Chicago Air & Water Show > Plan Your Visit
Chicago Air & Water Show - Plan Your Visit
Hours
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Location
Lakefront
North Avenue Beach
Chicago, IL 60614
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Admission
FREE
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Hotel Reservations
Book your stay at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, sponsor of the Chicago Air & Water Show.
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Accessibility
Visit our Accessibility FAQs page for information.
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Best Sightlines
- Show Center – North Avenue Beach
- The Lakefront from Oak Street Beach to Fullerton
- Ohio Street Beach
Tune into WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9FM on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm for a live broadcast of the show.
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Food
You can purchase food at the food vendors stationed along the lakefront. Food offerings include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, nachos, ice cream, water and soft drinks.
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FAQs
Chicago Air & Water Show Frequently Asked Questions.
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Tips For Viewing
Be sure to grab your sunscreen, sun glasses, bottled water, ear plugs and binoculars (if you have them) before heading out to the Chicago Air & Water Show.
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Tidbits You May Not Know About The Air And Water Show
The majority of planes flying in the show takes off and land at the Gary Jet Center in Gary, Indiana.
Some of the military planes fly in from bases around the mid-west. They time their flight to fly over the show at an exact moment.
14 federal, state and city agencies work together to put the show on safely each year.
All pilots perform stunts over the water in a set safety area. When a plane does fly over buildings, it is merely doing so in its flight path to return to the show area or the airport.
On average, 2 million people view the show annually.
At 53, the Chicago Air and Water Show is longest running free show of its kind in the United States.
In 1959, the show cost $88 dollars to put on …today with the help of generous corporate sponsors like Shell, Boeing, American Airlines, WBBM Newsradio, ABC 7, The Chicago Tribune, Oracle among others help to make the show possible and FREE to the public.
When the show was held at Lakeshore Park between Ohio and Oak Street beach, Lake Shore Drive was sometimes closed.
Also at Lakeshore Park, the Golden Knights didn’t have a beach to land on so they landed in the Water. Chicago Park District Lifeguards fished them out of the water.
Herb Hunter (“The Voice” of the Air and Water Show) used to fly in the show before becoming the show announcer 24 years ago. For many years he flew the USAF KC-135.
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Public Transportation
For travel information, visit www.transitchicago.com
Parking
Avoid the crowds if you are driving, park at Millennium Park Garage. Air & Water parking is available at Millennium Garages with free shuttle to and from North Ave. Beach, visit www.millenniumgarages.com
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Visitor Information
Information on Chicago's Visitor Information Centers.
