Fort Lauderdale is gearing up for the biggest supersonic show of the year next weekend, May 3 and 4, with a reduced program of aerial acrobatics this 2025, but its organizers assure with more intensity.
Air Dot Show Fort Lauderdale comes at an opportune time, coinciding with the same weekend that combustion engines are being pushed to the extreme throughout South Florida. Coinciding with the F1 Miami Grand Prix (May 2-4) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and the Beachfront Grand Prix Festival, a stop for racing simulators, live music and speed at Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Oceanside Park, on the edge of the beach where the aerial action will take place, gathered the Sun sentinel.
The number of elite aircraft in the event has been reduced by almost half in this edition, going from 13 to just seven participants, led by the return of the Navy Blue Angels from United States, the sextet of fast and colorful blue and yellow planes that fly over the skies of South Florida above Fort Lauderdale beach in their elegant F/A-18 Super Hornets.
Also on display and performing aerobatics at the show will be a P-51 Mustang and the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demonstration Team, as well as SOCOM Para-Commandos special operations paratroopers and Florida Air National Guard F-15 Eagles.
According to festival spokesman Chris Dirato, this year's reduced schedule of aerial acrobatics was due to scheduling conflicts, but he promised this mishap won't be repeated in 2026.
"It's an aberration, frankly. It happens sometimes. Some teams couldn't fit Fort Lauderdale into their schedule, but that won't be the norm going forward," he said.
The spokesperson revealed that the event's name change was entirely intentional. The tour has been known as the Air Dot Show Tour for at least two years, and marking each stop with "Dot" reflects its growth in new markets. However, this year, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Cocoa Beach were added, joining its usual stops in Orlando; Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia; Ocean City, Maryland; and Orange County, NY. The new name still has the city in it, so show organizers believe fans will be able to make the connection.
The highly anticipated air show is scheduled to cover the stretch of beach along State Route A1A, from Northeast 19th Street south to approximately Las Olas Avenue, with Hugh Taylor Birch State Park (3109 E. Sunrise Blvd.) serving as the hub of the action. Event organizers have confirmed that, as always, spectators will be able to watch the show for free, but seats and passes to the Drop Zone on the beach with its prime viewing area will cost between $26 and $37.50, and can be purchased online until midnight on May 2.
In the Drop Zone, you can set up chairs and umbrellas on the shore between Sunrise and Northwest 14th Street. Access to this private area includes early entry at 9:00 a.m. and access to portable restrooms.
However, the Air Dot Show Fort Lauderdale has room for everyone, as Sand Boxes are also available in the Drop Zone. These are 10- and 12-foot private boxes for $299, which can comfortably accommodate up to four people. They include reserved parking, separate restrooms, and food and beverage concessions available for purchase, along with re-entry wristbands. However, you'll need to bring your own beach chairs and umbrellas to protect yourself from the sun.
VIP Flight Line Club tickets ($169-$199 per person), which elevate the experience with a personal beach tent, catered lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), complimentary beach chairs, and a Birch State Park parking pass, will be available for those seeking an unforgettable beach experience.
And if you prefer a panoramic view of the show, the event offers the VIP Penthouse ($599) on the rooftop balcony of the Pelican Grand (2000 N. Ocean Blvd.), which includes an air-conditioned bathroom, valet parking, an open bar, and delicious sandwiches.
Another panoramic platform is Nubé, the elegant rooftop restaurant and lounge at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort (505 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.), which offers a seatback option and features a premium open bar and a buffet table, so you'll almost not mind that the hotel is on the south end of the flight zone for $300. To purchase, go to nuberooftop.com.
McSorley's Beach Pub & Rooftop (837 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.) also offers a tempting backup option for the event, with a $50 minimum spend on food and drinks to access the rooftop. To reserve, go to mcsorleysftl.com.
