NORTH AVENUE BEACH — The Chicago Air and Water Show is set to take flight this weekend.

The free event runs from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and stretches along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. Rehearsals for the show start Friday at North Avenue Beach.

This year’s headliners include returning acts from the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

The Golden Knights implement a “Green Platoon” initiative to recruit local Fort Bragg Soldiers that aspire to become Golden Knights, but lack skydiving experience. Credit: U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Go

The show features a variety of military and civilian performers. Military acts include the U.S. Air Force C-17 Demo 15th Airlift Squadron, Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 126th Air Refueling Wing, Maryland Air National Guard A-10’s 104th Fighter Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo, U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 (Osprey) Demo and Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365. The U.S. Navy will not participate in this year’s event.

Civilian performers this year include Bill Stein, Kevin Coleman as the Red Bull aerobatic pilot, Susan Dacy with her Big Red Stearman, Bob Richard with his muscle biplane named “Machaira” and others.

Warbird Thunder Airshows will also fly the SNJ-2 and SNJ-3, a World War II-era aircraft used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to train pilots for missions in World War II and the Korean War. The aircraft is known for its fast-paced routine featuring loops, rolls, Cuban Eights and more.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show, as seen from Lake Michigan on Aug. 19, 2023. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

This year’s show will recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and United States Marine Corps.

Officials recommend and encourage all attendees to use public transportation to get to the lakefront. Pick-up and drop-off will be available at the northbound entrance of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, depending on crowd size.

Public parking will not be available along the lakefront during the weekend, but Millennium Park Garages offers discounted parking if booked in advance, with shuttle service to inner DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

The CTA 72 bus, which normally stops near North Avenue Beach, will be rerouted.

More information about the Air and Water Show can be found on the event website.

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