Air & Water Show Quick Tips
QUICK FACTS:
Date: Aug 20, 2011 – Aug 21, 2011
Time: 10AM-3PM
Admission: Free
Location: Lakefront
North Avenue Beach
Chicago IL 60614
Twitter: @AirAndWaterShow
Website: airandwater.cbslocal.com
Listen LIVE: Newsradio 780 & 105.9FM
HISTORY
This year the Chicago Air and Water Show celebrates 53 years of daredevil thrills in the air and on the water at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago's magnificent lakefront on Lake Michigan. With Chicago's Skyline as a backdrop, audience numbers reach 2.2 million annually making the Chicago Air & Water Show the largest FREE admission air and water exhibition of its kind in the United States. Over the years the show has featured some of the top civilian and military pilots and aircraft. Biennially, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headline along with the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.
HEADLINERS
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds continue to represent all Airmen across the globe. The Team is made up of over 120 personnel. The primary Thunderbird mission is to represent the Pride, Precision and Professionalism all Airmen demonstrate. From the ground show to the breathtaking aerial maneuvers, the Thunderbirds continue to represent America's Airmen.
U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
Jumping out of an aircraft 12,500 feet above the earth's surface, racing to North Avenue Beach at speeds exceeding 120 mph and landing with smiles, ready to do it all again; all in a days work for the Golden Knights. For more than 50 years, the U.S. Army Parachute team has amazed and thrilled audiences with their precision parachute demonstrations in more than 14,000 shows in all 50 states and 48 countries.
See full list of performers @ airandwater.cbslocal.com
WHERE TO WATCH
It's a bird! It's a plane! It'll be indistinguishable—whatever it is—if you don't have a good spot to watch the Air & Water Show come August 20th and 21st. Whether it's Superman or, even cooler, a Thunderbird jet you're looking for in the sky, the following spots will offer an unobstructed and clear view for you – ensuring you'll know exactly what you're looking at.
TRAVEL
Craning your neck up towards the sky to catch sight of the white, cloud-like end trails behind jets and wishing you were the pilot of one of those giant, metal, flying beasts is usually expected of children, and only children. Come August 20th and 21st, the Chicago Air & Water Show gives everyone permission—children and adults alike—to look up at the sky and wonder exactly how amazingly rad being a pilot would be. It doesn't matter where you're coming from, this show is worth seeing no matter the distance. To prove this, we've figured out where you need to go to let your imagination fly and how to get there. All you need to do is read here…
DINING
Bring a cooler with soggy PB&J sandwiches in it to the beach so you can watch The Air & Water Show if you want, but if I were you, I'd try to do something a bit more tasty. Along the lake there are many great restaurants that offer not only a great view of the Thunderbirds that will be flying overhead August 20th and 21st, but great food too. Some even offer specials for The Air & Water Show, which sure is swell of them! So why not take them up on one of their offers?
Dining Guides:
