The 2013 Chicago Air and Water Show

Dec. 31, 2012 - PRLog -- Every year the skies above North Avenue Beach (http://www.conciergepreferred.com/concierge-favorites/2635-dir-north-beach-chicago.html) roar with the excitement of the Chicago Air and Water Show. This infamous summer show, which began in 1959 with an $88 budget, is now an enormous production presented by the City of Chicago in partnership with Shell Oil Products U.S. and other generous corporate sponsors which include Boeing, American Airlines, ABC 7, The Chicago Tribune, Oracle, and WBBM Newsradio (which also broadcasts the show annually). Herb Hunter, who used to fly in the show, has been “The Voice” of the Air and Water Show for 24 years. There will also be live-streaming footage available on WBBM Newsradio’s website.

After 53 years, and with an average of 2 million annual viewers, the Chicago Air and Water Show is not only the longest running FREE event of its kind, it is also the largest. This coming summer the event is scheduled to take place over two days, August 17th and 18th. It will begin at 10 a.m. each day with the national anthem, and last until around 3 p.m. both days.

The show can be viewed anywhere along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the central focal point. Many participating planes fly in from Gary, Indiana, while other, primarily military planes take off from bases all around the Midwest. Each talented pilot times his or her pass over the lakefront to the specific second. Numerous agencies cooperate with one another to pull off a safe show every year, and planes only ever fly over buildings when exiting the show.

Attendees are advised to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, bottled water, earplugs, and binoculars to make the most out of this thrilling outdoor event. Arriving early to get a good spot is also highly recommended. Food can be purchased throughout the day at numerous vendors situated along the lakefront, with the typical offerings including hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, ice cream, water, and soda. Alcoholic beverages will not be sold nor permitted.

For those who plan to drive to the event, it is recommended to avoid the crowds by parking at Millennium Park Garage, as a free shuttle will be provided to and from North Avenue Beach.

For all the events going on in the summer and throughout the year by water, land, or sky, Concierge Preferred (http://www.conciergepreferred.com/events.html/eventlist.html) is your passport to Chicago fun for the whole family.