Northern Illinois Airshow

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Northern Illinois Airshow

Northern Illinois Airshow brings the thrilling sights and sounds of live flight demonstrations to IL aviation fans at Waukegan Regional Airport this September.

Northern Illinois Airshow FAQs

Helpful Hints!

  • Leave home early
  • Car pool
  • Prepare for the sun – bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
  • Bring ear protection, especially for children & infants
  • Wear comfortable shoes
  • No bikes, skateboards, rollerblades or scooters
  • Do not touch aircraft unless you’ve been invited to do so
  • Do not climb on aircraft
  • Pay attention to signage
  • Do not cross over ropes & fences intended for crowd control
  • Identify a place and time to meet should you get lost
  • No pets allowed

Foods and Baverages

IS THERE FOOD AVAILABLE? Yes. A wide variety of food and drinks are available on the grounds and provided by participating food and beverage vendors.

WHERE ARE THE FOOD VENDORS? Food vendors will be located outside the Signature Aviation Building, off of McAree Road on the northesast side.

What time does the show start and end? The gates open at 9:30 a.m. The show starts at 12:00 noon and runs until 3:00 p.m. The gates close at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Where is general admission parking located? There are two entrances to the airshow parking areas. Enter from the North and East at Lewis Avenue & Beach Road, or from the South and West at Yorkhouse Road & McAree Road. Click here for directions. Is there handicap parking? Yes. Please display your state authorized handicap placard while approaching the airport for access to the handicap parking area. Access the airport from the South Entrance, off Yorkhouse Road, then turn north onto McAree Road. Signage and security personnel will direct you to the designated parking area. Is there motorcycle parking available? Yes. Motorcycles should access the airport from the south entrance off Yorkhouse Road, then turn north onto McAree Road. Signage and security personnel will direct you to the designated parking area. Can I bring an RV to Airshow parking? No. We do not allow RV’s in Airshow parking. Is there a charge for parking? No, parking is 100% free. We want to get the cars moved in and parked as efficiently as possible. Is traffic and parking going to be a problem? It always is at a large event such as this. Avoid the intersection of Greenbay Road and Yorkhouse Road. Two entrances: Best to enter off of Lewis Avenue at Beach Road. We are expecting attendance to be 10,000+ so please car pool and arrive early. The gates open at 9:30 a.m. so come early. Can we sit in our cars in the parking lot and watch the show? No. All spectators MUST go through show admissions. Once you have gone through admissions you can go back to your car. Remember to display your wrist band. Tailgating is prohibited. Can I leave the grounds and be re-admitted from the parking area? YES! Ask for your HAND to be STAMPED by a Gate Agent as you leave the airshow. It will be required for readmission. Are there any certain times I cannot leave Airshow? No, gates open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m. – you may plan to arrive and leave at any time during that time frame. Due to the high volume of traffic and logistics of the traffic flow we do not recommend that you plan to leave the grounds and re-enter unless necessary. What if I leave during performances? Vehicles leaving during performances may be redirected through a different exit. We may still have vehicles entering while you are trying to leave. We do not have provisions for two-way traffic in most cases. If you want to go back to your car in off-site parking, you may.

Seating & General Info

Will there be a general public seating area? Yes. A large general area seating area on the flight line with a clear view is available. However space is limited, so we encourage you to arrive early.
Does the public seating area provide chairs? No. Chairs are not provided, you are encouraged to bring your own chairs and blankets. The general admission public seating area is both a grassy and a hard surface area. However, if you don’t want to lug one with you, you may reserve one from our outside vendor MySportsSeat for $12 or purchase the chair to keep for $39. To reserve, purchase your chair(s) or have questions, please email Todd Adams or text (816) 668-0514. He will confirm your reservation and answer any questions. When you arrive at the airshow, you will be able to pick up and pay for your chair(s) at either one of the MySportSeat Kiosks. If you choose to wait until Saturday, chairs will be available, but the inventory is limited. After the airshow is complete, your rented chair must be returned to either Kiosk. DISCLAIMER: Seats are not provided by the airshow and from an outside vendor. Northern Illinois Airshow retains no liability or responsibility for injury and/or health issue(s) incurred as a result of hiring outside vendor. Rent at your own risk. Can I sit on the airport ramp? Yes. In unrestricted areas only. The FAA and the Airport Authority have strict guidelines and regulations we ALL must follow. Where are the bathrooms? Portable toilets are available in the main parking lot. Can we bring dogs? Bicycles? No pets or bicycles are allowed. What else is not allowed? Firearms, skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates. footballs, baseballs, frisbees, or anything that can be thrown. No kites, coolers, wagons, or scooters. Can we wander out by the parked planes? Yes, before the Airshow you can view the planes closest to the runway (behind the announcer’s stand). You can view the planes located in front of the Signature Aviation sign at any time. Where can we smoke / vape? There is smoking/vaping in the parking lot by the food concessions. There is no smoking or vaping in the ramp area. Where is there a first aid station? First Aid in located at the southwest corner of the Food Court (Main) Plaza. Where do we sign up for Young Eagles free airplane rides for children? The Young Eagles table is located at airshow exhibit area. Rides will NOT be held the day of the airshow. Where are the helicopter rides this year? Flights will be conducted starting at 10:15 AM until before Noon and resume again after the airshow is complete with last ride ending by 5:00 PM, so we can clear the parking lot and reopen the airport. The ride booth is located on the Static Display ramp. DISCLAIMER: Helicopter rides are not provided by the airshow and from an outside vendor. Northern Illinois Airshow retains no liability for death or injury incurred as a result of hiring outside vendor. Ride at your own risk. Where are the exhibitors? Exhibitors are located in A Bay, the hangar with a large “A” on it, at Signature Aviation. Is there an ATM available? No. ATMs are NOT available on site.

Tickets

Can I purchase tickets in advance of the airshow? Yes! You can purchase tickets in advance of the airshow onlineopens in a new tab. Online tickets will also be available the day of the airshow. All tickets must be purchased online. There are NO tickets sales at the airshow gates. Is there a discount for Military personnel? Active duty military, retired military, and veterans with military ID or state veterans ID are admitted free. Picture ID required for veterans using DD214 or any other ID that does not include your photo. We appreciate you and thank you for your service. What if it rains during the airshow? The Airshow gates will open at 9:30 a.m. Flying will begin at noon weather permitting. No refunds will be given due to weather.
Find more racetracks here: https://www.illinipowersports.com/category/racetracks/ Find more info about Northern Illinois Airshow here: https://www.northernillinoisairshow.com/
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