Reassure jittery pets that the apocalypse isn’t coming, lather on the sunscreen, dust off the binoculars and head — along with an expected one million or so other people — to the lakefront for the 2025 Chicago Air & Water Show.
The free event, now in its 66th year, runs Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street (if you’re a regular, you know that there are plenty of other places both north and south to catch a glimpse of the high-flying acts).
This year’s headliners include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. It’s a special year too because 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, an anniversary the show plans to honor this weekend.
Warbird Thunder Airshows will take to the sky and fly the SNJ-2 and SNJ-3, a World War II-era aircraft once used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to train combat pilots for missions in World War II and the Korean War.
“The Chicago Air & Water Show is one of our city’s most beloved summer traditions, bringing together residents and visitors from around the world to enjoy an exciting, family-friendly experience on our beautiful lakefront,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “We are proud to celebrate the incredible skill and dedication of our servicemen and women, while showcasing the very best of Chicago.”
For more information about the show, go to: chicagoairandwatershow.us.
Featured military performers include:
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
- U.S. Army Parachute Team — Golden Knights
- U.S. Air Force C-17 Demo — 15th Airlift Squadron
- Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 — 126th Air Refueling Wing
- Maryland Air National Guard A-10’s — 104th Fighter Squadron
- U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo
- U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 (Osprey) Demo
- Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365
Civilian performers:
- Bill Stein Airshows
- Coleman Aerosports — Kevin Coleman
- Folds of Honor Biplane — Ed Hamill
- Mini Jet Airshows — Tom Larkin
- Muscle Biplane Machaira — Bob Richards
- Super Stearman “Big Red” — Susan Dacy
- Warbird Thunder Airshows
Additional performers and support include:
- Chicago Police Department Helicopters
- Chicago Fire Department Air / Sea Rescue
- Arresting Gear
- AFOPS, MWSS-272
- MACG-28, 2d MAW
- Marine Corps Air Station New River
- Indiana Air National Guard — 122nd Fighter Wing
- Illinois Air National Guard — 182nd Airlift Wing
- U.S. Air Force Reserve — 434th Air Refueling Wing