San Francisco Fleet Week is back, bringing one of the city’s most recognizable October traditions to the waterfront from October 4 through 12.

The busiest stretch arrives Friday through Sunday, when the roar of aircraft, military ships on the Bay and crowds along the northern waterfront turn a normal fall weekend into something unmistakably San Francisco.

For many people, the Blue Angels are the headline attraction, with the Fleet Week Air Show scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. on October 9, 10 and 11.

Marina Green is the center of the action, but the aerial performances can be seen from many waterfront locations, making Crissy Field, Aquatic Park and other north-facing viewpoints popular choices.

Expect those areas to get crowded well before the first aircraft appears.

The weekend actually starts on the water Friday morning, when the Parade of Ships moves along the San Francisco waterfront after vessels pass beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

That procession is a reminder that Fleet Week is more than an air show, and some of the most interesting experiences happen at dock level.

Ship tours are scheduled at Piers 27 and 35 during the week, giving visitors a chance to step aboard participating vessels and see spaces normally closed to the public.

If standing in a long waterfront crowd is not your idea of a good Saturday, Fleet Week has increasingly become a citywide event rather than something confined to the Marina.

The Neighborhood Concert Series brings military musicians into public spaces around San Francisco, with performances scheduled in places including Union Square, Hayes Valley, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Japantown, Glen Park and the Castro.

Fleet Fest at Fisherman’s Wharf adds another weekend option, while K9 Heroes at Duboce Park on Saturday morning features working dogs demonstrating search-and-rescue, therapy, detection and law-enforcement skills.

That variety makes this year’s Fleet Week easier to enjoy without committing an entire day to the Marina waterfront.

Getting around may require more planning than choosing what to see.

Traffic and parking near the waterfront can become difficult quickly, so public transit and a willingness to walk are often the less stressful approach.

Anyone heading toward a popular viewing location should also plan for San Francisco’s favorite weather trick: sunshine in one neighborhood and cold wind or fog a few blocks away.

A layer, water and comfortable shoes can make a surprisingly large difference.

For families, the combination of ships, aircraft and free neighborhood performances makes Fleet Week one of the rare major city events that can be experienced without buying a ticket.

For longtime residents who have watched it many times, there is still something unusual about seeing precision aircraft sweep across the Bay with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

It is loud, crowded and occasionally inconvenient, but it is also one of those weekends when San Francisco looks very much like San Francisco.