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 2024 Chilliwack Flight Fest takes place in Chilliwack on August 17th and 18th. The event includes a ticketed Hangar Dance on the Saturday and a full airshow on the Sunday. The airshow is a great event, and admission is free!
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’s been running for over 25 years. The event 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 2024 Chilliwack Flight Fest is on the weekend of August 17th and 18th at the Chilliwack Airport. The venue’s address is 46244 Airport Road in Chilliwack.
On the Saturday, the Hangar Dance and Evening Show happens at 46206 Airport Road. The gates open at 7:00 pm and the event includes bar service began and a special flying show.
The main airshow on the Sunday ran from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm last year. The times should be similar in 2024 but exact details are TBC as of mid-July.
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 2024 is The Exchange. At the event there is a short performance in the air to give attendees a preview of what is to come the following day. After that there is lots of merriment and dancing.
On the Sunday last year, the airshow ran from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm although the actual aerial displays didn’t start until 1:00 pm. A small number of aircraft are generally on display with maybe half a dozen or so pilots. It’s not the biggest airshow, but it’s still impressive, especially given the fact that admission is free.
Airshow Performers
Performers in 2024 include Mike Tryggvason, Ross Granley, Brad Wursten, Yellow Thunder and the Erickson Aircraft Collection. Also at the event most years are displays by the Canadian Museum of Flight. Below are a few details about the 2024 pilots.
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.
Yellow Thunder
Yellow Thunder is the name of an Albertan duo who have performed in airshows for nearly 20 years. They’ve performed at the Chilliwack Airshow in the past and are two of the main attractions this year.
Brad Wursten
American pilot Brad Wursten has been obsessed with flying since he began building and flying his own model aircraft when he was eight years old. He’s now a veteran on the airshow circuit.
Erickson Aircraft Collection
The Erickson Aircraft Collection, owned by former pilot Jack Erickson, is one of the biggest privately owned fleets of planes in the world. A few of his aircraft will be on display at this year’s Chilliwack Airshow.
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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