Crowds flock to the lakefront for the annual Chicago Air and Water Show

CHICAGO — An estimated 1 million people crowded Chicago’s lakefront this weekend for the 64th annual Air and Water Show.

For many, it is all about the thrilling aerobatics of the airplanes, but it is also about the people.

“He didn’t know. It was a surprise,” Marco Alvarado, who surprised his son Dylan with an unexpected trip to North Avenue Beach on Sunday, said.

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“We got here and he said, ‘Oh, we’re just going to have a beach day, are our friends coming by?’ I’m like ‘No, we’re here to see the air and water show.’”

Dylan, who said he was looking forward to seeing an F-15 Eagle was thrilled to get the news.

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Folks began arriving on the lakefront hours before the show to grab their spots, many in high spirits with the pleasant temperatures and clear skies.

The Blue Angels and the US Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team were among some of the acts that entertained audiences across the lakefront.

Chicago’s Jose and Dasani Saldana said they loved the family time and the thrill of watching the famous Blue Angels, who returned for the first time in years.

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“There’s nothing like hearing the blue angels and that jet, that F-18 Super Hornet, coming whizzing by you at that speed,” Ann Hickey, Deputy Commissioner at Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, said.

Visit the City of Chicago’s website for more information on the annual event.

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