The Dunkirk Lake Shore Air Show has been planned with fun and excitement in mind. From parking to transportation and a full weekend of entertainment – Dunkirk Festivals has it set.

Dunkirk Festivals and Special Events Coordinator Hector Rosas explained spectators do not have to worry about finding a parking space along the crowded waterfront.

“They can park at SUNY Fredonia and there’s numerous lots that will be utilized by the arriving spectators and they will be shuttled from there. … Say you’re coming off the Thruway, there will be signage directing you to parking areas at SUNY Fredonia and also at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds. We will have signage at all the entrances to the city. … There will be plenty of signage that we will make up and place it strategically to guide the tourists coming for the air show,” he said.

CARTS buses will pick up spectators from Lot 7, 8a and 9a-c, all located along Ring Road on campus as well as 11 and 27 near the Natatorium and 28 near the athletic fields off Brigham Road. In addition there will be parking in the rear parking lot at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds, accessible off Walldorff Road.

VIP parking for state representatives and sponsors will be at the SUNY Fredonia Incubator.

Rosas said the shuttles will run from noon to 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, dropping spectators off at Lake Front Boulevard.

Opening remarks will begin at 1 p.m. with Rosas acting as emcee and introducing Mayor Willie Rosas. Local students including Miriam LaBarr, Ava Hartung, Jenna Johnson, Octavia Fred, Tessa Brunner and Liza Mahany will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Frontier Skydivers will unfurl the American Flag while being circled by Third Strike’s Stearman biplane. So, there’s going to be a plane in the air and these guys will parachute over the water and land over on Pangolin Field. This will be done as the National Anthem is being sung by Cindy Schmidt. Cindy is joining us from Attica, N.Y. and she will be staying overnight to perform the National Anthem at both shows, Saturday and Sunday,” Rosas explained.

Mayor Rosas will acknowledge the students as well as the World War II veterans in attendance including Joe Gatto and Leonard Aldrich and several others.

World War II veterans will also be honored with an act during the air show, which is expected to run an hour to an hour and 10 minutes in total. The Air Boss is Daniel Herr with special guests Lou Nalbone of Dunkirk Aviation and Daniel Reininga, President and CEO of Lake Shore Savings Bank.

Aerobatic acts include Third Strike in a Boeing-Stearman biplane, Rick Volker in an MK IV and Scott “Scooter” Yoak in a P51. Wing walking will be a highlight of the show performed by Third Strike’s Carol Pilon. Yoak and Lou Horschel will fly their P51s in formation as a solute to the Class of 1945.

There will be vendors and face painting on Lake Front Boulevard and Dunkirk Festivals will be selling T-shirts, flags and programs.

Following the show, there will be entertainment in Memorial Park. On Saturday, Elvis Lives Live by Patrick Johnson will perform after the air show until 6 p.m., followed by the amazing sounds of The Shaky Ray Blues Band until 10 p.m. On Sunday following the air show, guitarist Karl Lydell with his band No Limit will perform until 6 p.m., followed by local favorite Big TONE Band until 10 p.m. On Monday, Fallen Union will perform from 3 to 6 p.m. and Black Diamond will perform from 6 p.m. until the fireworks.

Rosas asked that parents and guardians supervise their children and pets to make sure it is an enjoyable show for everyone.

He thanked Mayor Rosas, the department of public works, police department, fire department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Home Land Security, the Coast Guard, Dunkirk Aviation, Chautauqua County CARTS, the OBSERVER, WDOE, Dr. Marc Pundt and Jeanie Price for help with the event as well as presenting sponsor Lake Shore Savings Bank and sponsors Best Western, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., Shults Resale Center, Bart’s Cove, the Dunkirk Rotary, Nestle Purina, National Grid, SUNY Fredonia, the city of Dunkirk, Graf Realty and Brooks Memorial Hospital.