THUNDER BAY — The skies above the city will be the scene of an aerial spectacle this weekend
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds landed in Thunder Bay Wednesday, in advance of shows this weekend that will coincide with the city's Kite Festival at Marina Park.
The two-day festival will have the air shows scheduled for noon on Saturday and Sunday. The Kite Festival will showcase professional kite flying demonstrations, community groups, food vendors, arts programming, outdoor games and youth skateboarding lessons on both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Eventgoers will also have the chance to see inside an RCAF CF-18 cockpit and the opportunity to meet and greet with members of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team on Saturday at 2:30 pm.
This weekend will mark the first airshow of the season for the Snowbirds, and the first in 10 years since the city has been graced with a full aerobatic display from the team.
Captain Erik Temple said the audience can expect their best moves including some classics like "loops, splits, high-speed solo crosses, heart maple-split and Canada-burst."
"As the advance safety technician they arrive earlier than the rest of the team to organize and inventory "oxygen, nitrogen, coordinating with the city as well as with NAV Canada and the HMCS Griffon for naval support.
"It's no small feat to move 11 aircraft across the country," Temple said. "[We have) an 18-wheeler mobile support vehicle with all the parts to fix 11 planes while on the road, plus our luggage" Then tongue-in-cheek Temple continued, "And golf clubs too."
For the weekend's shows, the city has noted that parking will be available at the Red River Road parkade and other city lots, but the Market Parking Lot adjacent to the splash pad and a section of the boaters parking lot will be closed. As well, a portion of Water Street will be closed from Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from approximately 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.
More details about the Kite Festival can be found here.
