The countdown is on for the start of Bournemouth Air Festival 2024, as an exciting line up of aerobatics and new entertainment is announced. Spectators can contribute to future community and cultural activities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) by donating at this year’s free festival - which runs for three days from Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 August. Spectators can also donate online when they purchase this year’s commemorative souvenir brochure.
Donations are also being accepted on site at eight selected seafront kiosks. The money raised will be used by BCP Council to fund future leisure, community and cultural activities across the area. Bournemouth Air Festival attracts more than 400,000 visitors every year who come to enjoy the aerial acrobatics, ground entertainment and displays, fun fair and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Village across the area’s award-winning beaches.
New entertainment at this year’s event will see an outdoor cinema located on the beach, a virtual-reality RNLI Lifeboat experience situated in the STEM village, and two Swedish historic fighter jets – the Saab Viggen and Saab Draken, make their inaugural festival appearance. Popular crowd favourites including the AeroSuperBatics WingWalkers and Rich Goodwin's Jet Pitts Muscle Biplane will also be back in action this year. Flight times for the highly anticipated RAF Typhoon have also been announced, with the jet set to take to the skies six times in a mix of day and dusk displays: Thursday 29 August at 4.
30pm and 7.42pm; Friday 30 August at 4.10pm and 7.
40pm; and Saturday 31 at 5.24pm and 7.35pm.
Councillor Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations at BCP Council said: “We’re excited that the 16 Bournemouth Air Festival is just 10 days away, but, due to the tough financial climate, we have had to find innovative ways to fund these types of events going forward. Donations given at this year’s festival will help fund a diverse future calendar of leisure, community and cultural activities for all to enjoy. “This will help us to make greater use of our beautiful outdoor spaces, as well as encourage more people to be active and enjoy our cultural offering.
It will also help drive further visits to our fantastic three towns and connect residents in our vibrant communities, all while supporting the local economy in the process. My thanks go to anyone who can make a donation this year.” This is the last year the Bournemouth Air Festival will be managed and run by BCP Council, with officers exploring the ongoing, sustainable management of the event.
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