After a three year forced hiatus, our little seaside town came back to life this weekend. The Air Festival is the highlight of our social calendar every year and this year it was held in conjunction with them Armed Forces Day. It was an absolute joy to see the town flooded with people again.
I live ten minutes walk away from the seafront and by early afternoon I could hear the roar of aircrafts taking part in the festival. That's the main attraction of the weekend - aircrafts performing a series of spectacular displays in air throughout the afternoon. My original plan was to head out later on in the afternoon in case is was too hot, but with our typical weather, I really didn't have to worry at all.
Fun Fair
The atmosphere was great when I got to the seafront. The fun fair was in full swing, literally, and people were having a cracking time on the rides. There's something very satisfying watching people being tossed about in the air screaming with joy, or helplessly, for some.
Food
The good old classic English fish n chips and the burger is always popular with visitors, and there was often long queues in front big the trucks. And if that isn't unhealthy enough, you can polish off your meal with some sugar loaded fudge. That will surely give you a rush and more excitement when you're thrown around on the rides.
Armed Forces Day
The Armed Forces Weekend is the last weekend of June and it is for the public to show support for those in the forces. Many places around the country will hold special events such as march and parade, fun days etc. Here we had a lot of stands from the various armed forces, ranging from cadets to veterans.
There were also some military fanatics dressed up in uniform showcasing their prize possession, trucks, guns and remote control mini tanks. Those were definitely my favourite and pulled in the crowds.
Red Barrows
We have a world famous aerobatic team called Red Arrows from the Royal Air Force RAF. They are the headliner due to close the festival. In a nod to this brilliant team, we also have the Red Barrows team formed by the RAF cadets. As the name implies, the team performs similar moves as the Red Arrows, but on ground and pushing a red wheelbarrow. Originally no thought this sounded rather silly but having seen them perform, I really have to give them credit for pushing the heavy wheelbarrow around bon the lumpy ground and remembering all the moves and positions.
Air Festival
The highlight of the week was the aircraft aerobatics display. I've mentioned this quite a few times already. During the two afternoons, I saw so many spectacular displays, dare devils flying high speed practically towards one another, ladies standing on the aircraft, and yes I do mean on top of the aircraft, as it flies and dives in the sky. And of course, the crème de la crème, the Red Arrows. They deserve bla post of their own, so sorry all, you'll have to wait a few more days. In the meanwhile, I have a little taster for you. Enjoy!
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The aerobatic movements of the planes look really stupendous. I would like to emphasize one point in particular. The heart mark they left behind caught my attention. I think it was a very difficult job for the pilots, but it turned out to be a good result. Your photos are of very good quality. Congratulations 🙂
This isn't the best heart, wait till I show you the one from the Red Arrows!
I'm looking forward to it 🙂🙂
I love the festivals that little towns like this have all over the world. The town where I work just wrapped up the cheese festival a week or so ago. I think the town I live in will be having the corn fest soon. They shuttered the pickle fest in the next town over this year, but another close town is revitalizing the "pig gig" (a rib festival). That looks like some tasty fudge. My wife's uncle makes his own and travels to different fairs selling it.
Cheese, corn, pickle and ribs! They all sound so fun, especially the pickle one, makes me salivate just writing this! Sounds like you will have a busy summer this year.
Haha yeah, the pickle festival used to be a good time. They usually had a nice chicken dinner on Sunday's. Those are just a fraction of what is around us. Munger Potato festival, Freeland Walleye Festival, Bay Port Fish sandwich festival, Caseville Cheeseburger festival. You could spend all summer just going to all of them!
what the heck is the Freeland Walleye Festival??!!! 😄
Freeland is the name of the town. Walleye is a fish. They have a big tournament along the river and people try to catch the biggest fish.
Looks like you had a great day, including some fine weather. Did you see the spitfire?
!wine
!PIZZA
The spitfire, hurricane and Lancaster were all there but I think I may have missed them as I was wandering around the stores. Definitely a great weekend, much needed!
Its been a couple of years since I was last in Weston, I do love the seaside chips and with some vinegar! lol. Great post, it looks like you had some good weather for it. The red barrows.. lol
You been here before? That's lovely, I'm not sure if we get many foreign tourists, we're not exactly the prettiest seaside town 😅
And yes, soggy chips drenched with vinegar, not gourmet food at all, but it just feels so right at the seaside
My kids quite liked the slot machines on the pier, but i agree, not too much happening in Weston-Super-Mud! lol
Oh no! Our muddy reputation goes all the way to Germany 🤣🤣🤣
Daaaaaaamn, I absolutely adore everything that surrounds the ww2! It's a pity that I never had the chance to enjoy one of those events while in Europe.
Fudge! That looks exactly like the Brazilian "rapadura" -- I thought that was a Brazilian thing. Fantastic.
That's more of a reason to make another journey back here!! Plenty of WW2 stuff to see and do around the country
I wish! How are the Covid restrictions over there these days?
A very enjoyable event indeed.
The bands and some rides will makes the kids feels and enjoyed that moment.
Anyway I am a newbie here ,nice ti meet you😊
Truly a lovely family day out for everyone.
Hope you are enjoying your time on Hive. Keep on engaging to expand your network. And a little tip, focus on that instead of creating new posts every day until you build your network
The only thing I really loved when I was in the Air Force was having clearance to sit in the cockpit ps of the visiting navy planes and chat to their pilots on air show days. Super fun
You were in the RAF? Hats off to you!!! From air to canal, quite a journey!
No I was in the USAF. Seems like a lifetime ago. Air force to underwater to floater. What next?
Ah yes!! I keep on forgetting you're an American as well 😀
I am in disguise
Loved the air festivals we used to have regularly along our coast annually.
Living next to a valley over last two weeks we have had pilots practice manoeuvres for the East London Air Show down the coast in Eastern Cape. Old fuddy-duddy's who have not lived here long did not know what was happening and complained! Can you believe it?
I enjoyed sitting out in the sun watching them practice, how very much one misses the days when these events took place.
Nice outing done a grand scale where you live, enjoyed the photographs and video, next up is the Eastbourne Air Show in August on your side of the pond.
How lucky you are to see them during practice!! You get to see them multiple times, whoever complains needs to have their bottoms spanked!!!! 😂
It's great that this year all the events are on again in UK. We just had Glastonbury music festival near us as well this week, and that's the biggest (?) and the most popular music festival in UK. I'm hoping I can get round to see more and take advantage of our sunless summer before it's over
Music festival would be fun, have not been to one in such a long time they would think the walking dead have arrived to jive.
Seeing people without stupid masks has made such a difference here, can see faces and smiles again.
Well enjoy your sunless summer, we having sun and gorgeous cool winter weather, which I prefer to the hot humid days encountered in our summers.
The Red Barrows idea is hilarious 😂
So clever.
Looks like a really fun event. Glad they could have it again after such a long hiatus.
Originally I thought the Red Barrows was hilarious as well, but seeing the kids running around pushing the wheelbarrows, it doesn't seems such an easy task after all.
No, I guess it would be a lot of work haha
So cool to see it all is coming back to life 😎🤩
People gathering, enjoying it all… happy faces. Yes… a great time I see. Always interesting events like this.
Thanks for sharing @livinguktaiwan
yes, that's the most important thing, and lacking a lot in the past couple of years. Thanks for dropping by Jackie!
Exactly… we should celebrate life once again 😁💃🏻🤩
You are so welcome!
Have a great afternoon 👋🏻
Wow!!! Beautiful photos
No British army Landrovers?
Woaahhh 😲😲
Awesome. I mever had experience watching such festival. Thank you for sharing this. , It's like I already watched by seeing this blog.
Love the pictures and the video of the Air Festival. The skill of these pilots is just amazing with some of the maneuvers and all the colourful stripes in the air :-)
Is the armed forces day some kind of tradition based on older times or something new to boost recruitment and appreciation for the armed forces?