What Airshows Still Feature the Thunderbirds in 2025

The Thunderbirds 2025 Schedule Has Gotten Complicated With All the Conflicting Information Flying Around

As someone who has tracked airshow schedules since 2019, I learned everything there is to know about nailing down the Thunderbirds calendar before it shifts on you. Today, I will share it all with you. The short version: roughly 70 confirmed shows for 2025, which lands squarely in line with recent seasons. No dramatic expansion. No cuts worth worrying about. But a handful of traditional venues shuffled their dates or quietly dropped off the rotation — so if you had something circled on your calendar from last year, verify it before you book anything.

Confirmed Airshows Featuring the Thunderbirds in 2025

Here’s what’s locked in — and what’s still pending. I’ve flagged the soft dates where organizers haven’t officially closed the loop yet. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

Joint Base Andrews Air Show (Joint Base Andrews, Maryland) — May 17–18

This is the East Coast anchor. Crowds routinely push past 100,000 over both days — Andrews pulls that kind of weight without even trying. The flight line positioning is excellent, and the Thunderbirds land a prime afternoon slot almost every year. If you’re anywhere on the East Coast and you’ve never made the drive out, this is probably your easiest entry point into the whole experience.

Great New England Airshow (Windsor Locks, Connecticut) — June 7–8

Bradley International hosts this one, and honestly, I prefer it to the bigger shows. Less chaos. The parking situation doesn’t eat two hours of your afternoon. The venue sits in a quieter stretch of Connecticut — quieter than Andrews, anyway — and the show organizers actually seem to have their logistics figured out. Weather in early June can be unpredictable that far north. Bring a layer. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something to plan around.

Vance Air Force Base Open House (Enid, Oklahoma) — Scheduled for Mid-June (Date Pending Confirmation)

But what is a military open house versus a civilian airshow? In essence, it’s the same aerial performance — but it’s much more than that. Tighter security, yes. Fewer crowds, though. Better photo angles if you position yourself right. I made the drive out here three years ago, threw a $15 camping chair in the back of my car, and spent the whole afternoon twenty feet from the flight line. That’s what makes Vance endearing to us die-hard Thunderbirds followers — you’re actually close to the thing you came to see.

Seafair Fleet Week Air Show (Seattle, Washington) — August 2–4

Puget Sound changes everything. The Thunderbirds performing over open water looks genuinely different from watching them over a runway — the geometry of the maneuvers shifts, the backdrop moves. Seafair is one of my favorite shows, full stop. The crowd mixes serious aviation people with casual spectators who wandered over from the waterfront, and somehow it works. Arrive early enough and you can claim a solid spot along the water without the usual elbow-to-elbow situation.

Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) — July 28–August 3

The largest aviation gathering on the planet. I spent two full days here in 2018 and barely got through half of what was worth seeing. The Thunderbirds typically run evening slots — which, at Oshkosh, means they’re performing in front of a crowd that has spent all day absorbing aircraft. Camp spots book out months ahead. The whole event is overwhelming if you’ve never navigated it before. Don’t make my mistake and show up without a plan. But if aircraft and airmanship actually matter to you, this one is non-negotiable.

Great Lakes Air Show (Port Clinton, Ohio) — July 12–13

Burke Lakefront Airport sits right on Lake Erie, and the show has grown substantially over the past few seasons. The Thunderbirds’ confirmed slot here pulls Midwest enthusiasts who might otherwise not have a convenient option in mid-July. Parking is tight — I’m apparently someone who learns this lesson repeatedly — and arriving early is less optional than it sounds. The lakeside location keeps temperatures tolerable. That sounds minor until you’ve sat through a two-hour static display in 92-degree heat with nowhere to go.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Airshow (Cheyenne, Wyoming) — Late July (Pending Final Confirmation)

This is embedded inside the larger Frontier Days festival — ten days, multiple events — and the airshow is just one piece. But the Thunderbirds draw serious attention even within a packed festival schedule. The venue runs smaller than Andrews or Seattle, which paradoxically works in your favor for photography. High-altitude flying at 6,000-plus feet changes the aerodynamics measurably. If you’ve only ever watched them perform at sea level, you’ll notice the difference immediately.

Chicago Air and Water Show (Chicago, Illinois) — August 16–17

Free admission. Lake Michigan shoreline. Minimal infrastructure — meaning bring a beach chair, manage your own food situation, and figure out parking before you’re circling for forty-five minutes. The crowds are enormous. I’ve made this show three times, and each visit taught me something new about timing and position. The Thunderbirds’ performance is worth jockeying for a good spot. Just don’t expect the organized spectator setup you’d find at a base open house.

Atlantic City Airshow (Atlantic City, New Jersey) — August 23–24

Performed over the Atlantic Ocean boardwalk, which gives you clean sightlines without fighting terrain or infrastructure. The crowd is substantial but runs slightly calmer than Chicago or Andrews. Hotels along the boardwalk book out fast — we’re talking weeks ahead of the show date, not days. If you’re planning to overnight here, lock something in the moment you decide you’re going.

Which Shows Are Actually Worth Traveling For

Probably should have opened with this section, honestly. The biggest mistake I made early on was chasing shows purely by how close they were to home. Distance matters a lot less than performance environment and crowd management.

Andrews in May is your East Coast anchor — the crowd is massive, the slot is prime, and May weather is manageable. Seattle in August is a genuinely different experience because of the water; the same maneuvers look different over Puget Sound than over a runway in the middle of the country. Oshkosh in late July is the one to build a vacation around if you have the bandwidth — it’s not just the Thunderbirds, it’s the entire ecosystem of people who care about flight showing up in one place. That’s what makes Oshkosh endearing to us aviation enthusiasts.

How the Thunderbirds Schedule Compares to the Blue Angels

The Blue Angels run 35 to 40 shows a year. The Thunderbirds run roughly 70. That’s approximately double the appearances — and the geographic spread differs too. The Thunderbirds work more interior and Midwest venues. The Blue Angels skew coastal. If you’re trying to see both teams in a single season, you’re committing to real travel. Overlap shows exist but they’re rare. The USAF Thunderbirds schedule and the Blue Angels schedule update independently, and overlap announcements typically surface by early spring. Watch both.

How to Stay Current on Thunderbirds Appearances

The official USAF Thunderbirds website is the authoritative source — bookmark it now, not later. Show dates shift with short notice sometimes. The team’s social media accounts tend to flag changes before the main schedule page reflects them, so follow both. I’m apparently someone who learned this the hard way after driving three hours to a show that had quietly moved its dates two weeks prior. Don’t make my mistake. If you’ve locked in two or three target shows, set a calendar reminder to recheck confirmation status about 60 days out. Lodging around these events books fast, and early confirmation gives you enough runway to find something reasonable without paying peak rates.