Southport Air Show 2024: Dates, how to get there, schedule and tickets

Southport Air Show is back this weekend, and spectators are in for some impressive displays as the Red Arrows are set to grace the skies above Merseyside. The air show returns to the Sefton coast on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14.

The Southport Seafront Air Show is recognised as the North West's largest Airshow. The event promises to be one of the aviation calendar's 'most spectacular' events, providing stunning views of the best jets, fighters, bombers, helicopters and aerobatic aircraft.

As well as the aerial action, there will be plenty of activities to keep kids entertained with flight simulators, static aircraft and military vehicles to explore.

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There will be a military village on Marine Drive over the weekend where members of the armed forces will be on hand to answer any questions, while a Spitfire Mark IX replica will also be on display. There will also be a paintball range, bouncy castles and the traditional hook-a-duck game.

Ahead of the event, changes have been implemented to ensure the 2024 celebration runs more smoothly than last year which included the Red Arrows cancellations due to poor weather, plus issues with traffic and queues. This year, a new traffic management company is in place and they have established improvements to the traffic flow into the car parks.

An additional car park will accommodate the parking spaces that have been lost from closing the beach parking. And there will also be better signage and increased staff numbers to manage the traffic.

According to Air Show bosses, there will be increased staff running the entrances and the organisers have introduced queuing systems. The layouts have been changed to ensure a smooth and efficient entry.

If you’re visiting the show, here’s all the information you need to know, including the schedule, weather forecast and details of parking. Gates open at 10am on both days.

When and where is Southport Airshow 2024?

Southport Airshow takes place on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. The postcode for the air show is PR8 1RY.

However, the Southport Air Show has a traffic management plan with some road closures in place, so once yellow event signs for the event appear, visitors are advised to stop following the Sat Nav and follow the signs.

Tickets and where to buy:

You can purchase tickets online via Southport Air Show - Visit Southport. You can also purchase tickets on the day at the ticket booths located at the event entrances. Tickets are £12 per person, with under 16’s free. Car parking is £10 per car.

Timings and schedule:

The Southport Air Show opens at 10am and closes at 5pm each day. The flying display starts around midday and ends around 5pm. On both days the show closes at approximately 6pm.

Here are the times for the weekend:

Saturday, 13 July 2024:
• 1.30pm - Catalina
• 1.41pm - Swordfish, Blackcats & Wasp
• 1.46pm - Navywings Wasp
• 1.54pm - Navywings Swordfish
• 2.02pm - Royal Navy Black Cats
• 2.15pm - Strikemaster Solo
• 2.26pm - Pitts Special - Rich Goodwin
• 2.40pm - RAF Tutor
• 2.53pm - Spitfire XIX & P-51 Mustang
• 3.13pm - The Starlings Aerobatic Display Team
• 3.30pm - Red 10
• 4.02pm - Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers
• 4.20pm - Bristol Blenheim
• 4.30pm - Vampire FB.52
• 4.41pm - RAF Typhoon
• 5.00pm - Red Arrows

Sunday, 14 July 2024:
• 1.30pm - Catalina
• 1.41pm - Vampire FB.52
• 1.51pm - Swordfish, Blackcats & Wasp
• 1.56pm - Navywings Wasp
• 2.02pm - Navywings Swordfish
• 2.12pm - Royal Navy Black Cats
• 2.25pm - Pitts Special - Rich Goodwin
• 2.39pm - Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers
• 2.57pm - Red 10
• 2.59pm - The Starlings Aerobatic Display Team
• 3.16pm - Bristol Blenheim
• 3.26pm - RAF Typhoon
• 3.38pm - RAF Tutor
• 3.50pm - Spitfire XIX & P-51 Mustang
• 4.10pm - Strikemaster Solo
• 4.30pm - Red Arrows

Weather forecast

It's going to be largely dry with some sunny intervals in Southport this weekend, according to the Met Office. Temperatures will peak at 17C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday.

Saturday will feature sunny intervals changing to cloudy by late morning. While on Sunday, cloud at the start the day will change to sunny intervals by late morning.

Parking

All car parks open at 9am and the event opens at 10am so organisers advise that you aim to get to the Southport Air Show as close to these times as possible.

All car parks are £10 per car. You can pay by cash or card, however card payment is preferred. Beach parking is no longer available.

Upon arriving to Southport you will be directed to the closest event car park and are advised to follow the event signage.

Parking is available on Marine Drive, Princes Park, the Esplanade and Victoria Park. Coaches will be directed to the Esplanade car park.

Traffic in the area is expected to be heavy so people are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys.

Are dogs allowed at the Air Show?

Dogs are permitted but it is strongly advised that dogs are not brought to the event due to the noise produced by the aircraft.

As it is a family event with many small children, if you have your dog off the lead you may be asked to leave the event.

Confirmed flying displays:

There have already been a number of confirmed flying displays for the 2024 air show. Aircraft taking part include the Red Arrows, Typhoons, the Vampire Solo and the RAF Tutor aircraft.

On the ground there will be a range of military vehicles on display, a Spitfire, a Veterans Living History Museum and field artillery guns.

Confirmed Southport Air Show flight programme:

• RAF Red Arrows

• RAF Typhoon

• RAF Tutor

• Rich Goodwin Pitts

• Rolls Royce Spitfire

• Rolls Royce P-51 Mustang

• Wingwalkers

• Starlings

• Black Cats

• Catalina

• Vampire Solo

• Bristol Blenheim

• Strikemaster Solo

• Navy Wings Historics (Swordfish & Wasp)