I just found out that the Air & Water Show is this weekend, but I have to work both Saturday and Sunday, 8am-6pm. I once heard that there’s a rehearsal on Fridays that a lot of elderly and famous people go to, because it’s not anywhere near as crowded. My husband and I are both off tomorrow, so it’d be perfect, but we have no idea what time.
Does anyone know anything about it? Help please?
I don’t know about exact time for rehearsals, but I’m at work downtown right now and all day we’ve been having our windows rattled by planes. They’re definitely practicing today, and probably will be tomorrow.
Yeah, my office looks over the lake, and I’ve been seeing them all day.
I am not aware of them doing a full rehearsal - just plenty of fly-overs the Thursday and Friday.
We live in Albany Park and one of the approaches to O’Hare is right overhead. I guess they come in and out of O’Hare, because I was reminded about the A&WS when I kept hearing the planes fly over the house.
I just found this (old) press release for this year’s show. I’ll be looking for more info but this already tells me we’re not going to make it.
Three Days of Daredevil Thirlls along the Lakefront
The 2008 Chicago Air and Water Show celebrates 50 years with three days of daredevil thrills in the air and on the water at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago’s magnificent lakefront August 15, 16 & 17. Over the years, the show has become a summer tradition featuring aviation’s top military and civilian pilots. The 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago promises to be like no other for the first time there will be a Friday night show and evening concert at North Avenue Beach.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will headline the show along with a surprise line-up to be announced at a later date. Friday, August 15 is a special addition to this years show. In prior years, Friday has been designated as a rehearsal for the big show that weekend. This year the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will kick off the festivities at 3:00 p.m. followed by the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. Immediately following the headliners there will be a FREE concert at the North Avenue Beach Boat House (talent details to be announced at a later date). The night show will conclude at 9:00 p.m. with a spectacular fireworks display. You don’t want to miss this show!
Returning civilian performers include Lima Lima Flight Team, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and audience favorite, Sean Tucker and Team Oracle. The Chicago Air and Water Show is held along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. On Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 the water show begins at 9 a.m. and air show runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days.
The first show was held in 1959 at Chicago Avenue and Lake Michigan. Titled the Lakeshore Park Air & Water Show it featured a Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue demonstration, water skiers, a water ballet, games and a diving competition. Forty nine shows later and with audience numbers reaching an average of 2.2 million annually, it is one of the largest consecutively running spectator events in the United States. The Chicago Air and Water Show is more than an event; it is an occasion and an established tradition for many Chicagoans and visitors alike
The 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water is free to the public and made possible by presenting sponsor Shell Oil Products U.S. and these additional sponsors: The Boeing Company, Chicago Tribune, ABC 7 Chicago, WBBM Newsradio 780, U.S. Cellular, American Airlines, Hinckley Springs, M*M Graphics, Gavin Arts, Oracle, Chicago Transit Authority, Communications Direct, Ford, LaGrou Distribution System, Military Channel and Pepsi-Cola. For more information on the 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, please call the Mayor’s Office of Special Events at (312) 744-3315 or visit the web at www.chicagoairandwatershow.us . For hotel reservations contact the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, the host hotel for the 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show, via their website at www.mccormickplace.hyatt.com or visit www.choosechicago.com
Tomorrow’s my birthday and we have 5:00 reservations at a Brazilian steakhouse. If the Blue Angels, what I really want to see, actually do “kick off” the festivities at 3 then we could probably make it, but there goes our pre-dinner movie. Also, since we won’t have time to go home and change, we’d have to go to the beach in our nice restaurant clothes. Hmmm. Well, we might still do the fireworks after.
Hah, if I’d just gone to the official site, I would have seen this:
Admission is FREE.
Friday, August 15 is a special addition to this years show.
Schedule for Friday, August 15:
Schedule for Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17: