Among the many reasons to find yourself at what’s likely to be a very crowded lakefront this week is the Milwaukee Air & Water Show, presented by WaterStone Bank, which brings a bit of international flair to the event scheduled for July 27 and 28. Let’s start with their overseas representatives as we run through this year’s headliners.

Frecce Tricolori (“Tricolor Arrows”)

This national air demonstration team is pulled from Italy’s pool of experienced Air Force pilots and flies the Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN, a light attack aircraft, for its performances. The group — like many of the squadrons you’ll be able to see this weekend — puts its precise moves on display, along with intricate formations and a little bit of panache in the form of colored smoke trails that represent the Italian flag.

“We are very honored and excited to perform for the first time in Milwaukee,” Lt. Col Massimilliano, Frecce Tricolori’s Pilot #11, said in a release announcing the team’s appearance. “Our multi-colored smoke will form a beautiful arrangement over the blue waters of Lake Michigan.”

The Thunderbirds

It’s been five years since this U.S. national air demonstration team last appeared in Milwaukee, and its return brings a group of six select U.S. Air Force pilots behind the sticks of F-16 Fighting Falcons. The team first started performing in 1953 and has appeared in front of more than 280 million people at demonstrations around the world.

The Army Golden Knights

Similar to their Air Force counterparts, it’s been a few years since the Golden Knights’ last appearance at the show. The parachute team’s high standards for membership are reflected in their 348 world records, as well as competition results that include 2,148 gold, 1,117 silver and 693 bronze medals.

Along with the Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels — who top-lined the 2023 Air & Water Show — the Golden Knights are one of three aerial demonstration teams officially sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Milwaukee Air and Water Show general information

The Air and Water Show starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the water portion starting things off. The National Anthem and Army Golden Knights are scheduled for noon each day, while the Thunderbirds will get underway at 3 p.m. There are many other air performers in the lineup this weekend, although times weren’t available as of this writing:

• Air National Guard F-35s
• U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Rhino Tactical Demo Team
• U.S. Navy Legacy Flight Formation and Grumman F6F Hellcat or F4U Corsair
• U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster Demo Team
• U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus
• Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing — Northrup Grumman F-35 Lightning II
• Wisconsin Air National Guard 128th Air Refueling Wing — KC-135 Strato-Tanker
• U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress (pending final USAF approval)
• U.S. Coast Guard MH 60T Jayhawk — SAR Helicopter Demo

Water performers include the EFoil Fliteboard Demo, Robby Allen’s Ski Extreme Show, Wisconsin DNR Triple Boat Patrol, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol Enforcement Boat and Milwaukee Fire Department Trident Fire Boat. There are also a handful of civilian air performers, including Trojan Thunder featuring the T-28 Trojan (and Waukesha native Paul Walter); the Re/Max Skydiving Team; and Bob Richards and Machaira, a one-of-a-kind muscle biplane.

Once again, this year’s event is free to attend, with viewing areas at Bradford and McKinley beaches. There are several reserved-seating options available for an additional cost at CenterPoint, in the Flight-Line Club and in the private Sky-Chalet VIP area. More information on those options, including prices and what’s included with each, are available on the show’s ticketing website.

From a parking perspective, the event encourages most people to use the Milwaukee County Parks grass lots between McKinley Marina and Veterans Park that open each day at 7:30 a.m. You can enter off Lagoon Road from Lincoln Memorial Drive or at McKinley Marina. Other parking locations include O’Donnell Park, the west side of Lincoln Memorial Drive and any available street parking on the East Side.

For more information this year’s Air and Water Show, visit the event’s website.