Chilliwack Flight Fest is an airshow featuring planes, music and stunt flying at the Chilliwack Airport which is less than two hours from downtown Vancouver.
In 2023 Chilliwack Flight Fest took place in Chilliwack on August 19th and 20th. The event included a Hangar Dance on the Saturday and a full airshow on the Sunday. The airshow is a great event, and admission is free! In 2024 the event happens on August 17th and 18th.
For full details about this event, see the Chilliwack Flight Fest website.
Chilliwack Hangar Dance and Airshow
Chilliwack Flight Fest is an annual affair that has been running for over 25 years. The event usually features live music, aircraft on static display and stunt planes in the air.
The Hangar Dance on the Saturday evening costs $25 at the door or a little less if you buy online. There is no cost for admission to the airshow on the Sunday.
Where and When
In 2023 Chilliwack Flight Fest was on the weekend of August 19th and 20th at the Chilliwack Airport. The venue’s address is 46244 Airport Road in Chilliwack.
On the Saturday, the Hangar Dance and Evening Show happened at 46206 Airport Road. The gates opened at 6:00 pm, bar service began at 7:00 pm and the flying show started at 7:30 pm. The main airshow on the Sunday ran from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
In 2024 the Hangar Party & Dance happens on Saturday, August 17th. The airshow, meanwhile, takes place on Sunday, August 18th. As of the spring of 2024, exact times and other details about the events are to be confirmed. The times, however, will likely be similar to last year.
CHILLIWACK HOTELS
Looking for a place to stay the next time you’re in Chilliwack? Then check out the Chilliwack Coast Hotel. It’s right in the heart of downtown.
For a list of other places to stay, see the Tourism Chilliwack website.
What to Expect
At the Hangar Dance and Evening Show on the Saturday evening there is usually a band, dancing, planes to admire and flying to see. The live music in 2023 was The Vacationers. At 7:30 pm there was a short performance in the air to give attendees a preview of what was to come the following day. After that there was lots of merriment and dancing.
On the Sunday in 2023 the airshow ran from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm although the actual aerial displays didn’t start until 1:00 pm. In past years a small number of aircraft are generally on display with maybe half a dozen or fewer pilots. It’s not the biggest airshow, but it’s still impressive, especially given the fact that admission is free.
Past Airshow Performers
Performers in 2023 included John and Richard Mrazek, Mike Tryggvason, Ross Granley and Roy Hafeli. Also at the event were displays by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Below are a few details about the 2022 pilots.
John & Richard Mrazek
John and Richard Mrazek are father-son aerobatic pilots. The dad is an airshow performer, evaluator, instructor and an experienced flyer with many tricks up his sleeve. John performed at the Chilliwack Flight Fest Airshow in 2019.
Based in Delta, John Mrazek flies “Pussycat II” which is a Harvard Mark IV. This type of plane was built between 1938 and 1954 and used for training by American, British and Canadian Air Forces.
Click John Mrazek to learn more.
Richard Mrazek is known for wowing the crowd as he performs in his Russian aerobatics plane, Yakovlev 18T.
Ross Granley
Based in Washington State, Ross performs in a Yakovlev Yak 18T, a 1960s era Soviet Union plane. Once a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, Ross is also one of the most respected pilots in the airshow business.
Mike Tryggvason
A Toronto-based pilot, Mike Tryggvason is a competition aerobatic and airshow pilot who has logged more than 5,000 hours of total flying time. Besides his love for aerobatics, Mike is also a pilot and instructor for a major airline.
Roy Hafeli
Roy Hafeli is a household name in airshow biz. If you’ve been to airshows in Abbotsford, the Reno Air Races and Madras, Oregon, you’ll have heard Roy’s voice as an airshow narrator.
The Canadian Museum of Flight
The Canadian Museum of Flight isn’t a performer at the airshow, but it’s a participant with displays at the event. Based out of Langley, BC, it’s a volunteer-run facility dedicated to preserving aircraft and showcasing Canada’s aviation history.
Click Canadian Museum of Flight for more details.
Other Information
For more information about the event, see the Chilliwack Flight Fest Facebook page.
To learn more about the region, see our articles about Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley.
To learn about other events and attractions in the region, visit the Tourism Chilliwack website.
Other events happening in Chilliwack in the summer include the following:
- Chilliwack Corn Maze
- The Chilliwack Fair & Rodeo
- Chilliwack Flight Fest
- Chilliwack Mural Festival
- The Chilliwack Pride Festival
- Chilliwack Ribfest
- Chilliwack Sunflower Festival
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