Going to Sun 'n Fun for the first time? Here are some tips for the best experience
There are military jets flying overhead, thousands of people and planes as far as the eye can see at the 51st annual Sun 'N Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland this week.
From April 1 to 6, thousands of aviation enthusiasts descend on the grounds of Lakeland Linder International Airport. For the uninitiated who might be able to tell the difference between a passenger jet and a helicopter, it can feel a little bit intimidating.
The purpose of Sun 'N Fun is to serve as annual fundraiser for the Aerospace Center for Excellence, commonly called ACE, whose missing is to engage, education and accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals. It's aimed at being child- and family-friendly.
The Ledger compiled this list of tricks and tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Sun 'n Fun this year:
Sun 'N Fun is working harder than ever to make sure that it's affordable for the average family to attend.
This year, children ages 12 and younger are free to attend. Two years ago, free admission was capped at age 6. Tickets for youth ages 13 to 17 are $20 for a single day versus adults at $50.
Florida residents looking to make the most of the expo's weekend events can purchase Florida resident weekend special tickets. For the same price as a one-day ticket, $50 per adult and $20 for youth, the weekend special allows admission both Saturday and Sunday.
For those looking to see the Nighttime Airshow Spectacular on Wednesday and Saturday nights, there's an After 5 ticket available at the gate for $20 per person ages 13 and older.
To purchase tickets in advance, go to https://flysnf.org/tickets/buy-tickets.
No driver wants to sit in a long line to pay for parking then find a space at an event.
Sun 'N Fun's website offers a discount to drivers who purchase their parking online. Buying your parking pass online is $12 per day, versus $20 at the gate. A weekly parking pass is $60 online, $80 at the gate. To purchase parking passes online, go to https://flysnf.org/tickets/buy-tickets.
Set your GPS for 3875 Pipkin Road to get directed to the lot.
The expo is held on the grounds of Lakeland Linder International Airport: a large, flat grassy field with tarmac taxiways. Exhibitors, activities, displays and vendors cover more than 200 acres.
Here are a few things on our recommended packing list:
Wear a comfortable, well broken-in pair of sneakers for walking. You'll do a lot of it.
Slather on the sunscreen and bring the bottle to reapply.
Wear a hat of your choice and a pair of sunglasses. The sun can be harsh and bright, even brighter when reflecting off metal from a row of parked planes. Or daunting when looking up to watch the daily afternoon airshow.
Pack a refillable water bottle. Water fountains and stations can be found across the grounds.
Consider bringing a camp chair to sit in and watch the afternoon airshow if not purchasing preferred seating. It's four hours long.
Small wagons are permitted if you need one to help carry your chairs.
Despite your best intentions, it can be easy to leave an essential item at home. For those already at the expo, Sun 'N Fun's Island Store near The Island offers personal hygiene items for sale, including sunscreen, Chapstick, paper plates and assorted beverages, hot and cold.
There are certain items that are prohibited at the Sun 'N Fun Aerospace Expo to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests.
According to Sun 'n Fun's website, make sure you don't bring:
No pets are permitted at the fly-in expo or airside. Qualified service animals are allowed on leashes.
E-bikes are not allowed on site. Bicycles are allowed in the campground area only.
No rollerblades, roller skates, skateboards, hoverboards, Segways or other self-propelled transportation devices are allowed. Single-person electric handicapped convenience vehicles, such as motorized wheelchairs, are allowed when operated in safe manner.
Leave coolers at home, unless you are camping. Coolers are restricted to the campground area and may be subject to search at any time.
No offsite food and drinks, except for those staying in the campground area.
For a more extensive list, visit Sun 'n Fun's FAQ for attendees at flysnf.org/attend/faq.
Spending hours in the Florida sun on an airfield, it can be easy to get hot, sweaty and potentially overheated. There are plenty of locations around the Sun 'N Fun to get a moment of relief from the heat:
The Florida Air Museum is open daily from from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Duck inside the air-conditioned building and check out the exhibits.
There are several oases and welcome areas set up throughout the expo to allow visitors to sit down, get out of the sun and rest. There's the Family Oasis set up specially for families with young children, open daily starting at 9 a.m. There are comfort stations, nursing areas, picnic tables and an area with air conditioning. There are other oases around for adults, including the International Oasis for attendees from overseas. There's also a Pilot Welcome Tent near The Island and a Veterans Welcome Tent near Veterans Plaza.
The Island, located in the heart of the aircraft camping areas, offers a variety of vendors providing breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and snacks. There are also restrooms and plenty of places to sit in the shade or near large fans.
New this year is The Sandbar, a spot near the light planes in Paradise City, that has a shaded tent area, picnic tables and benches to sit down and get off your feet for a bit. Better yet, sound from the daily airshows will be broadcast so you can watch from a distance.
Everyone's excited to see the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels return to Sun 'n Fun this year. The Blue Angels will arrive on Thursday morning.
The Blue Angels will practice Thursday afternoon, a practice run-through of their show visible to all Sun 'n Fun attendees. The U.S. Navy will bring its F-35C Lightning II demonstration team out to Sun 'n Fun for the first time this year, and they will appear for the first time Thursday afternoon alongside the Blue Angels and the Navy's EA-18G Growlers two-ship team.
The Blue Angels will appear in Friday and Saturday afternoon airshows, but don't show up on Saturday night hoping to see them in action.
The Blue Angels squadron members will engage with Sun 'n Fun attendees on Saturday night from 7:30 to 8 p.m. in a short presentation at The Hangar. They are not scheduled to fly in Saturday's night airshow.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Insider's guide to 2025 Sun 'n Fun: Tips for attending Lakeland's expo
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