Chicago Air And Water Show: Best Spots To Watch, Park And Catch David Ross Skydiving

CHICAGO, IL — For ages, a certain type of cynic has been known to declare that if humans were meant to fly, we would've been born with wings. But maybe the more apt observation is that if humans — as well as their dreams of effortlessly shrugging off gravity and taking flight — were meant to be tethered to terra firma, we wouldn't have been blessed with the ability to make air shows so damn entertaining and impressive. This weekend, the 59th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show will continue that awe-inspiring tradition as millions of earthbound humans watch the spectacular aerial displays in the skies above the city.

The show, which is organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, runs during the day Saturday and Sunday along the Lake Michigan lakefront, from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street. North Avenue Beach will serve as the show center on both days.

So who and what can you expect to see soaring overhead if you attend this annual event? And where and how can you watch recently retired Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross jump from a plane to open the show? Patch has put together a quick guide to the 2017 air show, with information about who's performing this year, as well as what you need to know when it comes to parking, public transportation and the best places to watch this year's high-flying acts of derring-do. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago— or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

59th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show: The Basics

• When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20
• Where: Lake Michigan lakefront, from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street. North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr., will be the show center for the event.
• Admission: Free
• More Info: Go to the show's page on the City of Chicago website.

Aerial Performers

The show features daredevil pilots performing stunts with various military and civilian aerial demonstration teams. While the event's times are the same for both days, there is no schedule for the individual performances. Pilots decide when they're flying the day of the show with headliners performing last.

This year's headliners are:

• the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, who will perform supersonic maneuvers in their F/A-18 Hornets
• the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs, skydiving teams that will jump from an aircraft 12,500 feet above North Avenue Beach.

Other returning aerial acts and aircrafts scheduled to perform this year include:

• F-35 Heritage Flight
• U.S Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter
• C-130, AeroShell Aerobatic Team
• Aerostars
• Chicago Fire Department Helicopter Air/Sea Rescue
• Firebirds Delta Team
• Warbird Heritage Museum P-51 Mustang
• Sean D. Tucker and Team Oracle
• Susan Dacy in the Super Stearman Model 70

Herb Hunter, the “Voice of the Air and Water Show,” will be this year's show announcer, a role he's held for the past 30 years.

Best Spots to Watch

The show's organizers have designated four areas that have the best sightlines to watch this year's event. They are:

• North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr., the show center
• Oak Street Beach, 1000 N. Lake Shore Dr.
• Lake Michigan lakefront from Oak Street to Fullerton Avenue
• Ohio Street Beach, 600 N. Lake Shore Dr.

David Ross Skydive

The air show kicks off with the former Cubs catcher and "Dancing with the Stars" runner-up showing once again that retirement doesn't mean doing nothing. Ross will perform a tandem skydive jump with the Golden Knights, landing in front of the Boat House at North Avenue Beach just after 10 a.m. Saturday.

RELATED: Ex-Cub David Ross Will Skydive To Open Chicago Air And Water Show

Parking

Millennium Garages' locations will have spots available for the show on both days. An all-day parking package costs $35 and includes shuttle service from Millennium Park to North Avenue Beach. The garages include:

• Millennium Park Garage and Millennium Lakeside Garage, 5 S. Columbus Dr.
• Grant Park North Garage, 25 N. Michigan Ave.
• Grant Park South Garage, 325 S. Michigan Ave.

Public Transpo And Divvy Bikes

Metra will offer expanded train service for both days of the show. Check out Patch's full story to find out what will be offered for show-goers.

RELATED: Metra Extends Service For Chicago Air Show

Divvy also will be offering its Valet Service at select bicycle stations during the show. Those locations and times include:

• Theater on the Lake, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Clark Street and North Avenue, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Streeter & Illinois Avenue, noon to 6 p.m.

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels in their F/A-18 Hornets are headliners at the 59th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show this weekend. (Photo via the City of Chicago | Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on