Thousands of aviation pilots and enthusiasts will descend to Lakeland next week for the 51st annual Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace from April 1.
It is not a joke: the first planes have already landed.
Gene Conrad, president and chief executive officer of Sun ‘n amusingsaid many of the main organizational and structural changes he hoped to bring to the one -week event, from April 1 to 6, have been implemented in the past two years. These changes have included many family additions and more entertainment in the hope of drawing more premises.
“My intention in the past two years is to create opportunities so that people have a complete experience here,” he said. “When people come here, they spend money to have experience for a full day from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day, there is something to do.”
Admission price changes for children
The biggest change for local residents is that for the second year, Sun ‘N Fun has increased the age of free admission to the one -week exhibition. Children aged 12 and under come for free.
“It means that more children came and more families, that’s what’s going on,” said Conrad. “The objective of the Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo, which is a fundraising for the Aerospace Center for Excellence, is to hire and educate the next generation. We must make sure that it is a family event.”
One -day tickets for children aged 13 to 17 are $ 20, while adult admission admission tickets are $ 50, with discounts for Association Aviation members and active and retired soldiers. The weekly entry varies from $ 70 for children aged 13 to 17 and $ 180 for adults. There are special pricing packages on weekends.
Parking in one day is $ 20 at the door or $ 12 online. Weekly prices are $ 80 at the door or $ 60 online.
Tickets and parking pass can be purchased in advance from https://flysnf.org/tickets/buy-ticket.
Each year, all expo products go directly to the Aerospace Center for Excellence, more commonly known as ACE. The non -profit organization provides STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) linked to the aeronautical industry. The exhibition often provides the first exhibition of young children to aviation, said Conrad, let’s hope, taking interest in life.
“When families make the decision whether they can come or not, have to pay so that children can take their opportunity to come here,” said Conrad. “We want to make sure that the door is as wide as possible for families to go out and join us.”
There are practical stem activities for young junior aces. These activities include flight simulations, the coding of a robotic ball with Sphero robots and the science of the NOAA on a sphere viewing 3D planetary data.
If families with young children need a break in noise and heat, the family oasis returns. Conrad said that it was an ideal space for preschool children and young children who need a place to relax, take a nap and simply take a break in expo activities.
Crawling night entertainment
There will be more live music and more night entertainment at the Sun ‘N Fun this year, said Conrad.
Kicking Things Tuesday Night is an opening evening of Country Music Talent Tyler Hubbard, with a Kracker uncle, included in admission. Conrad said that last year’s concert, which featured Sara Evans and Dylan Scott, attracted a crowd of more than 6,000 people to the Warbird ramp, and that it expects more outings this year.
If that is not enough, there is a live musical performance of the talent of country music booming anie k on the island. Angie K is known for having mixed the country to strike hard with a musical wink with its El Salvadoran roots. Thursday evening, the rising country star Thomas Mac will perform.
For those who prefer to look at planes in the sky, the Sunset aerial circus which includes planes, gliders, parachutes and smaller drones, the planes will go to the sky at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening. It takes place in front of the spectacular nighttime airshow on Wednesday and Saturday evening, which includes stronger military jet demonstration teams, fireworks, pyrotechnics and drones. This year’s choreographed show will last approximately 25 minutes, said Conrad.
“You have to come and see him. These are world class stuff,” he told Lakeland commissioners.
Blue Angels returns to Lakeland
The US Navy Blue Angels will return to Lakeland on April 4, attacking Sun ‘N Fun. The Blue Angels are always a pleasure of the crowd and will train Thursday before officially appearing in the air show on Friday and Saturday.
Blue Angels will be one of the five military demonstration teams that spectators can look at during the one -week event.
“Apparently, everyone wants to be here with us this year and it will generate a lot of noise,” said Conrad.
The American navy will bring its F-35C Lightning II demonstration team to Sun ‘N Fun for the first time this year, said Conrad. This will enhance the furtive fighter based on naval carriers, who has larger wings than some other planes to help him slow down to land on carriers and can create a lot of noise.
The other return military demonstrations include the F-35A Lightning II of American Air ForceTHE Team of two naval navy ships of the Navy and the American Air Force F-16V VIERS.
“This event is not only for aviation enthusiasts. It is for families,” said Conrad. “Even if you have no interest in aviation, you should come and check it out.”