U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform over Oak Street Beach during rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
The Chicago Air and Water Show is the largest free show of its kind in the United States, according to the city of Chicago. Air and water action can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach being one of the most popular locations. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds once again anchor the show Saturday and Sunday, on and over Lake Michigan.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Lisa Knapp, of West Dundee, her son Oliver Knapp, 7, and her daughter Lily Knapp, 12, watch the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Joe Elegante, left, and Leslie Elegante, right, react to the loud passing of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds while their son Grayson Elegante, 3, looks for them in his binoculars during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly past spectators during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Jadore, age 7, and Jream, 5, of Minnesota react as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds loudly pass by during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at Fullerton Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds soar through the sky during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
“Two Dudes” performs aerobatic tricks during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Ashby Henderson, of Michigan, her boyfriend Aiden Hogan, from Bartlett, and her cousin Helisa Henderson, Michigan, react as the The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds soar through the sky during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, float through the air during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
Yashwanth Somaraju, age 5, and his uncle Naren Veddamari react to The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as they soared through the sky during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Mike Saavedra, Caeden Saavedra, 4, and Charlene Saavedra all of Jefferson Park, watch the U.S. Army Parachute Team the "Golden Knights" float to the ground during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. According to his mother Saavedra loves planes and wants to be a pilot. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jet flies past Loop buildings while performing at the Chicago Air & Water Show Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)
Mike Forrest, of Elmwood Park, watches the Ed Hamill Folds of Honor biplane through binoculars during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Forrest said he comes down to the air show every year. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Bill Stein does aerobatic tricks in his Edge 540 aircraft during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Cade Clough, of Indiana, watches the Chicago Air and Water Show through a looking glass gifted to him by his mother, on Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Clough has been interested in aviation since he was young. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
Gail Deadwieler of Wheaton looks to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Elan Vanderwielen, of Indiana, 5, and Joseph Lee, 6, of Roseland, bury themselves in the sand during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Spectators watch as Bill Stein does aerobatic tricks in his Edge 540 aircraft during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
A Chicago Police Department boat glides through Lake Michigan during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Warbird Thunder soars through the air during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)Victor Ortic and his fiancé Gladis Villacis watch the Chicago Air and Water Show, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Ortic works in aviation maintenance and explained he was trying to teach Villacis about his aviation knowledge. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)
Spectatrors watch the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, float down to the ground during the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 16, 2025, at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/baiduhai)U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform over Oak Street Beach during rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Tourists watch rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show from the 360 Chicago observatory, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds rehearse for the Chicago Air & Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform over Oak Street Beach during rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)Beachgoers on Oak Street Beach watch rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds rehearse for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)Warbird Thunder performs over Oak Street Beach during rehearsal day for the Chicago Air and Water Show, Aug. 15, 2025. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)
