Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

Civics & Democracy

How the government shutdown is taking the wind out of the Huntington Beach airshow

A crowd of people are out of focus as a large plane flies towards them in the air. The ocean can be seen in the background on a cloudy, overcast day.
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
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive. 

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.

Support for LAist comes from
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.

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.

Support for LAist comes from

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.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

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.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist