Nova Scotia air show going ‘drive-in picnic’ style this summer

COVID-19 restrictions likely won't cancel Atlantic Canada’s largest air show this summer.

“We’re trying to catch the wave of optimism that’s starting to happen about the Atlantic bubble opening up again, case counts stabilizing [and] going down,” Air Show Atlantic executive director Colin Stephenson said, “and this is the right time to tell fans about our designs on what the show’s going to look like because we’re all looking forward to better days.”

After spending the winter consulting with the air show’s host facility in Debert, N.S. and with other North American air show partners, Stephenson said this year’s Air Show Atlantic will use a “drive-in picnic-style” format.

While some people may think of a drive-in movie theatre, Stephenson said it’ll be one step further.

Every parking spot on the property will have a 25 by 20 square foot space where vehicles can be parked and audiences can picnic inside their plot.

“You can bring your lawn chairs, bring your blankets, sit out beside your car, be COVID safe, be separated from everybody else and be able to enjoy the show from there,” Stephenson told NEWS 95.7’s The Rick Howe Show.

Last year’s show was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Those who bought tickets for last year's show — which were only a small number of people — had the option to either refund them or keep them for the following year's performance.

Typically, the Atlantic Airshow has a festival-style setup where people park their vehicles, enter through a gate and then rush to find a spot to set up.

People also had the opportunity to get into some of the aircrafts and speak to the pilots.

Those traditional elements have been cancelled this year.

However, Stephenson said he expects around 15,000 people — a number they reached a couple of years ago — will come to Debert, N.S. to watch the show over the weekend this August.

Each day will have space for around 1,300 vehicles. Hoping carloads of people attend the event, Stephenson said it's likely thousands will see this year's show.

Currently, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds have confirmed their performance. Other teams, such as the Canadian Forces CF-18 Demo Team and the Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Tactical Demo, have been invited.

Stephenson said one barrier Air Show Atlantic is trying to navigate is getting aerobatic performers into the Atlantic bubble which is set to return by April 19.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, is also optimistic about the province's situation for June. He said all Nova Scotians who want a vaccine will get a dose by the end of June, and those older than 30 will get the jab by the end of May.

“It’s so much a ‘wait-and-see’ year to see how’s the quarantine period going to shrink, can we get people safely in, all that kind of stuff,” Stephenson said. “So, we just have to keep revealing that as we learn more.”

On top of the usual performances, Stephenson said some of the local events that’ve happened in the past year will be acknowledged.

That includes the death of Snowbirds Captain Jenn Casey who died in a crash in Kamloops, B.C. in May 2020.

The official flying displays will be updated on an on-going basis up until the actual show. Ticket sales and the overall schedule will also soon be added.

“As happens every year, the lineup is subject to change due to operational commitments and last-minute additions and deletions,” Air Show Atlantic’s website said. “Preceding the show, the list of aircraft and their status is regularly updated right up until the day of the show.”

Currently, Air Show Atlantic is holding a 50/50 raffle to help fund the not-for-profit organization.

As of Saturday afternoon, the jackpot sits at more than $1,900 with more than 900 tickets sold. It closes on April 8 and will be drawn the next day at the Shearwater Aviation Museum near Eastern Passage.

Air Show Atlantic is North America's largest “homeless air show” that travels around Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. It's entering its 11th year.

This year's show, which will return to Debert, N.S. near Truro, will be the organization's 37th full air show in its history.