The "Mount Rushmore State's" largest city will host the world's greatest Navy during Sioux Falls Navy Week, July 18-24, with a weeklong series of community and outreach events.

Navy Weeks focus a variety of assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects, in cities that don't have a large naval presence.

Historically, Navy Week events draw thousands of attendees to participate and create dialogue between Sailors and local residents.

"We've been in the planning phase for four months now," said Gary Ross, lead planner of Sioux Falls Navy Week. "Now it's time to cast off all lines and drop anchor in the fine city of Sioux Falls and show them what their Navy is all about."

Sioux Falls Navy Week will kick off on July 18 at Oak View Library at 7 p.m., with Mayor Mike Huether presenting Rear Adm. Bret J. Muilenburg, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command with a proclamation declaring Navy Week in Sioux Falls.

The kickoff event will also feature a performance by Navy Band Great Lakes and demonstrations by the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the "Leap Frogs."

During Sioux Navy Week, Muilenburg will also meet with corporate, civic and government leaders throughout the week to include a meeting with South Dakota State University's leadership. Additionally, he will throw out the first pitch at the Sioux Falls Canaries baseball game July 19.

Along with a performance at the kickoff event, Navy Band Great Lakes will have several other performances throughout the week, including a concert at Veteran's Memorial Park, Raven Industries Terrace, the Downtown Library, and many more. They will also conduct a Summer Youth Band Clinic at Edison Middle School.

"We are looking forward to the performances during Sioux Falls Navy Week," said Chief Musician Scott Foote, Navy Band Great Lakes. "To be able to perform this many times during a week and spread patriotism through music is what we are all about and we can't wait."

The Leap Frogs will conduct multiple demonstration jumps during Sioux Falls Navy Week, including a performance jump into Sioux Falls Stadium during the Canaries' baseball game July 19.

Along with the Leap Frogs and Navy Band Great Lakes, Sailors from USS Constitution, Navy Operational Support Center Sioux Falls, Navy Recruiting District Minneapolis, and Pre-Commissioning Unit South Dakota (SSN 790) will be in attendance during the Navy Week to participate in various community outreach events with the Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Boy Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity and local libraries.

Sailors from Navy Recruiting District Minneapolis will provide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) demonstrations to the youth of Sioux Falls during several events.

"This is our first time in recent memory interacting with the Navy," said Jason Cruse, Sioux Falls Boy Scouts director. "We have hundreds of youth looking forward to the STEM demonstrations and interacting with the Sailors."

Cruse also added there are two things they work hard on with the youth in Sioux Falls, which is patriotism and providing STEM to the youth and Boy Scouts.

"The Navy's Sailors and STEM program will provide us with the opportunity to both instill patriotism and gain knowledge on STEM," said Cruse.

Sioux Falls Navy Week is the ninth of 15 Navy weeks in 2016 that focus a variety of assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects.

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

For a complete schedule and more information about Sioux Falls Navy Week, visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil/.