Blue Angels will headline this year’s Garmin KC Air Show. What to know before you go
Fighter jets will be taking the skies over Kansas City soon. The Garmin KC Air Show hits the New Century Air Center Aug. 19-20.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are this year’s main attraction, but they’ll be joined by plenty of skydivers, jets and helicopters, including:
“Fat Albert,” used by The Blue Angels
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team
KC Flight Formation
Red Bull Skydive Team
Vampire Airshows
You can view the complete list of performers here.
The show will be the same for both days. Weather conditions may cause changes, but the show will go on rain or shine.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TICKETS
Ticket options for the KC Air Show are as follows:
General admission tickets cost $48 for adults, $17 for teens and $9 for children for each day. Kids age 5 and under are free.
The Flight Line club gives you box seats on the show’s line. You’ll have access to shaded areas, open-air viewing and exclusive restrooms. These cost $75.
The Gold Club is a tented area with shaded tables, catered lunch, and private air-conditioned restrooms. It’ll cost you $199.
Lawn boxes are the newest addition to the KC Air Show. These are 10 feet by 12 feet reserved boxes near the runway for the day. Each box comes with four tickets and costs $169.
Photo pit tickets will give you exclusive Friday access to watch the performers practice and allow you to enter the show early on Saturday or Sunday to shoot photos while the jets are grounded. These tickets cost $155.
Buy your tickets here. All prices shown are before fees. Refunds will not be available.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PARKING
Parking will be free in Garmin’s lot, but you must reserve your spot in advance. You can also reserve free parking at the Olathe District Activity Center at 20925 159th St.
The air show will have a shuttle running from these lots to the New Century Air Center. You can reserve your spots here
On-site parking is available for $95 at 551 New Century Parkway each day or $130 at 4 New Century Parkway, available only on Aug. 20. Buy your parking pass here.
Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the KC Air Show’s designated spots. No accessible parking will be on-site unless you bought a premium pass.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TIMING
Every spot, whether general admission or the Gold Club, is first-come, first-serve. The gates open at 9 a.m. on both days, so you’ll want to get there early to get the best spot. Enhanced security may delay your entry, as they’ll search through every bag brought to the event.
WHAT OTHER EXHIBITS WILL BE THERE?
Numerous aircraft will be on the ground for people to see, some of which you can look inside.
If you loved “Top Gun: Maverick,” you can sit in the cockpit of an F-18 jet. You can’t fly in it; you’ll only be able to get a photo inside. You can also take a photo with “California Tom Cruise” and “Arizona Ice Man,” both dressed like their characters from “Top Gun.”
More exhibits will be on display for you to visit, including:
Precision Exotics, featuring supercars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Corvette
The Hangar, designed to show visitors how Air Force maintainers keep aircraft flying
WHAT FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE?
The KC Air Show will have food trucks with many different options. Gyros, funnel cakes, kebobs, slushies and much more will be available.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed. Each person can only bring in one sealed water bottle, and water refill stations will be on site.
WHAT CAN I BRING?
The following items are allowed:
Bags, purses or backpacks that are 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches or smaller, with or without a handle or strap
Binoculars
Blankets
Cameras and camera bags
Folding or camping chairs
Small soft-sided coolers for medical purposes or baby items only
Small, personal umbrellas
Soft-sided wagons
Strollers
Water bottle (factory sealed/unopened 1-liter or smaller bottle, one per person)
You can’t bring these items into the KC Air Show:
Aerosol cans
All outside food and beverages, one sealed water bottle will be allowed per person.
Anything that can obstruct someone’s view, like a poster or banner
Bags, purses or backpacks larger than 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches
Banners or flags with sticks in them
Beach balls or other inflatables
Bullhorns, air-horns, cowbells or other noisemakers
Cigarettes and e-cigarettes
Hard-sided coolers of any kind
Items that could be projectiles
Lasers or laser pens and pointers
Pets, with an exception for documented service animals
Toy guns or toy knives
Unmanned aerial vehicles, like drones
Weapons and fireworks of any kind, including all guns and pocket knives
Wrapped presents or gifts of any kind
Security may ask you to throw away an item or return it to your car, as they won’t be holding it at the gates or at the guest services booth.
WHAT ELSE TO KNOW
You won’t have any shade unless you bought a Gold Club pass. This is so people can see the sky unobstructed. Bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and small umbrellas that won’t prevent someone from viewing the jets.
The KC Air Show recommends that you bring earplugs. You also can’t leave the air show and come back.
Active duty military with a government-issued ID will receive free admission at the gate. Veterans with a veteran health ID card, veteran ID card or a veteran’s designation on a driver’s license can get tickets for $40 at the gate.
