Milwaukee's Air & Water Show is back after three long years. Attendees and vendors couldn't be happier about it.
Visitors and vendors were happy to return to the lakefront on Saturday for the first Milwaukee Air & Water Show in three years.
The show started just before 11 a.m., with Coast Guard boats kicking off the all-day event centered between Bradford and McKinley beaches. The final day of the event is Sunday.
By 10 a.m., downtown beaches were packed with spectators and some swam in Lake Michigan while the temperature rose to the mid-80s.
For one Vietnam-era U.S. Navy veteran, Bill Kleeman, the event reminded him of his time working with naval aviation. He was prepared to spend the whole day at the event, with his hat on, sunscreen applied and a cold drink in hand.
"I love it. Especially the aviation part of it. Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved airplanes. And to me, the greatest sound in the world — the sweetest sound — is a fighter jet," he said. "This is my element."
He hoped for the safety of the performers, as he reminisced about his military years. Kleeman especially looked forward to watching the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels dive through the skies.
"It's impressive to watch what they do here. You know, the maneuvering, the skill," he said.
For younger guests, the excitement of watching fighter jets was just as palpable. Bryant Stempski came from Sun Praire with his two sons and an exchange student his family is hosting. He said the kids recently saw the movie "Top Gun: Maverick" and couldn't wait to see the planes in person.
Stempski and his family weren't the only guests who drove over an hour to visit. Nick and Jessica Werner, from Sauk City, made a weekend trip out of the air show and also spent time with family who live in the area.
Fans of air shows, this was their first time at the Milwaukee event.
"I am definitely excited to be here," Nick said. "I think it's great they put this on. I'll be back."
Vendors' tents were lined up next to one another on the east side of North Lincoln Memorial Drive. Spectators strolled on the sidewalk with plastic cups of lemonade in hand and folding chairs slung over their shoulders next to bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Small-business owner Dawn Nersesian of Dawn's Delight was happy to see so many people "out and about" and to be able to introduce visitors to her homemade chocolate chip, coconut and ginger cookies.
"It just gives a lot of vendors the opportunity to share their products because it's been kind of slow with the COVID (pandemic)," she said.
The Sunday show is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. and will offer the same program as Saturday's event. The boat show is scheduled for 10:30-11:30 a.m., with the air show from noon to 4 p.m. The Blue Angels, returning to the city for the first time in five years, will perform at 3 p.m. It is advisable to arrive early to secure parking and avoid traffic.
While reserved parking at Milwaukee County grass lots is sold out, visitors can park in the surrounding areas. Some options include O'Donnell Park near the Milwaukee Art Museum, near the Linwood Pumping Station just north of Bradford Beach, along Lincoln Memorial Drive or on the east side.
The weather is expected to be sunny Sunday with a high in the low 80s and visitors are encouraged to bring hats, sunscreen and small collapsible chairs or a beach towel to enjoy the show.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Air and Water Show returns in 2022 to huge, happy crowd
