USS Cleveland Commissioning Week

Honoring Service. Celebrating Cleveland.

Join us for the Commissioning of the USS Cleveland

Events May 9-16, 2026, Departure May 18, 2026

USS Cleveland Commissioning Week will be a week-long celebration leading up to the historic commissioning ceremony of the USS Cleveland (LCS 31). This will be the first time in the 250 year history of our nation that a U.S. Navy warship will commission and begin its service life in the State of Ohio. The week will include numerous events free and open to the public meant to celebrate this milestone moment, honor the crew, and connect Northeast Ohio with our Navy’s newest ship.

The week will include formal military ceremonies, public celebrations, educational programs, and community events designed to honor the ship, its sailors, and the city that bears its name.

USS Cleveland Commissioning Week Events:

• USS Cleveland Welcome Flotilla
  • Date/Time: Saturday, May 9 | Sunrise – 10:00am (approx.)
  • Location: Lake Erie, west of downtown Cleveland
  • Registration: To register, please reach out to CDR Richard DeChant (USCGR, ret.) at rdechant@neopat.org
    • Last day to register is Friday, March 20
  • We invite you to join the USS Cleveland Welcome Flotilla! Private boats and watercraft are invited to join the flotilla on Lake Erie and welcome the USS Cleveland as it arrives in Northeast Ohio to kickoff Commissioning Week. Registration is required and a notice to mariners will be broadcast outlining further details and stand-off restrictions.

• USS Cleveland Welcome Color Guard
  • Date/Time: Saturday, May 9 | Sunrise – 10:00am (approx.)
  • Locations:
    • Main Street Beach & Park (480 Main St, Vermilion, OH 44089)
    • Lakeview Park (1615 W Erie Ave, Lorain, OH 44052)
    • Community Park and Boat Launch (4101 E Lake Rd, Sheffield Lake, OH 44054)
    • Veterans Memorial Park (32756 Lake Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012)
    • Huntington Reservation / Huntington Beach (28492 Lake Rd, Bay Village, OH 44140)
    • Bradstreet’s Landing (22400 Lake Rd, Rocky River, OH 44116)
    • Lakewood Park, Solstice Steps (14532 Lake Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107)
    • Edgewater Park (Cleveland)
  • Registration: Required – link coming soon
  • The USS Cleveland Welcome Color Guard gives individuals, families, and organizations a meaningful way to take part in the ship’s arrival on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Participants will gather at designated lakefront sites between Vermilion and Cleveland to welcome USS Cleveland with American flags as the ship makes its way to the Port of Cleveland. For a $31 donation, supporters may sponsor a flag to use during the event and keep afterward as a commemorative memento.

• Community Day
  • Date/Time: Sunday, May 10 / 10:30am – 4:30pm
  • Location: North Coast Yard
  • Join us on Sunday, May 10, for a festive, family-friendly Community Day welcoming the Sailors of USS Cleveland to their namesake city. This special event will connect the crew with the community of Northeast Ohio for a day of excitement and celebration as residents will have the opportunity to meet the Sailors, learn more about the ship and our Foundation, and kickoff Commissioning Week in true Cleveland fashion. Free and open to the public, additional event details will be provided as they become available.

• Public Ship Tours
  • Date/Time: May 10-13 (Sunday – Wednesday) / Times TBD
  • Location: USS Cleveland at North Coast Yard
  • Registration: Required – Link Coming Soon
  • A limited number of public ship tours will be available during Commissioning Week, offering guests the rare opportunity to step aboard USS Cleveland (LCS 31) and experience this world-class naval vessel up close. Registration opening will be advertised ahead of time. Tour details, eligibility requirements, security procedures, and registration information will be posted as they become available.

• Commissioning Ceremony
  • Date/Time: Saturday, May 16, 2026 / 10:00am
  • Location: North Coast Yard
  • Registration: Required – Link Coming Soon
  • Website copy:
    The USS Cleveland commissioning ceremony will officially place the ship into active service and mark the culmination of years of support from the city, region, and nation. This will mark the first time in the 250-year history of our nation that a U.S. Navy warship will ever commission in the State of Ohio. This milestone event will celebrate the crew, honor the ship’s namesake city, and recognize the many partners and supporters who helped bring this historic moment to life.

• USS Cleveland Departure
  • Date/Time: Monday, May 18, 2026 / time TBD
  • Location: North Coast Yard
  • Come wish the crew “fair winds and following seas” as the USS Cleveland departs our city, officially ending this historic commissioning week.