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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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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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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.
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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Voters will be asked in November if the city should adopt the charter model. Other OC cities like Santa Ana and Huntington Beach have adopted charters.
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