Spectators can watch from the beach. (Photo courtesy Ocean City)
All eyes will turn to the sky for Ocean City’s Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow Weekend on Sunday, Sept. 19. The event is free to attend and is one of the annual highlights of September in Ocean City.
Before the airshow, the Parachute Pyrotechnic Show will return for its fourth year at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. The show consists of several highly trained and specially licensed Team Fastrax parachuters jumping from a plane 6,000 feet above Ocean City’s beach and Boardwalk.
Brilliant white or multi-colored pyrotechnics are ignited as the parachuters fly in formation, creating a dazzling display for spectators on the ground. The jump will end with a landing on the Seventh Street Beach and will be viewable along the entire Boardwalk.
Spectators can watch from the beach. (Photo courtesy Ocean City)
The Boardwalk Aerobatic Airshow will bring some of the best stunt pilots and aerobatic champions in the world to put on a show over the beach and Boardwalk starting at 1 p.m. Sunday. Some of the performers will include:
- Mark Meredith Airshows: Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Meredith performs award-winning spins and aerobatics.
- Jerry Wells: The veteran pilot will be flying a restored Bücker Jungmeister.
- Vampire Airshows: The Vampire, being the beginning of all modern jet aviation, is truly inspiring to watch fly. The Vampire is unique to the air show circuit and brings speed, noise, jet warbird aerobatics, and a profile that grabs the audience’s attention. In the process, while Jerry "Vlad" Conley flies the aircraft, his banter with the announcer draws the crowds into learning about the aircraft.
- Kevin Russo Air Shows: Russo is in his 22nd year flying air shows with his restored SNJ-6, which was built in 1944 and delivered to the Navy during World War II.
- Jersey Jerks SNJ/T-6 Airshow Team: The Jersey Jerks are a group of aviators who reside throughout New Jersey and own various models of the T-6 and SNJ Texan. Each member of the team is formation-qualified and comes from a different professional background but all share the same passion for aviation.
Thousands of bike riders will pour into Ocean City in the MS City to Shore Ride Sept. 25.
Thousands typically soak up some of the final days of the calendar summer as they watch the spectacle from the beach and Boardwalk. The show features warbirds, civilian aerobatics and military flybys. The show is best viewed from the area between Fifth Street and 14th Street.
There is no rain date for any of the shows, and air performances may be canceled if weather conditions do not allow for safe flying.
Due to a lack of available aviation exhibitors, the Ocean City Airport Festival will not be held this year. Look for its return in 2022.
ALSO THIS WEEK:
- Ocean City Walk to Defeat ALS (Sept. 18): This two-mile walk raises funds to support patient services and research. Visit www.oceancitywalktodefeatals.org.
- Ocean City Pops presents Phantom's Eryn LeCroy (Sept. 18): “Phantom of the Opera” star Eryn LeCroy makes her widely anticipated return to the Ocean City Music. Call 609-399-6111 or visit oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.
COMING NEXT WEEKEND
- MS City to Shore Ride (Sept. 25-26): With 7,000 bicyclists raising $5.6 million, the annual ride across southern New Jersey stops overnight in Ocean City. For more information, call 800-445-BIKE or visit mscycling.org.
- OCNJ Half Marathon, 5K and 10-Mile Non-Competitive Walk/Run (Sept. 26): Premier racing events of the fall. For more information, call 609-399-6111 or visit www.ocnj.us/Race-Events.
