Here are 11 things you don't want to miss this weekend before Sun 'n Fun flies away

LAKELAND — Thousands have gathered on the grounds of Lakeland Linder International Airport for the 49th annual Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo. With more than 200 acres filled with hundred of exhibitors, thousands and planes and interactive activities, it's hard to know where to start.

If you're headed out to Sun 'n Fun this weekend, here's a list of things you don't want to miss:

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels officially arrived Thursday morning at Sun 'n Fun in their Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets. This year's demonstration team includes Lt. Amanda Lee, the Blue Angels' first female pilot, who will be flying in the No. 3 position as left wing. Here's where to see them:

• Friday afternoon airshow, 1:30 - 5 p.m.

• Saturday afternoon airshow, 1:30 - 5 p.m.

• Sunday afternoon airshow, 1:30 - 5 p.m.

• Bonus opportunity: Blue Angels pilots speak to students at the Lakeland Aero Club hangar at noon Friday.

F-35 Lightning demonstration teams

Gene Conrad, CEO and president of the Aerospace Center for Excellence, has boasted that the expo will be the first airshow to host all three variants of the F-35 Lightning: The U.S. Air Force will bring the A version and a demo team, U.S. Marine Corps will bring a B version known for a short takeoff and the ability to vertically land, and the U.S. Navy will present the C variant of the fighter jet. See them in action:

• Marine Corps F-35B Lightning demonstration team, Friday's afternoon airshow.

• Air Force and Marine Corps F-35A and F-35B demonstration teams, Saturday afternoon airshow.

• Air Force and Marine Corps F-35A and F-35B demonstration teams, Sunday afternoon airshow.

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

"Top Gun" movie fanatics and fighter jet fans can get up close and personal with a Grumman F-14 Tomcat featured in the movie series, as well as take photos with a Tom Cruise impersonator throughout the weekend.

U.S. Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned drone

Check out the U.S. Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle, an unmanned aircraft that serves as the nation's primary intelligence reconnaissance aircraft. It is the Army's version of the MQ-1 Predator, a predecessor of the U.S. drone that recently crashed into the Black Sea.

U.S. Army personnel are on-hand to provide a history of the drone, answer questions as well as get a glimpse of its mobile command center that oversees the drone's operations.

Nimitz

Take on the challenge of acting as a U.S. Navy SEAL as the military will have a mobile, state-of-the-art virtual reality simulator Nimitz at Sun 'n Fun. Participants will go through a video briefing before strapping on an Oculus Rift headset and a SubPac, which will percuss in real-time to the sound of the high-speed mission. Individuals will go through a debriefing after completing the mission and get graded on their response.

Pyromusical

Sun 'n Fun enthusiasts know how to put a celebratory cap on the end of a airshow. At the end of Saturday's night airshow, Pyromusical will offer a synchronized fireworks and pyrotechnic show to music. Conrad has assured guests that as much as they've enjoyed the firework show in the past, this year's will be bigger and better.

C-5 Super Galaxy

Stand side by side with largest aircraft in the U.S. Air Force, the C-5 Super Galaxy at Sun 'n Fun. The C-5 Super Galaxy is a strategic transport aircraft design to move around personnel and cargo for the Department of Defense. To date, Conrad said it is the largest plane to ever land at the Lakeland airport.

Sunset Aerial Show

Enjoy a smaller, more intimate evening airshow as Sun 'n Fun celebrates its new Sunset Aerial Circus starting at 7 p.m. Friday. The show features the U.S. Special Operations Command Paracommandos, a Lakeland student flyer and more. It takes place in Paradise City, close to The Island - a new hub for social life.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Visit the American Honor Foundation off Sun 'n Fun's Warbird ramp to see what it claims is the oldest flying Black Hawk helicopter. Attendees can close to the Black Hawk and several other iconic military helicopters from the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as Operation Desert Storm.

Junior ACEs Hands-on workshops

The Aerospace Center for Excellence and Central Florida Aerospace Academy have come together to launch the Junior ACEs program. It offers children ages 7 to 17 the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics as relates to the aviation field. These activities are free for attendees, located near the main entrance of the expo.

Hot Air Balloon Launch

Get up early Saturday morning to watch the mass hot air balloon launch at Sun 'n Fun. Balloons will launch from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Saturday in a game of "Hare and Hound," weather permitting. One balloon will launch as an airship for others to follow, and the balloon that lands closest to it wins.

Hot Air Balloon Glow

Watch the skies over Sun 'n Fun light up in a array of colors around dusk on Friday as the Hot Air Balloon Glow gets underway. Grab a camera and enjoy the warm glow, weather permitting.

What's a ticket cost?

A daily admission ticket will cost $45 for adults, $20 for youth ages 11 to 17, and children age 10 and younger are free. But there's a a Florida residents special that allows locals access on Saturday and Sunday for $45 per adult, $20 for youth. There are no refunds for tickets purchased in advance. Visitors arriving after 5 p.m. can purchase a $10 daily ticket at the gate, which is not available online.

For more information, visit the expo's website at flysnf.org, call 863-644-2431 or email fly-info@flysnf.org.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: As Sun 'n Fun 2023 winds down, here are highlights worth seeing