Battle Creek Field of Flight returns July 3-7; tickets available online
BATTLE CREEK — The skies above the Cereal City will once again be filled with high-powered aircraft and colorful hot air balloons as the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival roars into town Wednesday, July 3.
The largest combined air show and balloon festival in North America returns to Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field July 3-7 with a variety of aerial displays, fireworks and live music, among other activities. Demonstration teams from the United States Air Force, United States Army and United States Navy will headline this year's airshow.
United States Air Force Thunderbirds, United States Army Golden Knights parachute team, the United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet RHINO Demo Team from VFA-106, United States Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team and the United States Navy F-35C Lightning II Demo Team are among the groups slated to perform at this year's airshow.
The Thunderbirds, in particular, are a crowd favorite in Battle Creek, according to Barb Haluszka, executive director of Field of Flight.
"There is nothing like having those red, white, and blue jets in the skies over the Fourth of July holiday,” Haluszka said. “It is truly amazing to be able to host and support the footprint the team has and we do it with pure joy."
The Thunderbirds' performances in Battle Creek will showcase, as well as represent, the capabilities of the U. S. Air Force. To help achieve their mission goals, Air Force recruiters will also be on-site and attractions showcasing the Air Force will be open for attendees of all ages.
The Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform in Battle Creek on July 4, July 6 and July 7.
“We have some other acts to talk about still,” Field of Flight spokesperson Bretten Bailey said. “You don’t book military acts, but you apply for them. Then they build their schedule how they see fit taking in a multitude of factors including population, recruiting stats, other show sites and etcetera. We will always be over the Fourth of July week so we won’t switch dates to score a team while many other shows have that luxury. For us to be able to get military acts over a big holiday weekend shows just how great the city of Battle Creek, the regions of Southwest and Central Michigan, and state of Michigan as a whole is at supporting the military."
Tickets for the 2024 Field of Flight are on sale now at fieldofflight.com. For more information about the event, visit fieldofflight.com or call (269) 962-0592.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds among Field of Flight headliners July 3-7
