Thursday, July 23 and Friday July 24
The biggest event on the Lowestoft calendar, the award-winning Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, takes place this summer on Thursday July 23rd and Friday July 24th.
Last year’s record-breaking Air Festival attracted a two-day attendance estimated at 440,000 and won the Tourism in Suffolk award for the Best Festival or Event in 2008.
The 13th Lowestoft Air Festival will once again be a spectacular family event featuring over four hours of flying on both days plus a big variety of ground attractions near the mile-long award-winning golden beach.
The Royal Air Force is again sending a full flying display team to Lowestoft, headed by the world-famous aerobatic team the Red Arrows.
Joining them will be the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a BAe Hawk solo jet, a Grob Tutor training aircraft and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter.
It is also hoped that the programme will include the iconic Cold War bomber, the delta-winged Avro Vulcan which made its first appearance public display appearance last year after a multi-million pound restoration project.
The world’s only airworthy Vulcan is aiming to be back on the display circuit again this summer after a £1 million fundraising campaign and, as last year, Lowestoft Air Festival organisers are hoping it will again prove to be a huge attraction.
Other highlights planned for this year include a Meet the Pilots facility, a funfair, live music on the seafront and a fireworks display on the Thursday night.
The Air Festival will be followed by another spectacular event, this time on the sea, with the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Grand Prix on Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th.
Lowestoft is one of only five venues around the UK to feature the world’s largest off-shore powerboat championships in which up to 45 boats will be taking part.
Admission on all four days is free but voluntary donations will again be welcomed to help meet the £300,000 cost of the Air Festival.
Since 2004 the Air Festival has been run by an independent and voluntary support group who formed the charitable and not for profit company Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Ltd, working in partnership with local charities and Waveney District Council.
Last year the company handed back almost £28,000 to 27 local charities and community groups who assisted at the event as collectors and stewards.
For more information see the official website above or contact the Air Festival’s sponsorship and operations manager, Keith Moughton, on 01502 523398 (email: keith.moughton@waveney.gov.uk)
For more local information, please see:
Lowestoft Town GuideAccommodation in Lowestoft Guide
