Chicago Air and Water Show

Aug. 16 – 17, 2025
Free admission • Chicago lakefront

The Chicago Air and Water Show has been an iconic Chicago event since 1959. The annual summer spectacle is the largest and oldest free-admission air and water exhibition in the United States.

The two-day event draws an audience of over one million to the city’s stunning lakefront to see pilots perform astonishing stunts above the waters of Lake Michigan.

Learn more about the Chicago Air and Water Show, find the best spots to watch, and start planning your visit.

When is the Chicago Air and Water Show?

The Chicago Air and Water Show will take place on Saturday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. There will also be a rehearsal on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.

Where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show

The Chicago Air and Water Show can be viewed along the Lake Michigan waterfront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street. Here are a couple of the most popular places to see the show.

On the beach
The prime viewing location for the Chicago Air and Water Show is near the water. If you want to be in the center of the action, bring chairs or a blanket and stake out a spot on the sand or grass anywhere on North Avenue Beach.

Waterfront restaurants 
Reserve a cabana space at Caffe Oliva for breezy, unobstructed views from Ohio Street Beach. A little further north, check out Theater on the Lake’s waterfront patio. Or grab a seat at Castaway’s, a beach bar and grill with cool drinks, live music, and excellent views of the water and skyline. Keep in mind that most restaurants will be hosting ticketed events this weekend.

Rooftop bars
If you prefer an elevated view, carve out a spot on a rooftop bar, like at The J. Parker atop Hotel Lincoln or Cindy’s at the Chicago Athletic Association. You can also see the show from the iconic lakefront Navy Pier and its many outdoor patios, like Offshore Rooftop (the largest rooftop bar in the world).

Boat cruises
If you’d rather get out on the water, hop aboard one of Chicago’s many lakefront boat cruises. There are a variety of tour boat companies that offer special cruises with incredible views of the Air and Water Show — explore cruise options with City Cruises, Mercury Cruises, Tall Ship Windy, Wendella Boats, Shoreline Sightseeing Company, Chicago’s First Lady, and more.

Check out our full guide on where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show.

About the Chicago Air and Water Show

For more than 60 years, the Chicago Air and Water Show has taken to the skies above Lake Michigan, with North Avenue Beach as the center point.

The city’s first Air and Water Show was held on the lakefront in 1959 and featured a Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue demonstration, water skiers, a water ballet, and a diving competition. The next year brought the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and an even bigger crowd, and a new Chicago summer tradition was born.

Today, the Chicago Air and Water Show is known as a thrilling, bucket list experience, drawing more than one million spectators to soak up the sun, breathe in the crisp lake breezes, and feel the rumble of jet engines soaring overhead. Make sure to arrive early to secure your spot and catch the spectacular demonstrations by aircraft, boats, and diving and parachute teams.

Tips for attending the Chicago Air and Water Show

Planning to go to the Chicago Air and Water Show? Here are a few things to know before you go.

Accessibility
Audio description will be available for those who are blind/low vision during both days of the event. Learn more about accessibility at the Air and Water Show.

Admission
Entrance to the Chicago Air and Water Show is completely free. No tickets or reservations are required.

Bathrooms
There are plenty of restrooms on the lakefront, including at the North Avenue Beach House, along with portable facilities throughout the waterfront area.

Seating
There are no public seating areas provided in the lakefront viewing areas. Spectators are welcome to sit or stand on the sand or grass areas in the park. You can also bring your own chairs and/or blankets.

Getting to the show
The best way to get to the lakefront during the Air and Water Show is via public transit. Learn more about CTA bus and train options.

There is no public parking at North Avenue Beach during the Air and Water Show weekend. Millennium Park Garages will run complimentary shuttles to North Avenue Beach from downtown Millennium Park Garages.

Pick up and drop off is at the North Avenue northbound entrance to Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive. All drop off and pick up traffic may be cut off due to crowd density, so arrive early if you plan to drive or take a taxi or ride share.

Chicago Air and Water Show performers

U.S Navy Blue Angels
The Blue Angels are the United States Navy’s flight demonstration squadron. They were formed in 1946, making them one of the oldest formal aerobatic teams in the world. The team is composed of Navy and Marine Corps pilots, and their performances include skilled maneuvers, tight formations, and precision flying, which demonstrate naval aviation’s capabilities. The Blue Angels fly F/A-18 Hornets, and their shows are known for their thrilling and precise aerobatic displays.

U.S Navy F-35C
The F-35C is the first and world’s only long-range stealth striker fighter designed and built explicitly for Navy carrier operations.

U.S Marine Corps F-35B
Renowned as one of the most advanced and versatile fighter jets, the F-35B maintains the ability to demonstrate unparalleled maneuverability and showcase cutting-edge airpower.

U.S Air Force C-17
The C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.

U.S Air Force KC-135
The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the United States Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. It provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and allied nation aircraft. 

U.S Air Force KC-46 Pegasus
The KC-46 Pegasus is a military aerial refueling and strategic military transport aircraft designed to replace the older KC-135 Stratotanker and provides enhanced capabilities for the U.S. and allied forces.

 U.S Air Force B-1B
The Rockwell B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable sweep-wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force, with wing/body configuration, variable-geometry design, and turbofan engines combined to provide greater range and high speed.

U.S Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
The United States Army Parachute Team, nicknamed the Golden Knights, is a demonstration and competition parachute team of the United States Army. It consists of demonstration and competition parachutist teams, drawn from all branches of the U.S Army.

U.S Army AH-64
As the original production attack helicopter, the Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two.

U.S Air Force/Maryland Air National Guard A-10
The Maryland Air National Guard, the aerial militia of the State of Maryland and a reserve component of the United States Air Force, will demonstrate A-10 flyovers. The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft, commonly referred to as the “Warthog.”

 U.S Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin Search & Rescue (SAR)
The Eurocopter MH-65 Dolphin is a twin-engine helicopter operated by the United States Coast Guard for medevac-capable search and rescue and Airborne Use of Force missions. The Search & Rescue Demo will act as a visual representation of the precision and speed with which these medical evacuations are carried out.

Featured civilian stunt performers include:

RJ Gritter Decathlon Aerobatics
 RJ developed a passion for aerobatics while raised in aviation by his father, a test pilot, and his mother, a flight instructor. Through a passion for radio-control (R/C) flying and a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State University, RJ has flown more than 200 airshow performances and has logged more than a thousand hours of flight.

 Trojan Phlyers – T-28 (2-ship)
The Trojan Phlyers, a group of aviation professionals dedicated to preserving the rich history of the North American Aviation Company’s T28 Trojan, own and operate two T-28B aircraft, which can takeoff in less than 800 feet of runway, climb to 10,000 feet in less than 90 seconds, race level above 335 MPH, and dive faster than 380 MPH.

Bill Stein Edge 540
Bill Stein has logged over 7,000 hours of aerobatic and formation flight. As a student pilot, he began flying aerobatics and has been dedicated to perfecting his skills ever since. Since 1995, Bill has performed at air shows across the United States and has entertained millions air show fans, now with his own designed aircraft, the Edge 540, which uses a paint that continuously changes color based on the constantly varying angles between the spectators, airplane, and the lighting.

Kevin Coleman Red Bull Aerobatic Pilot
Kevin Coleman has had a passion to be a pilot his whole life. At age 10, he began training with legendary barnstormer Marion Cole. At 16, he completed his first solo flight before he even had a drivers licence. Before long, he was fine-tuning his craft under the mentorship of Kirby Chambliss, ultimately joining his Red Bull Air Race team in 2016 as one of the youngest faces in the sport. Now, he wows crowds around the world with his incredible acrobatic flying with the Red Bull Air Force.

Susan Dacy – Big Red Stearman Biplane
Susan Dacy is one of only a few females performing airshows in a biplane and is the only woman flying exhibition in the Super Stearman. As an avid fan of airshows and aviation her whole life, Susan earned a degree in Aviation Operations and Systems from Southern Illinois University and through hard work in all kinds of flight-related jobs, she now stands as a Chicago-based International Captain with over 35,000 hours of flight logged. Flying Big Red, a World War II trainer for young naval aviators, Susan takes audience members back in time to the barnstorming era of flying.

Ed “Hamster” Hamill – Folds of Honor Biplane
Col Ed Hamill, USAF retired, performs on the airshow circuit flying the Folds of Honor Biplane. Ed is a veteran airshow pilot, performing his first show in 1999. While completing his 30-year career flying F-16s in the Air Force, Ed has performed in his biplane for over 42 million at airshows across North America. Hamill now partners with Folds of Honor Foundation which provides scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled military and first responders — Honor their sacrifice. Educate their legacy. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has given out 51,000 scholarships worth nearly $240 million.