ARLINGTON – The Arlington Fly-In starts Thursday, and while many of its attractions will be seen in the skies others will be firmly attached to the ground.
Such as Thursday at Camp Adams, which has its own time slot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 6. As always, military equipment and vehicles like jeeps and tanks will be available to climb in. Other activities include building paper rockets to launch, aircraft simulators to fly in, balloon planes and candy airplane-making round out the fun.
The Fly-In gets going in full swing July 7-9. It celebrates all facets of general aviation, providing aviation education to more than 35,000 annual attendees, generating more than $2 million in direct spending in the community.
The 49th Annual Fly-In will feature air shows on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, vintage airplanes and warbirds in the air and on display, military vehicle parades, a Hot Air Balloon Night Glow, outdoor movies at Runway Theater, live music, hands-on activities for kids, and more.
The Fly-In attracts more than 1,000 aircraft and 50,000 visitors annually to Arlington.
While Mayor Barb Tolbert loves the event for the flocks of visitors it draws and the attention it shines on Arlington, the Fly-In executive director, whose father was in the aviation business and raised her around airplanes, loves the family aspect of it.
“The Fly-In brings lots of the same people back every year,” Tolbert said. “In the mid-’80s, people who attended the first events have grown children now who are bringing their own kids.”
Friday is all about family, Tolbert said. The day’s event schedule is structured to give local parents and families time after work to come out and see the show.
“It’s important to build and reinforce the relationship that Arlington residents have with their airport,” she said.
Tolbert said a new activity this year will be drone flying. Typically, drones are the last thing you want flying in restricted air space. However, festival organizers got special clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow drones to fly, so long as they’re contained beneath a large-frame tent with netting for walls.
Participants will be able daily to practice flying drones with help. Drones are a popular hobby that will only grow over time, Tolbert said, so she views the demonstrations as an educational opportunity for young and old.
A military pass and review parade is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by warbirds flying at 6:30 p.m. and the air show at 7 p.m. Friday
The Night Glow is tentatively set for 9 p.m. Friday, but depends on weather and wind speeds.
Runway Theater, the airport’s 25-foot outdoor movie screen, will play family movies starting at dusk (about 10 p.m.) on Friday featuring “Hidden Figures,” followed on Saturday with “Sully.”
Saturday, the air show at 2 p.m., warbirds flying at 5 p.m. and military vehicle parade at 5:30 p.m. highlight a busy day.
Planes from the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s collection of military aircraft, will be at the event. The authentic World War II Hellcats, Japanese Zeros, and the UK’s Hawker Hurricane are some of the vintage warbirds that will be on display.
The Historic Flight Foundation will feature the World War II Grumman F8F Bearcat and other warbirds that provide a living history of wartime flying and the brave flyers who sat in the cockpit and manned weapons.
Watch live music on the runway at 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring MOJO.
Skookum Brewery is partnering with the Fly-In to furnish it with a beer garden this year. It opens daily at 11 a.m.
While closing day still has plenty of things for festival-goers, many activities are geared more toward the pilots and general aviation community. Two examples include a precision spot landing contest, and a flour bombing competition to see which pilot can drop a bag of flour the closest to the center of a target.
Closing day hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
This year includes new games and activities for children, Tolbert said, including a scavenger hunt at the entrance to the event.
Cost is $17. Ages 16 and under are free, and so is parking. Gates open at 8 a.m.
For details visit arlingtonflyin.org/.
A free daily shuttle service takes spectators back and forth from downtown Arlington. Times are from 2-5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday.
This year’s Street Fair put on by the Downtown Arlington Business Association will run from 10 a.m. July 7 to 3 p.m. July 9.
A shuttle runs from the fair to the Arlington Airport and back again so people can go to both without getting tied up in traffic that Friday and Saturday.
The Street Fair includes unique items such as vintage furniture, handmade decor or jewelry, food and entertainment.
Last year there were 120 vendors offering as assortment of décor, clothing and other collectibles.
There will be live entertainment in Legion Park along with activities for kids this year.
The Arlington Farmers Market will have its tents and booths set up on Olympic Avenue that day, too, those browsers attending the street fair will have a broader group of artists, farmers, beekeepers, florists and more who will have local products on hand.
For more information, visit the Downtown Business Association website at arlingtonwa.org.
Thursday, July 6 – Kids Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Special activities for kids in the military history area. No airshow or airplanes; however, activities and displays of military equipment and vehicles like jeeps and tanks to sit in. Aircraft simulators, balloon planes and candy airplane-making.
Friday, July 7
8 a.m. – Gates open
Exhibits and Workshops
Dr. Science Kids Activity
Drone flying
Noon Tank Demonstrations
6 p.m. Military Pass and Review Parade,
Vintage Social Red Barn
6:30 p.m. Warbird Flying
7 p.m. AIRSHOW
10 p.m. Runway Theater: “Hidden Figures”
Saturday, July 8
8 a.m. – Gates open
Exhibits and Workshops
Dr. Science Kids Activity
Drone flying
Noon Tank Demonstrations
2 p.m. AIRSHOW
5 p.m. Warbird Flying
5:30 p.m. Military Vehicle Parade
7 p.m. Live music – MOJO
10 p.m. Runway Theater: “Sully”
Sunday, July 9
8 a.m. – Gates open
Exhibits and Workshops
Drone flying
Spot Landing Contest
Beer Garden
Warbird Flying
Young Eagle flights (TBD)
Flour bombing contest
