There is nothing quite like the collective roar of jet engines over Lake Michigan to let you know it’s peak summer in Chicago. This year, for the 2025 Air and Water Show, we headed down to North Avenue Beach on Sunday, August 17th, to catch the main event.
The Hook: While the show spans from Fullerton to Oak Street, North Avenue Beach is always the heart of the action. We knew we had to get there early to stake out a spot, and despite the typical mid-August heat, the energy on the sand was electric.
The Atmosphere: I hit the beach with Joey Bacino, Jonathan Fejkiel, and another friend to soak in the “show center” experience. The vibe was classic Chicago: thousands of people packed onto the sand, coolers at the ready, and eyes glued to the horizon. The humidity was real, but once the first pair of jets screamed past the skyline, nobody was thinking about the heat.
Highlights:
- U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds: These were the undisputed headliners of the day. Watching those six red, white, and blue F-16s fly in those impossibly tight diamond formations never gets old. Their solo maneuvers, especially the high-speed passes that seem to come out of nowhere, are what make the trip worth it.
- U.S. Army Golden Knights: A crowd favorite for a reason. Watching them drop from 12,500 feet and land with pin-point precision right on the beach is incredible. Since 2025 marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, their performance felt even more significant.
- Warbird Thunder (“Ol Growler”): This SNJ-2 trainer brought a cool vintage feel to the afternoon. You can hear that “throaty roar” of the World War II-era engine from blocks away. It’s a great contrast to the high-pitched scream of the modern jets.
- Price: Free (unless you count the overpriced water bottles we inevitably had to buy).
- Wait Time: We arrived around 9:30 AM to secure a great view
- Location: North Avenue Beach (1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.).
Leave a Reply