South Shore CVA joins other community organizations to present Gary Air Show 2025, showcasing all that the Region has to offer

On the morning of Saturday, August 9, thousands of spectators from across the Midwest flocked to Marquette Park Beach in Gary for the first day of Gary Air Show 2025. South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA) partnered with the City of Gary and Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana to put on this fan-favorite event.

Entities like Boeing, BP, United States Steel Gary Works, Berglund Construction, Purdue University Northwest, and CertaPro Painters contributed to make the latest installment of the Gary Air Show possible.

“This event is a source of community pride for all of Northwest Indiana,” said Phil Taillon, president and CEO of South Shore CVA. “It’s great to have this many people come from all over the Midwest to this Air Show. The people of the Region are very friendly. We have big hearts, and we absolutely love to host visitors. We’re here at Marquette Park Beach, which I consider to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the Midwest. It’s important for us to show off Northwest Indiana’s assets, and that’s what we’re doing today. This event, without a doubt, showcases the spirit of the Region and its people.”

This year’s air show featured acts by Ed “Hamster” Hamil, who flew his biplane in support of Folds of Honor, an organization that supplies children of deceased or disabled military members with scholarship support. The United States Army Golden Knights, a branch of the Army’s recruiting division populated by the most skilled and exemplary Army paratroopers, returned to the Air Show to demonstrate their parachuting prowess. Gary-based artist and producer DJ K. Caesareven joined one of the Golden Knights for a tandem parachute jump.

In what was perhaps the most exciting event of the day, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, an aerial demonstration team that has been active since the 1950s, performed death-defying stunts above Lake Michigan in their Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon jet planes.

This is the third year that Virgil Lincoln, co-owner of 18th Street Brewery, and his team have sponsored and operated the Air Show’s beer garden. Lincoln is pleased to return to the Air Show as he considers it to be an event well worth supporting.

“The Air Show brings people from all around,” Lincoln said. “People love to hear the roar of planes and to watch their stunts, so that’s something we all have in common that helps bring people together. I hope everyone here today realizes what we have here on the lake. The Air Show may have brought them here, but I would like them to notice all of the interesting things going on in this area and come back to check it out. By exploring everything that’s happening here at the Air Show, visitors can get an idea of what’s happening in the area as a whole.”

A vast array of food trucks and other vendors were in attendance at this year’s installment of the Air Show. These included a Kona Ice truck, a Redbarn Smokehouse truck, a Tocayos truck, a Sundae Funday Ice Cream Parlor trailer, and a Chicagoland Popcorn booth. Indiana American Water, Karma Cigar, and Prestige 2.0 also had booths onsite.

Scott Erlich, one of the spectators, has been attending the Gary Air Show for many years. He appreciates the opportunity to join in on the festivities for yet another year.

“It’s great seeing people out and about here,” Erlich said. “I like the beach and I enjoy watching the planes. I served as a Gary police officer in the early 1980s, and the city is much nicer than it was when I first started. You can see that firsthand at this event. The Air Show brings communities together. It’s always a good time. Everyone is getting along, and that’s how it should be. ”

Erlich was joined at the Air Show by his partner, Loraine Benifiel. It was Benifiel’s first time attending the Air Show, and she had been looking forward to the event for some time.

“I think this is a great event for the community,” Benifiel said. “It draws everyone together. Everybody is very friendly. I’m excited to see the tandem parachute jumps and the Thunderbirds. I’ve also enjoyed looking at the jewelry booths. It’s great to see that there are so many food vendors out here too. Hopefully, everyone will have a great time and will want to come back next year.”

Please visit southshorecva.com for more information on South Shore CVA’s services and upcoming events.