
WILDWOOD, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — The Atlantic City Airshow may have been canceled again this year, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be an air show down the Shore this summer. Wildwood is adding one to the entertainment calendar. And tourism officials there think it will draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.
With Thunder Over the Waves, Wildwood is stepping forward to scoop up the Atlantic City Airshow audience. It will take place the weekend after Labor Day. Ben Rose, director of marketing for Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority, says that weekend has been a hole in their schedule since the end of the motorcycle rally.
“We hired the former air boss that ran the Atlantic City Air show for the last 20 years, and he is putting together a great entertainment lineup of planes,” Rose said. “Hopefully we’ll have a great air show in September.”
Rose says the show so far is 70% booked.
“They’re lining up all the acts right now. We do know we have the Golden Knights Parachute team that will be performing. They’re looking at jet teams. They’re trying to book some jet teams right now and aerobatics teams.”
Rehearsal is set for Friday, Sept. 5, with the big show on Sept. 6.
“The show center will actually be in the footprint of the Barefoot Country Music Fest between the two amusement piers,” Rose said. And there will be bleachers and VIP seating areas.
The tourism authority is expecting to draw 200,000 to 300,000 visitors for the weekend. And what in the A.C. Airshow returns in 2026, as expected? Not to worry, says Rose: Then there will simply be two air shows every year for people to enjoy.