The "Big Easy" will host ships from three navies including the flagship, the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) during New Orleans Navy Week with a week-long series of community outreach events, April 19-25.

The celebration offers an opportunity for the citizens of New Orleans to meet and interact with Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

"The sea services belong to the American people," said Rear Adm. Brad Skillman, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two. "NOLA Navy Week is a great opportunity to demonstrate to visitors who the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard are, what we do, and how committed we are to serving this country. It's an opportunity to educate the public on our capabilities by showing them our ships and allowing the community to talk and interact with our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen."

The event will feature the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, from Norfolk; the HMCS Charlottetown (FF339) from Hailfax, Nova Scotia; French ship La Resolue from Degrad Des-Cannes, French Guiana; as well as two US Coast Guard Ships, the USCGC Cypress (WLB 10) from Pensacola, Fla. and the USCG Benjamin Dailey (WPC 1123) from Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The week-long event will also feature a more than a dozen performances by the Commander Navy Region Southeast Navy Band. The unit will play for audiences across the downtown area from Jackson Square Amphitheater to the WWII Museum to the New Orleans Mint.

Throughout the duration of Navy Week New Orleans, servicemembers will have the opportunity to participate in community relations events including educational volunteer events, neighborhood revitalization projects and environmental efforts.

In addition to community relations events, service members will also get to experience the rich culture of New Orleans while residents of the city will learn about the Navy and the people who defend the nation's shores. Participating ships will also offer tours to the public throughout the week. Below is the schedule of events that are open to the public.

Ship Arrivals - April 19 - 2 to 5 p.m.
(Thalia and Julia Piers)

Navy Band Performance - April 19 - 4 p.m.
(Washington Artillary Park)

Ship Tours - April 20 - Noon to 5 p.m.
(Except HMCS Charlottetown and USCG Cypress which will close at 3 p.m.)

Ship Tours - April 21 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Louisiana Seafood Cookoff - April 22 - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(Capitol One Pavilion near Woldenberg Park)

Ship Tours - April 22 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Except USS Kearsarge which will close at 3 p.m.)

USCG Ships Depart - April 23

Ship Tours - April 23 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Except FNS LaResolue which will close at 3 p.m.)

Joint Navy/Marine Band - April 23 - 2-3 p.m.
(WWII Museum)

Ship Tours - April 24 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Joint Navy/Marine Band Concert - April 24 - 2-4p.m.
(New Orleans Old Mint)

Ships Depart - April 25 - 8 to 10:30 a.m.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/.