The Air Force Thunderbirds were one of the headliners of the Atlantic City Airshow before it was canceled. (Photo courtesy of Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce)
Wildwood will take to the skies this summer as the city hosts its first ever airshow above its expansive beach.
“When the airshow presented itself to us, we knew it was something that we should get involved in,” Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said. “We have a beach that is second to none, with plenty of space.”
The show, titled “Wildwoods Thunder Over the Ocean Airshow,” was approved at a Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority board meeting Thursday and will be held Sept. 5-6, the weekend following Labor Day.
The event is being sponsored by the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority and will be put on by David Schultz Airshows.
Troiano said that although Wildwood’s airshow announcement follows Atlantic City’s decision to skip its airshow for 2025, Wildwood’s goal is not to replace Atlantic City’s show, but to create a unique and exciting experience of its own.
“I want to make it clear, we’re not taking Atlantic City’s show,” he said. “The event was presented to us, and we thought it would be a terrific fit.”
The weekend was previously known for the “Roar to Shore” motorcycle rally, which ran for 23 consecutive years before concluding in 2019. Troiano said since then, the city has been looking for a tourism-promoting event to occupy the late-season weekend.
Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. believes the airshow will be a "terrific fit" for Wildwood.Ben Rose, director of marketing for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority, said the show’s rehearsal will be on Friday, Sept. 5, and the main event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6.
He noted that the show will be easily viewable from the beach and Boardwalk from 22nd Street to Andrews Avenue, with the show center being between Morey’s Piers and Adventure Pier.
There will be bleacher seating for about 3,000 people on the beach, and VIP viewing areas at the ends of five piers and beachfront hotels.
“We have large events in the Wildwoods, and we’re used to handling large crowds,” Rose said. “We have the infrastructure for it and we certainly have the beach for it. Public viewing is going to be ideal for this.”
Rose said aircraft performing in the show will launch from Atlantic City International Airport, the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Egg Harbor Township, the Millville Airport, and Cape May Airport.
While official performance lineups have yet to be announced, Rose said the show will be modeled after Atlantic City’s previous shows.
He pointed out that the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy’s Blue Angels precision-flying teams will not be available for this year due to prior scheduling commitments until 2027, but other jet teams are being pursued.
Wildwood's wide beaches will provide the venue for the airshow. (Photo courtesy of WHYY)Diane Wieland, Cape May County tourism director, said the event will not only be beneficial for Wildwood, but will promote tourism in surrounding towns all over southern New Jersey, especially since it’s on the tail end of the summer season.
“I think businesses from Ocean City to Cape May will benefit from this,” Wieland said. “We’re going to see people coming back to their favorite hotels or second homes and then participate in this event and go to their favorite restaurants and retail shops.”
Wieland said Cape May County saw an increase in tourism surrounding the weekends Atlantic City held airshows in years past. She expects Atlantic County will benefit from the new Wildwood airshow.
Troiano said the city is excited for the airshow and hopes to make it an annual event if it is successful this year.
“If everything goes right, we hope to anticipate an airshow every year thereafter,” Troiano said.
