Chicago Air & Water Show

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Originating in 1958, the Chicago Air and Water Show is the city's second most popular festival. In 2005, 2,200,000 watched the Chicago Air and Water Show. Strong in tradition and one of the world's premier aviation events, the show also includes a wide array of military and civilian acts.

It is a free event and a favorite of kids and adults alike. There are daredevil pilots, parachute teams, and jets flying in formation, as well as a water-skiing and boat-jumping component for additional thrills. The great thing about this festival is that it's visible from almost everywhere along the Chicago lakefront. Grandstand seats for the water show are located at North Avenue Beach, but some of the best viewing points are farther north, at Montrose Harbor and between Belmont and Addison.

Many of the Air Show performers base their operations at Chicago's third airport, the Gary/Chicago International Airport in nearby Gary, Indiana.

In August 2006, the Chicago Air and Water Show was held August 19 & 20