Air & Water Show Swoops In This Weekend
August is always chock full of fun in Chicago, and one of the reasons is this weekend's 49th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show. The great thing about this exciting event is that you don't have to be in one particularly crowded area to see the planes and boats, although it does help if you're near the lakefront. In the past few years it always seems like we're always at baseball games during the show, and even at Wrigley Field you can see some of those amazing planes fly by in tandem.
This is the oldest event of its kind in the country, and attracts around two million--you heard that right--people to the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to the Oak Street Beach. It's completely free, and a Chicago tradition not to be missed. North Avenue Beach is the best place to see everything (that's where Herb Hunter does his commentary), but people will be lined up at all sorts of places from lakeside restaurants and pubs to tour boats. You'll find all kinds of party packages if you look, or you can just show up on the beach and claim a spot. But take note. Wherever you go, it'll be packed. I'd recommend looking into party packages at the Navy Pier rooftop. A more exclusive place to view the festivities is Cité, the pricey restaurant on the 70th floor of the Lake Point Towers.
The absolute best way to do the Air & Water show is by boat. If you don't have one of your own (and let's face it, most of us don't), you still have some good options. For example, you can book a ride on one of the cruise ships that leave from Navy Pier; Odyssey Cruises, for example, will have an early brunch cruise and an afternoon cruise on those days. If you're a little more adventurous, consider taking a $50 trip with Kayak Chicago from Montrose Harbor. They're booking three-hour tours starting at 1 p.m.
The show's participants this year include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, The U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, The Firebirds, the Red Baron Pizza Squadron, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, the Lima Lima Flight Team and pilot Sean Tucker with Team Oracle. The Shell Extreme Water Show will include some amazing acrobatics and incredible pro freestyle stunts from the Liquid X Freestyle water show and the Munson Ski and InboardWater Sports Ski Show Team.
Don't expect to get here easily by car. Public transportation is the best way to get downtown this weekend whether you're coming to the show or not. The Red Line will take you there; bus routes 156 and 151 get close too. The 49th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show runs both days this weekend August 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. (when the water show starts; the air show begins at 11 a.m.) to 4 p.m. For more information, go to the City of Chicago Web site.
