What To Know About The 2023 Duluth Airshow

The tradition returns this weekend as the Duluth Airshow takes off on Saturday morning for two days of high-flying excitement in the sky above (and on the ground) in the Twin Ports.

This year's lineup includes the headlining performers from the United States Navy Blue Angels capping off both days of the show, but there's an awful lot more to see and do through the weekend both on the ground and in the sky.

Here's what to know about this weekend's Duluth Airshow, running Saturday, July 15 through Sunday, July 16:

2023 Duluth Airshow Performers & Ground Displays

On the ground

Visiting the Duluth Airshow includes a huge amount of vendors and displays to check out as part of your visit. Included in this year's lineup of static displays on the ground are as follows:

• B-1 Lancer Bomber (377th TES)
• F-35 (33rd FW)
• F-18F (VX-9)
• EA-18 Growler (VAQ-209)
• F-16 (148th FW)
• C-17 (164th AW)
• T-38 (80th OG)
• KC-46 (22 ARW)
• E-2D (VAW-121)
• T-1 (3rd FTS)
• QF-16 (53rd WEG)
• C-47 "Placid Lassie"
• AD-4 Skyraider
• F4U-4 Corsair
• P-40 Warhawk
• TBM-3E Avenger
• AT-6D
• T-34
• CJ-6
• L-17
• Cirrus SF-50
• Cirrus SR-22

In the air

Taking center stage this year among performers and demonstrations includes a dozen different groups:

• US Navy Blue Angels
• US Air Force A-10 Demonstration Team
• US Air Force C-17/KC-135 Demonstration
• US Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
• US Air Force Heritage Flight
• AD-3 Sky Raider
• Smoke N' Thunder Jet Car
• Kyle Fowler and his plane the Long EZ
• Britt Lincoln and her Extra 330SC
• Craig Gifford and his custom Staudacher S-300
• B-25 Miss Mitchell

A couple of things to look for:

• Tom Cruise impersonator "Maverick" will be at this year's show! Learn more here.
• The first female Blue Angels pilot, who is from Minnesota and studied at UMD, will be one of the performers. Learn more here.

Schedule of Events

The schedule is the same for both Saturday and Sunday. Gates open to the public at 9:00 am, with flying getting underway at 11:00 am. Flying continues through the day, ending by 4:30 pm. You can continue to see ground displays on the grounds until gates close at 6:00 pm.

The specific performer schedule is announced day-of, on-site as times are subject to change due to a number of factors.

Parking

There are a number of on-site and satellite lots for a number of needs. Among different parking options are on-site general admission parking, upgraded on-site parking, motorcycle parking, disabled parking, TV day parking, weekend camping/parking, and express shuttle lot parking.

The off-site shuttle lot parking can be found off Rice Lake Road at the Arrowpointe Medial Center, which is a great option to avoid the large amount of traffic - especially at the end of the event.

You an see maps and costs for all parking on the Duluth Airshow website.

Important Info, Things You Can/Can't Bring & Tips To Know

For general admission attendees, bringing a chair and some sunscreen is a great idea. The show is conducted in an open space along the airfield, so there isn't much in the way of shade. Bringing a folding or bag chair is a great way to give you a comfortable place to enjoy the show.

One thing you can't bring in is coolers or outside food or beverages. If you had hoped to bring a cooler for beverages and/or seating, this is not allowed. Food and beverage providers will be available on-site, though each visitor is allowed to bring in one personal-sized water bottle or container, under 20 ounces.

You'll absolutely want to consider bringing sunglasses, and bringing earplugs or earmuffs is a very good idea. While some of the demonstrations are not very loud, some can be quite loud, and having ear protection will make enjoying the show easier.

Bring your camera! Whether it's your cell phone or a larger camera, everyone is welcome to bring you camera to capture the show and share the memories! Just know that cameras in a bag may be subject to search before entering the grounds.

Finally, consider bringing cash. Some vendors do accept credit cards and you can pay with a credit card to get into the show, but cash is king. There will be some ATMs on site, but having cash with you will make it easier to pay for everything.

While you're waiting, here are some photos from last year's Duluth Airshow, when the US Air Force Thunderbirds were the headlining act.