“Perfect Day” Brings Thousands to Barrie Airshow

Almost every corner of Barrie’s lakefront, from Johnson’s Beach to Minet’s Point Park, was dotted with shiny beach blankets and camping chairs Saturday afternoon as thousands came to visit the Barrie Airshow.

The event, which kicked off Friday night with a free concert at Meridian Place followed by a drone light show and runs until Sunday afternoon, began with the Canadian Armed Forces SkyHawks parachute team jumping from a 440 Twin Otter showing bright red and white. Canadian flag parachutes. One jumper even donned a large Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Centennial 2024 flag as this weekend’s event also helped celebrate the milestone.

The show included the Canadian Forces Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron), Canadian Armed Forces SkyHawks Parachute Team, CF-18 Demonstration Team, Northern Stars Aeroteam, solo aerobatic pilot Mike Tryggvason, Timmermans Legends of Flight P-51 and Sea Fury, Canadian Harvard Association Aircraft and the Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation – which displayed a de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth and a Cornell, both of which served as training aircraft during the Second World War.

Alcona resident Lianne Hudon brought her 9-year-old daughter to watch the show, getting ready for the afternoon on the hill in front of the John Hayter Southshore General Community Center. She says Barrie Today they were most excited to see the F-18 fighter jets.

“(We) decided to venture to the air show because we haven’t been down in a few years and it’s a perfect day weather-wise to enjoy the show. We also enjoy the outdoors and support local and (and) explore homemade goodies at the booths,” she said.

Stephen Greenberg and his wife set up their lawn chairs near the community center to try to get a good view. They attended last year’s air show and enjoyed it so much they decided to return this year.

“It’s a fabulous event. It’s a perfect day,” said the Barrie resident. “I really enjoyed last year. I think Barrie puts on fabulous events and I think it’s great for downtown businesses, so I love coming to support.”

Zofija Goldie, along with her nephew Ryder and niece Addie, were looking forward to seeing the Snowbirds – who were due to close the more than two-hour air show over Kempenfelt Bay – for the first time.

“We are delighted. I remember the Snowbirds from when I was a kid at Ontario Place when they used to do an air show there. I used to take my son down there all the time too…it was awesome. I didn’t even know they had an air show here,” she said, adding that they were also excited to know they were in the perfect spot to watch the skydivers land after their demonstration. “I didn’t know they were going to have parachutes, so that’s awesome.”

The free weekend event is in partnership with the City of Barrie, Canadian Forces Base Borden, County of Simcoe, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport and the Downtown Barrie BIA.

The air show will return to the skies above Kempenfelt Bay again on Sunday, starting at 1pm