Free Star-Spangled Air Show

The Star-Spangled Air Show will feature five high-precision aviation acts from the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard over a two-and-a-half-hour period between 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. on June 16 and 17. The featured act will be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The air show will take place over the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. Public viewing sites along the Middle Branch are limited, and recreational boating traffic will be restricted from cruising the water in the air show "box" while the show is in progress.

Public Viewing Locations

The air show will be accessible to view from several pre-designated public viewing sites, including Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and the grounds of MedStar Harbor Hospital. Aircraft take offs and landings can be observed, along with a display of military aircrafts, at Martin State Airport. Reservations can be made up to June 1 by organized groups traveling by bus or motorcoach to view the show at a South Locust Point location to the west of the Fort and east of the Cruise Maryland terminal, which provides for shorter walking distances. Because Baltimore has never hosted an air show like this before, repeated on two days, it is difficult to predict the size of the crowds at each viewing site. You may wish to consider alternatives available to you inside air-conditioned high rise office and residential buildings with sight lines to the Middle Branch. Several less-crowded public parks provide "peek-a-boo" views of the performance airbox (e.g. Canton Waterfront Park, Riverside Park, Cherry Hill Park, Reedbird Island Park, Garrett Park). Viewing sites have been designated at:

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine - 2400 East Fort Avenue
MedStar Harbor Hospital – 3001 S. Hanover Street
Port Covington/Sam’s Club – 2701 Port Covington Drive
Martin State Airport - 701 Wilson Point Road

Viewing options from the water include personal recreational watercraft, catered commercial cruises and chartered vessels and tall ships. Click here for the latest information about recreational boating restrictions on air show days.

Saturday, June 16

Following the air show, there will be a Celebration of the American Flag ending in fireworks. For a full schedule of the celebration, click here. Visitation is expected to be extremely high; it is expected that the park will reach capacity before noon. Baltimore City will close East Fort Avenue at Andre Street from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., allowing no vehicles into the park. In order to reach the park, you can walk, ride a bicycle, or use public transportation. Click here for transportation details. The Visitor Center and the Star Fort will be closed to protect visitors from the risks of overcrowding and the structure from the damages of heavy visitation during the event.

Sunday, June 17

Following the air show, there will be several musical performances. Visitation is expected to be extremely high; it is expected that the park will reach capacity before noon. Baltimore City will close East Fort Avenue at Andre Street from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., allowing no vehicles into the park. In order to reach the park, you can walk, ride a bicycle, or use public transportation. Click here for transportation details. The Visitor Center and the Star Fort will be closed to protect visitors from the risks of overcrowding and the structure from the damages of heavy visitation during the event.

In addition, there will be a live broadcast of the air show on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 on large LED screens in both the Inner Harbor and Fell's Point. This is a great opportunity for interested spectators who want to catch the air show but wish to avoid large crowds while visiting the ships. The LED screens will also air both taped and live Sailabration events and activities throughout the week.

Visit the Star-Spangled Aircraft Display & Festival at Martin State Airport for a full day of fun!

Martin State Airport
701 Wilson Point Road
Baltimore, MD 21220
www.martinstateairport.com

Martin State Airport is opening its doors for two full days of festivities. Visit Martin State Airport between 10 am and 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17. You will find free parking easy; take a free short shuttle ride to the festival area where you will see numerous exciting aircraft and meet their crews while they are on display. The E-2C or “Eye in the Sky."

Then watch as some of those “static” aircraft line up in formation for take-off and become airborne. They will fly to Baltimore’s the Middle River at Fort McHenry. After the take-offs, get a good look at the Maryland Air National Guard’s own special aircraft, the A-10 which will stay at Martin State Airport, home to Maryland’s Air National Guard. Visit the historic A-4 Skyhawk, lovingly restored by the Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum, along with other military aircraft.

Hang around for the landings too! Once the famous Blue Angels Jet Team returns to Martin State and engines shut down, some lucky visitors will meet the Blue Angels themselves and receive autographs!

In between times, visit the Navy Flight Simulator in the Festival Village. See the intricately crafted model airplanes. And snack on local Maryland cuisine. Be sure to save time for the Martin State Aviation Museum in Hangar 5.

Learn about Maryland’s Legendary Aviation Industry. (Did you know Maryland is home to the world's oldest airport, three major aircraft manufacturers and many smaller ones, the first commuter airline, and countless other aviation innovations?)

The Museum has collected over a dozen aircraft, thousands of reels of motion picture films, plans, documents, research models, aircraft tools, and components; and a gigantic collection of over 200,000 aviation and company photographs.