Tickets on sale now and sponsorship opportunities are available
The lineup is set. Tickets are on sale. And the organizers of the Lake Cumberland Air Show are ready for takeoff.
Following a year-long hiatus to accommodate tarmac rehabilitation and construction at Lake Cumberland Regional Airport (LCRA), the 2024 Lake Cumberland Air Show is set for Saturday, Sept. 21. The event — presented by Don Franklin Family of Dealerships and recognized with multiple awards for tourism and event excellence — will feature music, food, and a robust lineup of air and runway entertainment.
“I am so excited to see the Lake Cumberland Air Show return in September,” said SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler. SPEDA, LCRA and the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce partner to host the event. “The airport is ready for the thousands of visitors who have discovered how much fun you can have keeping your eyes on the skies. These air entertainers are incredible, and we love how they showcase our state-of-the-art airport, the aviation industry and The Capital of Lake Cumberland.”
Sponsorship opportunities are now available, in addition to in-kind partnerships. LCRA board member and Lake Cumberland Air Show President David Morris said it takes a village to pull off an event of this magnitude — the air show attracted more than 8,000 people from across the Lake Cumberland region in its second year — and organizers are grateful for a community that has rallied around this family-friendly event.
“We are so appreciative of Don Franklin’s continued support as the title sponsor for the third year, and of the many local businesses and organizations who have contributed in many ways to make the air show possible,” Morris said. “When we launched the air show in 2021, it had been two decades since we’d had an event like this at the airport. Our sponsors have helped us revive a unique experience to the already robust lineup of entertainment in Somerset-Pulaski County, and I’m looking forward to the air show returning this year.”
The 2024 Lake Cumberland Air Show will feature a variety of vintage military aircraft, World War II warbirds, and aerobatic performers. Gates open at 10 a.m. with static displays, helicopter and airplane rides, food and beverage vendors, and inflatables. The formal flying display begins at 12:30 p.m. and runs for about two hours. Luke Carrico, an air show announcer who has emceed some of the largest aerial events around the world, will return this year.
Air entertainment includes an F-86 Sabre; America’s skydive team Team Fast Trax; a B-25 Mitchell Bomber; the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, known as the Sky Soldiers; the Next-Gen Eagles Aerobatic Team; the Smoke On Formation Team; and more. Participants can also purchase flights before and after the flying display in a Vietnam-era Huey or Cobra helicopter. Rides are available on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the event and space is limited.
First & Farmers National Bank will once again sponsor the VIP Flight Deck at the air show exclusively for sponsors and community leaders. The Flight Deck includes a private area with catered food and beverages, outdoor patio-style seating, indoor access to the airport terminal, private restrooms, air-conditioning, and special VIP parking.
“There are so many wonderful opportunities for our local businesses to support the air show,” Chamber Executive Director Bobby Clue said. “It’s difficult to find this kind of exposure. Thousands of people of all ages from across the Lake Cumberland region will be here to enjoy a day full of really exciting air entertainment. We are so grateful to everyone who helps make this event possible and invite more to come experience how great it truly is.”
LCRA Manager Kellie Baker said she is eager to welcome air enthusiasts back to the airport after tarmac rehabilitation and construction.
“This has quickly become one of the area’s most successful events, and we’re thrilled to have people back to experience our beautiful airport and community,” Baker said. “Aviation is so important to our region and state. We’re honored to host people from across southern Kentucky to celebrate the industry by showcasing the incredible talents of these air entertainers at our facility.”
Lake Cumberland Air Show tickets are $10 through the end of June and can be purchased now at lakecumberlandairshow.com. Organizers encourage patrons to buy early, as the price increases to $12.50 from July 1 to the day of the airshow. Tickets will be available at the gate for $15.
Learn more about the entertainment lineup and get answers to frequently asked questions at lakecumberlandairshow.com and by following @lakecumberlandairshow on Facebook and Instagram. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Chris Girdler at chris@speda.org or 606.425.5409, David Morris at david@modernsystemsinc.com or 606.271.2770, or Kellie Baker at kbaker@flylcra.com or 606.875.0481.