In Brief:
Where:
When:
Hours:
Admission:
Getting to the Chicago Air and Water Show By Public Transportation:
Parking at the Chicago Air and Water Show:
About the Chicago Air and Water Show 2011:
The Chicago Air and Water Show rivals only Taste of Chicago as one of the biggest events of the summer. The oldest and largest show of its kind in the country, the show features performers such as:
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
- U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
- U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
- Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
- Bill Stein Airshows Zivko Edge 540
- Chicago Fire Department Air and Sea Rescue Team
- Dave Dacy in the Super Stearman
- The Firebirds ("extreme" style flying)
- Lima Lima Flight Team
- Matt Chapman Aerobatics
- Sean Tucker & Team Oracle
NOTE: While the same acts should perform each day, because of variations in logistics and flight conditions there is no set schedule -- times are determined by the pilots on the day of the event. Generally headliners (which this year are the Thunderbirds, Leap Frogs, and Golden Knights) go last.
On the water side of the event, the Shell Extreme Water Show entertains the crowd with some of the world's finest wave riders cruising along the waves of Lake Michigan.
As one reader reminded me, the day before the show starts is "practice day" so if you're downtown on Friday and hear jets roaring overhead we're not being invaded -- head over to the lakefront to see some of the action while avoiding the crowds.
