had already bearded his own homosexuality by becoming engaged to President Harry Truman’s songstress daughter,” ensured that the couple was photographed all around town.

In 1955, Confidential was ready to strike with an in-depth story of Hudson’s sexuality based on first-person accounts by his former lovers. Willson, fearing the tell-all would destroy Hudson’s career, cut a deal by throwing two of his other less lucrative talents under the bus.

Still, magazines wondered when “Hollywood’s most handsome bachelor” would get married. Willson gave Hudson two months to get hitched.

Gates happily obliged when Hudson asked her to move in with him. Two months later, she said I do. A quickie “PR stunt wedding” was orchestrated by Willson with Hollywood’s “gossip queens” in attendance.

All seemed well as Hudson skyrocketed to fame. However, his lovers reportedly kept him occupied when the cameras stopped rolling. Gates, who had grown tired of “her estranged husband’s disregard for her physical and emotional needs,” hired Hollywood lawyer Jerry Giesler to commence divorce proceedings. According to the book, Gates later became “shaken” to learn that her marriage “was nothing more than a fanciful farce” to cover up Hudson’s sexuality.

The book noted that Hudson was willing to grant Gates a divorce. However, he would only offer “a few measly bucks, her car and no place to live.” Gates fired Giesler and brought on personal attorney Arthur Crowley, who then reached out to Otash to find any evidence of Hudson’s homosexuality. Crowley planned to threaten that he would leak the news to the press if Gates was not financially supported.

“She was put in the position of not being able to fend for herself,” said Young. “It was the case for a lot of women in those days who were dealing with powerful people in various circumstances. That wouldn’t happen today, but it did happen in the 1950s.”

According to the book, Otash set up a sting operation. He created a script for Gates, which she used to confront Hudson. The actor was secretly recorded by Otash, the book claimed.

During the sit-down, Gates confronted Hudson about a Rorschach test he had taken.

“You told me you saw thousands of butterflies and also snakes,” said Gates. “[A therapist] told me in my analysis that butterflies mean femininity and snakes represent the male penis. I’m not condemning you, but it seems that as long as you recognize your problem, you would want to do something about it.”

Gates also pointed out, “Your great speed with me, sexually. Are you that fast with boys?”

“Everyone knows that you were picking up boys off the street shortly after we were married and have continued to do so, thinking that being married would cover up for you,” she further accused Hudson.

“I have never picked up any boys on the street,” Hudson shot back. “I have never picked up any boys in a bar, never. I have never picked up any boys, other than to give them a ride.”

At one point, Hudson broke down to Gates, the book claimed.

“I never felt we were together on anything,” Hudson tearfully said to his estranged wife. “I never felt you loved me.”

“And that is why you never touched me?” Gates replied. “Rock, when we came back from our honeymoon you never made love to me for one whole month. I was always here, and I always wanted you. At first, I would come to bed, and you would have a book in your face… People sense these things… A man has to have a sexual outlet. You should have picked me up and carried me into bed, but you never touched me.”

Hudson allegedly told Gates that he had a homosexual affair “the next day” after they were married.

“I was just a doormat to you,” said Gates. “Someone to hide behind.”

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According to the book, Otash and Crowley used the transcript to pressure Hudson’s team into a settlement. Hudson gave Gates their Hollywood Hills home and $250 a week for 10 years if she did not remarry, which would come to $130,000, or $1.3 million today. She was also given stock in his production company.

Neither remarried. Hudson died of complications from AIDS in 1985 at age 59.

“I had the power to destroy Rock and I didn’t use it,” Gates later wrote, as quoted by the  Los Angeles Times . “To have exposed his other life would have been vicious and vindictive. I faced enough trouble rebuilding my life without bearing that guilt.”

Before she died in 2006 at age 80, Gates told Hudson’s biographer Sara Davidson that she “was very much in love” with the actor.

“I thought he would be a wonderful husband,” said Gates, as quoted by  People magazine . “He was charming, his career was red-hot, he was gorgeous. How many women would have said no?”

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Here's where to find 2024 Memorial Day events and parades in and around Stark County

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday in May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday through an act of Congress in 1971, and its roots date back to the Civil War era, according to the  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Unlike Veterans Day, Memorial Day honors all military members who have died in while serving in U.S. forces. 

Why do we observe Memorial Day? Here's the true history of the holiday

This year, the holiday will be celebrated May 27.

Here's a look at Memorial Day events and parades in the Canton area:

Canal Fulton

The Memorial Day parade presented by Canal Fulton VFW Post 9795 will be 9 to 10 a.m. Monday. It will begin at Lindsay Concrete and travel along Erie Street, turn right onto Market Street, and end with a ceremony at City Hall.

A Time to Remember: Free Memorial Day dinner and concert will be today at Northwest High School’s Puffenberger Auditorium, 8580 Erie Ave. NW. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. The Canal Fulton Community Band is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Only 300 dinner tickets are available. Pick up tickets from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at City Hall or call 330-949-3520. No tickets are required for the concert. Any donations will benefit the All Veterans Memorial to purchase military banners for downtown streetlights.

The Greater Canton Veterans Council Memorial Parade will be Monday. The parade lineup will start at 8:30 a.m. on McKinley Avenue NW outside McKinley Early College High School (formerly Timken High School). The parade will begin at 10 a.m. The route is 1.2 miles, ending at the McKinley National Memorial. A memorial program will take place after the parade.

East Canton

Lowell D. Oberly American Legion Post 667's Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Monday. Participants should line up at the corner of Browning and Noble streets by 9:30 a.m. The parade will be west on Center Street; south on state Route 44; west on Church Street; north on Plum Street and east on Noble Street. For more information, contact parade Chairman Jack Spencer at 330-581-5199.

Knox Township

George D. Worth Post 574 of the American Legion plans its Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. Monday. Flags will be brought to the memorial by Post 574 collar guard just before the program starts. Featured speaker is Sebring Village Mayor David Wright. The Legion will place flags on veterans’ graves on Saturday. Volunteers are needed to assist in the project, which covers five cemeteries in Knox Township.

The Memorial Day pancake breakfast, parade, ceremony, car show and picnic will be Monday.

The Memorial Day pancake breakfast will be 7 to 10 a.m. at Fire Station 1, 4200 Massillon Road. Donations will be accepted to benefit Furnace Street Mission Safety Forces Support Center.

The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. from Green High School, 1474 Boettler Road. The tentative parade route travels east on Boettler Road to Massillon Road south (southbound lanes only) to Steese Road west to the Green Intermediate School, back to the Green High School parking lot via Bulldog Boulevard. For a parade route map, visit https://www.cityofgreen.org/569/Memorial-Day .

The Memorial Day ceremony will begin at noon at the Green Veterans Memorial Park, 1900 Steese Road. The ceremony will honor fallen heroes and local veterans; two local veterans will be recognized. Parking for the Memorial Day ceremony will be at Fire Station 1 (handicap parking only), John Torok Senior/Community Center, Queen of Heaven Church, and the Anthony Funeral Home. Steese Road will be closed to traffic during the ceremony.

The Memorial Day car show and picnic will begin immediately following the Memorial Day ceremony and will end at 3 p.m. Parking for participating vehicles begins at 7:30 a.m. at the John Torok Center, 4224 Massillon Road.

The Memorial Day parade will form at the Finefrock/Gordon Funeral Home parking lot at 10:40 a.m. Monday. Sandy Valley American Legion Post 432 will conduct memorial services at 11 a.m. at the Magnolia Cemetery, off Harrison Avenue. The speaker will be Capt. James Smith. The Sandy Valley High School Senior Band will perform.

Massillon’s Memorial Day parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the corner of Eighth Street NE and Lincoln Way E. It will turn left on Erie Street and left on Tremont to conclude at Veterans Memorial Park. The parade will include color guards; veterans groups; dignitaries; special cars and vehicles festooned with red, white and blue; police and fire vehicles; and the Massillon Tiger Swing Band. Flags will be distributed for spectators to wave along the parade route. Political signs, handouts, and thrown candy will not be allowed.

The annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held after the parade at about 10:30 a.m. at Duncan Plaza and Veterans Memorial Park. The speaker will be Col. Howard K. Marotto II. An ensemble from the Tiger Swing Band will perform. Veterans escorted by color guard members will place wreaths at monuments throughout Veterans Memorial Park to honor various branches of service.

The memorial program at the Valley Street Cemetery will begin at 10 a.m. Monday. A brief ceremony will be held by Donald G. Whetstone VFW Post 4120 at the cemetery with the three-volley salute and taps. Participants then will parade to East Lawn Cemetery. Services at East Lawn Cemetery on East Line Street will begin at 10:30 a.m. The program will include speaker Christopher Kinsey, a 30-year member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Minerva Middle School students Emery Sell and Everett Pancoast will recite the Gettysburg Address, and the Minerva High School Concert Band will perform patriotic music. Pastor Phil Rittenhouse will offer the invocation and benediction. VFW Post 4120 will provide the three-volley salute, taps and the laying of the wreath.

The West Township Memorial Association will have Memorial Day services Monday at Moultrie Chapel, 23577 state Route 172.

The march to decorate the graves will begin at 2 p.m., after the salute from VFW Post 4120 of Minerva. Minerva Elementary School fifth grader Harmony Geiselman will recite the Gettysburg Address. The Minerva Community Band will provide patriotic music and will play taps.

The program inside the chapel will include speaker and World War II veteran William “Bill” Pilati from Minerva. Attending veterans will be recognized. Special music will be provided by Isabella Gambone. Joseph Ellis will lead the congregation in group singing. Ice cream will be served after the program.

The Memorial Day parade will start at 1 p.m. Monday. It will begin from the Navarre YMCA, traveling south on Market Street, turning left onto Wooster Street, turning left to Columbiana Street, turning left again and finishing at the cemetery.

North Canton

The Memorial Day parade, hosted by the North Canton Lions Club, will begin at 9 a.m. Monday. Lineup will be at 8:30 a.m. The new staging location is one of the parking lots at Hoover High School on Seventh Street NE. The parade will go along Seventh Street to Main Street, turn south onto Main Street and continue to Bitzer Park, where it will end. For more information about the parade, visit https://northcantonlions.com/contact-howard/ . The Memorial Day ceremony will be at about 10 a.m. at Bitzer Park, 200 S. Main St.

North Lawrence

The Memorial Day parade on Monday will form on Lawmont Street NW east of Alabama Avenue NW at 9 a.m. The parade will go north on Alabama Avenue, stopping at the North Lawrence Fire Station for a ceremony at the Memorial of Honor at 9:30 a.m. Pastor Phil Hoverstock will share a prayer, and Tuslaw Boy Scout Troop 933 will raise the flag. Chief Magistrate Matthew P. Kreitzer will be the guest speaker. North Lawrence Fire Department charter member Robert Eicher will be the parade marshal. The parade will continue to the Newman’s Creek Cemetery behind Chapel of the Cross Global Methodist Church, where a memorial service will be held.

Paris Township

The memorial program will begin at 1:30 p.m. today at Liberty Cemetery on Blade Road. The program will include speaker Minerva Mayor Tim Tarbet, a U.S. Army veteran. Minerva Middle School student Daniel Herstine will recite the Gettysburg Address. The Minerva Middle School Band will perform patriotic music. The Donald G. Whetstone VFW Post 4120 will provide the three-volley salute and taps. Pastor Clint Frazier of Dominion Reformed Fellowship in Robertsville will offer the invocation and benediction.

The City of Salem plans several events to help community members mark Memorial Day on Monday. A veterans breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m. at St. Paul School. A Memorial Day service will follow at 9 a.m. Monday on the Village Green. A procession will move from Village Green to Grandview Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday.

The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery will hold a Memorial Day commemoration ceremony at 2 p.m. today at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery rostrum (main flagpole), 10175 Rawiga Road. The keynote speaker will be Wes Emch, a member of a Gold Star Family. The 122nd Army Band, 555th Honors Detachment will be providing rifle volleys and Soldiers Cross presentation. Local law enforcement and cemetery staff will coordinate parking. Those attending are encouraged to arrive early, bring a folding chair if possible and an umbrella if desired.

Washington Township

A ceremony will be at 2 p.m. today at the township’s veterans memorial. Folding chairs will be set up, but you may also bring your own lawn chair if you prefer, or a blanket to sit on the grass. There will be music, prayer, and a special guest speaker. Flags will be placed around our veterans monument as each name engraved upon it is read aloud. In case of inclement weather, gather indoors at the Washington Elementary School across the street.

The Memorial Day parade will form at the American Legion Hall, 166 Lisbon St., at 8:45 a.m. Monday. Sandy Valley American Legion Post 432 will conduct memorial services beginning at 10 a.m. at the Sandy Valley Cemetery. The speaker will be Capt. James Smith. The Sandy Valley High School Senior Band will perform.

The Wilmot Cemetery Association will conduct the annual Memorial Day observance at Greenlawn Cemetery at 8:45 a.m. Monday. The observance will commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 1944. Beach City American Legion Weimer-Widder Post 549 will conduct ceremonies honoring all veterans and will include the reading of the Roll of Honor of Veterans who are buried in the cemetery. The Fairless High School Marching Band will provide music. Association board member and retired Stark County Family Court Judge David Stucki will pay tribute to Robert W. Andrews and Orion D. Zurcher, local men who participated in the D-Day invasion.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Parking within the cemetery grounds will be limited to vehicles with handicapped placards. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at Faith Christian Academy, 511 W. Main St.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Here's where to find 2024 Memorial Day events and parades in and around Stark County

The Blue Angels take to the skies above Annapolis during Commission Week. What to know

It's officially time: The Blue Angels are set to perform at the Naval Academy's Commissioning Week with a rehearsal practice scheduled Tuesday and the full show happening on Wednesday.

The  U.S. Navy flight demonstration team  will also perform a flyover above the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 10 a.m. Friday morning.

Heading out to watch the Blue Angels perform in Annapolis, or just wondering what the deal is with all of the traffic? Here's what to know about the schedule , traffic and more.

When do the Blue Angels fly in Annapolis?

The Blue Angels will perform over Annapolis at 2 p.m. on May 21-22.

Maritime traffic in the Severn River will be closed to all unauthorized traffic around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Can the public watch the Blue Angels Annapolis air show?

Yes, the Blue Angels’ performance at the Naval Academy in Annapolis is open to the public, though not quite to the same degree as others that provide a dedicated space for public viewing. However, there are plenty of vantage spots that you can consider.

Blue Angels movie: Generations of pilots watch Blue Angels documentary premiere in Pensacola

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 can you park to watch the 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. 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 : There will undoubtedly be heavy traffic, so prepare in advance by giving yourself extra time for travel. 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 Route 450 (Naval Academy) bridge will be closed between 10:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. for the Blue Angels rehearsal on Tuesday. It will close again on Wednesday between 1:45 and 4 p.m. for the main show.

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 Annapolis 2024 schedule

Here is a look at the Annapolis schedule

• 10:30 a.m.: The restricted zone in the Severn River is closed to all unauthorized traffic.
• 2 p.m.: Practice air show begins.
• 4 p.m.: The Severn River will reopen to all vessel traffic once the all-clear signal is given.
• 1:30 p.m.: The restricted zone in the Severn River is closed to all unauthorized traffic.
• 2 p.m.: Air show begins.

Blue Angels schedule 2024

• March 9: Naval Air Facility El Centro, California
• March 16-17: Travis Air Force Base, California
• March 23-24: Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana
• April 6-7 Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
• April 13-14 Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, Texas
• April 20-21 Cocoa Beach, Florida
• April 27-28 Vidalia, Georgia
• May 4-5: Vero Beach, Florida
• May 11-12: Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina
• May 22/24: U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland
• May 25-26: Jones Beach, New York
• June 1-2: Terre Haute, Indiana
• June 8-9: Chesterfield, Missouri
• June 15-16: La Crosse, Wisconsin
• June22-23: Dayton, Ohio
• June 29-30: Traverse City, Michigan
• July 6-7 Johnson City, New York
• July 13 Pensacola Beach, Florida
• July 27-28 Fargo, North Dakota
• Aug. 3-4: Seattle, Washington
• Aug. 10-11: Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Aug. 17-18: Chicago, Illinois
• Aug. 24-25: Wichita, Kansas City
• Aug. 31: Cleveland, Ohio
• Sept. 1-2: Cleveland, Ohio
• Sept. 14-15: Owensboro, Kentucky
• Sept. 21-22: Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia
• Sept. 28-29: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California
• Oct. 12-13 San Francisco, California
• Oct. 19-20 Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida
• Oct. 26-27 Houston, Texas
• Nov. 2-3 Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

What to expect at a Blue Angels air show?

If you’re never been to a Blue Angels air show, you’re in for a treat. Plan for an all-day event, from waiting in line as you await the opening gates at 8:30 a.m. to when the show wraps up about eight hours later.

Once the gates open, depending on which show you’re attending, you’ll likely be able to meander through vendors, claim spots to watch the show, enjoy performances from civilian and other military teams and learn about some aeronautical history.

Each show has a fairly strict schedule it follows, which can be found online. Taking a peek, you’ll see that there’s something to keep your attention every 30 minutes to an hour, starting with a parachute demonstrations and ending with a demonstration from Fat Albert just before the Blue Angels take to the skies.

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.

How fast do the Blue Angels fly?

The new Super Hornets can reach top speeds just under Mach 2 (about 1,400 miles per hour), almost twice the speed of sound. The jets can climb at a maximum rate of 30,000 feet per minute.

Blue Angels pilot salary

Blue Angels pilot salaries are no different from what their pay would typically be, based on rank and time in service.

Where are the Blue Angels based?

The Blue Angels are based onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida.

Blue Angel pilots in 2024

Here’s a look at the Blue Angel pilots for the 2024 air show season.

• #1 Cmdr. Alexander Armatas  — Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas is a native of Skaneateles, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering.
• #2 Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty  — Lt. Cmdr. Jack Keilty, is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he attended Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School, graduating in 2005. He attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he lettered in football and earned a Bachelor's Degree in history in 2010. Upon graduation he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API)."
• #3 Lt. Wesley Perkins  — Lt. James Wesley Perkins is a native from Pordenone, Italy, grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and graduated from Hutto High School in 2009. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a degree in ocean engineering in 2014. Perkins commissioned as an ensign through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
• #4 Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee  — Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Lee is a native of Mounds View, Minnesota. She graduated from Irondale High School in 2004, where she competed in soccer, ice hockey and swimming. While attending the University of Minnesota Duluth, Amanda enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics technician (AT) and reported to her first command, VFA-136 "Knighthawks." She was selected to commission as a pilot through the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) commissioning program in 2009. The following year, Lee attended the Naval Science Institute (NSI) for officer training in Newport, Rhode Island, and simultaneously began her studies at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.
• #5 Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel  — Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated from Madison West High School in 2008. He attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in air traffic control in 2012. Immediately after graduation, he reported to Newport, Rhode Island, where he received his commission as an ensign in the United States Navy after completion of Officer Candidate School.
• #6 Cdr. Thomas Zimmerman  — Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from St. Paul's School in 2004 lettering in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduation, he attended the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island, for one year prior to attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He lettered in lacrosse at both schools and graduated from the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in ocean engineering, earning his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2009.
• #7 Lt. Connor O'Donnell   (Narrator)  — Lt. Connor O’Donnell is a native of Freeport, Maine, and graduated from Yarmouth High School in 2011. Following high school, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in operations research."
• #8 Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught  — Lt. Cmdr. Brian Vaught is a native of Englewood, Colorado. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2004, where he lettered in lacrosse. After high school he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. Upon graduation, Brian worked in professional sports marketing and promotions, eventually attending Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 2011."