Your guide to the 2024 Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo: Concert, more warbirds and fireworks

The Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo will celebrate its 50th anniversary starting Tuesday by going bigger and better than ever before.

Gene Conrad, president and CEO of Sun 'n Fun, said there's a focus this year on improving the guest experience while adding new events aimed at appealing to a wide variety of guests. There's plenty of new things to do this year, including a Tuesday night opening concert and fireworks on Wednesday night, while many of the time-tested annual favorites return.

The Ledger has complied this guide to help you, at a glance, see what activities are available on a daily basis, as well as unique highlights that are not to miss. We've also included some basic ticket and parking basics to help you navigate your way around. A full schedule can be viewed on Sun 'n Fun's website at flysnf.org.

Daily Events

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Career Fair in the Future 'n Flight Plaza.

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Florida Air Museum open to public.

• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Junior ACES SkyLab Innovation Center open hosting youth activities.

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Piedmont Aerospace Experience - Boeing 727 tours.

• 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. : Daily Airshow, schedule below.

• 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Corn Roast, food and entertainment, with different live performers each night.

Highlights by Day

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

• 9:30 a.m.: Join Sun 'n Fun staff, volunteers and local officials as a historic marker to celebrate the expo's 50th anniversary is unveiled in front of the museum doors.

• 10:30 a.m. to noon: Sun 'n Fun Innovation Preview showcasing new products and developments from aviation companies at the ACE Pavilion.

• 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Women ACEs at The Hangar.

• 6 p.m.: Opening Night Concert featuring Dylan Scott and special guest Sara Evans on the Warbird Ramp.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

• 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Women ACES Breakfast in the ACE Pavilion (separate ticket purchase required).

• 11a.m. to noon: Meet Capt. Melanie "Mach" Kluesner and the F-35 demo team at The Hangar.

• Noon to 12:55 p.m.: Forum "The real cost to owning an aircraft" by Scott Sky Smith in CFAA-08.

• 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Author's Corner presents Barbara Ganson "Aviation Comics: Lil' Mickey's Aerodrome" at the Florida Air Museum.

• 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.: Author's Corner presents Jack French on "My story of creating and producing 'Moon Glory,'" a statue of Buzz Aldrin.

• 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.: Wednesday night airshow and fireworks.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

• 11 a.m. to noon: Meet Doug Rozendaal and the world-famous Howard DGA-6 pioneering racing plane named "Mister Mulligan" at Aerobatic HQ.

• Noon to 12:55 p.m.: Forum "Get into commercial aviation fast and low-cost" By Matthew Toddun at CFAA-16.

• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration team takes flight.

• 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Presentation by the Ghost Squadron at the Hangar

• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.: The Bash Fundraising event at the Florida Air Museum (separate ticket purchase required).

• 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. : Sunset Aerial Circus demonstrations in Paradise City.

• 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.: STOL Invitational, or short take-off and landing competition, at Bush Plane/STOL Parking.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

• 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Flying Car Revolution panel discussion at the Future 'n Flight Plaza.

• 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Meet and greet with Rob Holland, one of the premiere airshow performers and freestyle aerobatic competition pilots at Aerobatic HQ.

• 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds Youth Outreach at The Hangar.

• Noon to 1:15 p.m.: Meet and greet with the STOL Invitational Pilots at the Bush Plane/STOL Parking.

• 1 p.m. to 1:55 p.m.: Forum "U.S. Airline Pilot Job Market 2024 & Beyond" By Captain Kit Darby in CFAA-03.

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Forum "Commercial UAS (Drones) Operations" by Paul Herrera in Paradise City.

• 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration team takes flight.

• 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Sunset Aerial Circus demonstrations in Paradise City.

• 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m. STOL Invitational, or short take-off and landings competition, in the STOL Parking.

• 8 p.m.: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to give a short presentation at The Hangar.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

• 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.: Massive hot air balloon launch.

• 7 a.m.: Lakeland airport Sun 'n Fun 5K run (register in advance).

• 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performance in daily air show.

• 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.: Saturday Night Airshow and fireworks.

Daily Airshow Lineup

Tuesday — Patriot Parachute Demo Team, Titan Aerobatic team, Nathan Hammond, Warbird Arrival Show, Jack Aces, Kyle Fowler, Greg Koontz, Redline Airshows, Erik Edgren, Rob Holland, US. Air Force F-35A demo team, US. Air Force Heritage Flight, Ghost Squadron.

Wednesday

Day - Thunderbird 8's arrival, Patriot Parachute demo team, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Larry Kelley, Commemorative Air Force, Warbird show, Doug Rozendall, Patty Wagstaff, RJ Gritter, Lift Aircraft, Kevin Coleman, ScaleWings, Jim Peitz, Michael Goulian.

Night - Ghost Squadron, U.S. Air Force F-35A demo team, Lee Lauderback, Titan aerobatic team, Airythmia Paramotor team, Patriot Parachute team, Manfried Radius, Eric Edgren, Kyle Fowler, Ken Reider, Nathan Hammond, Tora Bomb Squad, On Final FX/Starfire's fireworks.

Thursday — U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds arrival, Patriot Parachute demo team, Jack Aces, Warbirds Show, Class of '45, Kevin Coleman, Jerry "Jive" Kerby, Redline Airshows, RJ Gritter, Doug Rozendaal, Rob Holland, U.S. Air Force F-35A demo team, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight.

Friday — U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds extra rehearsal, Patriot Parachute demo team, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornets demo team, Titan Aerobatic team, Patty Wagstaff, Jim Peitz, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Michael Goulian, U.S. Air Force F-35A demo team, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight, U.S. F-18 Super Hornet demo team, U.S. Navy Legacy Flight, Ghost Squadron.

Saturday

Day — Patriot parachute team, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornets demo team, U.S. Navy Legacy Flight, Rob Holland, Jim Peitz, Kevin Coleman, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Commemorative Air Force, Jack Aces, Class of '45, U.S. Air Force F-35A demo team, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Night — Ghost Squadron, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet demo team, Lee Lauderback, Titan Aerobatic team, Airythmia Paramotor team, Patriot Parachute team, Manfred Radius, Eric Edgren, Kyle Fowler, Ken Reider, Nathan Hammond, Tora Bomb Squad, On Final FX/Starfire fireworks.

Sunday — Patriot Parachute team, Jack Aces, Larry Kelley, Class of '45, Doug Rozendaal, Patty Wagstaff, Jerry "Jive" Kerby, RJ Gritter, Erik Edgren, U.S. Air Force F-35A demo team, U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet demo team, U.S. Navy Legacy Flight, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

What does a ticket cost?

A daily admission ticket will cost $45 for adults, $40 for adult members, $20 for youth ages 11 to 17, and children age 10 and younger are free. A weekly expo ticket costs $170 for adults, $140 for adult members, $70 for youth. There is a Florida residents special that allows locals access on Saturday and Sunday for $45 per adult, $20 for youth. Special discounts are available There are no refunds for tickets purchased in advance.

Parking isn't free

Visitors arriving after 5 p.m. can purchase a $10 ticket, which is not available online. For the Wednesday and Saturday nights, those arriving after 5 p.m. should expect to pay $20 an adult, $10 for youth to watch the nightly airshow. Evening tickets will cost $45 per adult, $20 for youth on Tuesday night to access the concert.

General parking will cost $10 online, $20 onsite per day with preferred parking costing $30 available for onsite purchase only. A weekly general parking pass costs $60 purchased online in advance, $80 when purchased onsite.

For more information about the 2024 Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, visit their website flysnf.org.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 2024 Sun 'n Fun Guide: Thunderbirds, warbirds, music and fireworks