JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The fate of the Blue Angels’ appearance at this month’s Sea and Sky Airshow at Jacksonville Beach hangs in the balance as the government shutdown continues to impact military operations nationwide.
The iconic Navy flight demonstration team is scheduled to appear at the event on Oct. 25 and 26, but recent cancellations of other airshows across the country have raised concerns about their participation in the River City.
The uncertainty follows a pattern of shutdown-related cancellations. The Blue Angels were forced to withdraw from their Salinas, California, Air Show Oct. 4 and 5 appearance, and their participation in San Francisco’s Fleet Week remains conditional on the government reopening.
“That’s the only reason why people come,” said Jacksonville resident Jack Sherrod, expressing concern about the potential absence of the Blue Angels.
Another resident, Niko Costas, described watching the squadron with his children, noting, “We always try to ride our bikes right up the road and watch the kids just in awe of the Blue Angels.”
The Blue Angels have been a staple of Jacksonville’s aviation scene since 1946, making their potential absence particularly significant for the community.
When asked about the status of the Jacksonville event, a Blue Angels spokesperson said they would provide updates as details develop.
It is important to note that the City of Jacksonville said the Air Show will go on, regardless of the status of the Blue Angels.
News4Jax spoke with Alex Alston, the Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment at the City of Jacksonville about the Air show.
Alston said his team is in contact with the Blue Angels and monitoring the situation closely.
“We understand that folks would be disappointed if the Blue Angels ended up not coming,” he said, “but like most things when you’re dealing with the government, those things are out of our control,” he added.
“But we plan on hosting a great airshow at the beach,” he explained. “We have a great lineup of civilian pilots as well who are going to put on a heck of a show.”
News4JAX will continue to monitor this and provide updates when made available.