The roar of fighter jets will once again fill the skies over Lake Michigan this weekend, as Chicago’s annual Air and Water Show will return to the city this year — with another appearance from the U.S Air Force Thunderbirds.
How to watch the show
The free city-wide spectacle, which usually draws upwards of 1 million people every year, will run shows on Aug. 15 and 16, taking place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days. The show will stretch along the lakefront, beginning at Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, with North Avenue beach serving as the center of the show.
What’s special about this year?
While the nation’s independence day was last month, the Air and Water Show will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, said Mayor Brandon Johnson in a statement.
“The Chicago Air and Water Show is one of Chicago’s defining summer traditions, bringing families, visitors and aviation enthusiasts together along our extraordinary lakefront,” Johnson said. “As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we are proud to celebrate the spirit of innovation, service and patriotism that has inspired generations, while showcasing the very best our city has to offer.”
American Airlines, who is the presenting sponsor of the event, will open each day with a ceremonial flyover. On Saturday, the flyover will feature a special Centennial livery aircraft, while Sunday’s will feature a America250 livery.
Who is flying?
In addition to the usual military and civilian performers, this year’s show will feature the return of the Thunderbirds for their second consecutive year. The Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have historically traded off years appearing at the Chicago show, but the city said this year’s break with tradition was due to a scheduling issue on the part of the Blue Angels.
For more information about the show, go to: chicagoairandwatershow.us.
What are the featured airplanes and performers?
Featured military performers:
- U.S. Air Force C-17 Demo – 15th Airlift Squadron
- Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 – 126th Air Refueling Wing
- U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo
- F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
- USMC F-35B Lightning II Demonstration Team
Featured civilian performers:
- Kevin Coleman – Red Bull
- Susan Dacy Super Stearman “Big Red”
- Ed Hamill Folds of Honor Biplane
- Trojan Phlyers Flight Demonstration Team
- Chicago Police Department Helicopters
- Chicago Fire Department Air / Sea Rescue
For those attending, public parking will not be available at North Avenue Beach. The city encourages visitors to take public transportation. Pick-up and drop-off will be available at the northbound entrance of DuSable Lake Shore Drive depending on crowd size. Spectators will also be able to watch from the sand or grass, with an accessible viewing area near Castaways.
What about sonic booms?
The Thunderbirds made headlines last year as, according to experts, their aircraft went supersonic.
During the 2025 show, many residents of Lake View reported feeling strong vibrations as the jets flew overhead, suspecting a sonic boom, as several windows were damaged across the 44th Ward.
The Air Force said the Thunderbirds did not go supersonic during the demonstration. But an aeronautics professor who reviewed video of the flights previously told the Sun-Times that the footage showed what were “clearly sonic booms,” which occurs when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound.
An Air Force spokesperson did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Contributing: Courtney Kueppers