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How the government shutdown is taking the wind out of the Huntington Beach airshow
A glipse from air shows past: A plane maneuvers over the Huntington Beach coastline and crowds stare in awe.
(
Wally Skalij
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
The annual airshow in Huntington Beach will take place this weekend despite the loss of about half the scheduled performers because of the government shutdown.
Why would the shutdown matter?
Airshows tend to heavily feature military hotshots. Consequently, about half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the Congressional impasse that led to the shutdown.
What are we going to miss?
The Airforce Thunderbirds, U.S. Air Force Special Warfare Exhibition Team, and North American Aerospace Defense Command Interdiction Demo, among others. But there are still plenty of private performers, plus Canadian and British government teams. You can see the full lineup here.
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Listen
0:44
Boo! How the government shutdown is ruining part of this weekend's OC beach fun
Why the show is controversial
The Pacific Airshow has had a mixed run in Huntington Beach of late. It got canceled after an oil spill off the coast in 2021. And last year, it was so foggy one day that the organizer gave ticketholders a voucher for this year’s show.
All the while, the airshow has become increasingly controversial. For one thing, Huntington Beach taxpayers are now essentially subsidizing the show to the tune of millions, despite city budget shortfalls.
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The region currently spends 90% of HUD dollars on permanent housing, but the feds capped it at 30%. -
Weingart Center has been continuously out of compliance for nearly four years, according to an LAist review of records. Audits found multiple failures to properly account for taxpayer money. -
Critics say the current state-approved housing plan will make the city overcrowded.
But, for fans, the show is an annual treat of high-flying acrobatics and patriotism — although this year most planes are repping British Commonwealth countries.
How to watch
If you want to be right in the middle of the action, or get a cabana with bar service, you can purchase tickets. You can also watch the show free from the beach.
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If you’re coming from far away, consider strapping bikes to your vehicle, parking further away, and riding to the beach. There, you can use the city’s free bike valet service.
The show runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday from approximately 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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It marks the second time that the conservative Orange County city has tried, and failed, to challenge the legality of SB 54. -
The additional $150,000 in city dollars is earmarked to help immigrant households pay for housing and utilities. -
One O.C. official is readying to guide families through the sudden shift, despite scant information from federal authorities.
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Today, on Giving Tuesday, your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
That’s why on this Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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