The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach will go on this May after being canceled last year due to the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
Cuomo announced the return of the Memorial Day weekend tradition during a visit to Long Island at SUNY Old Westbury to announce the opening of three more Covid-19 vaccination sites.
“We’re going to start again a great Long Island tradition that is the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach,” Cuomo said. “We’ll have masks, we’ll have social distancing, but we’re going to do that again.”
The air show will feature the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog), United States Army Golden Knights U.S. Army parachute team, and United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue team, as well as several civilian performers.
Local leaders were pleased with the decision to bring the show back this year.
“Long Islanders love our summers,” said Kristen Jarnagin, president and CEO of Discover Long Island. “Long Islanders know the Bethpage Air Show is the unofficial kickoff to summer.”
“After a challenging year, Bethpage is proud to work with State Parks to ensure air show fans of all ages can enjoy a beautiful day at the beach and honor our nation’s military this Memorial Day weekend,” said Wayne Grosse, CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
The air show’s practice date is Friday, May 28. The show will run from May 29 to 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
“With safety measures in place, New Yorkers and visitors can get back to enjoying all that Jones Beach and Long Island State Parks have to offer,” Cuomo said, “and this annual festival is a great way to get outdoors and support the regional Long Island economy.”
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