This Father’s Day weekend on June 16 and 17, the Olympic Flight Museum celebrates their annual Olympic Air Show. If you haven’t been before, this year’s 20th anniversary event is one not to miss. It is the first air show of the summer, and one of few other flying events in the state.

The museum first hosted a “fly-in” event in 1998 as The Gathering of the Warbirds. Since 2001, when the museum received federal permission to use closed airspace, the Olympic Air Show was born and grew into a yearly celebration that is fun for the whole family.

Olympic Air Show
Spot the Warbirds and other vintage bombers as they fly above the crowds at the Olympia Regional Airport. Photo credit: Frank Townsend

Kids and adults alike will love watching the planes take over the sky. Kid-friendly activities include a paintball booth, and other fun provided by the Hands On Children’s Museum. There will also be plenty of delicious food vendors, including Big Daddies Concessions and BC Frozen Treats, a beer garden by Columbia Distributing, and music by the classic rock band Backlash.

This year’s show will include some new aerobatic performances by Jim Bourke in his custom Extra 330SC, a Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk on Saturday only, courtesy of Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum. And a jaw-dropping routine by sky dancer Anna Serbinenko – imagine a graceful, elegant ballet performance set to music, except instead of a person, it’s a classic airplane spiraling through the sky.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” says Sarah Hinman, Olympic Flight Museum executive director. “I’m looking forward to watching her and meeting her.” Guests can meet Anna and get autographs after the show.

Olympic Flight Museum Air Show
Military helicopters, including the AH-1S Cobra, which belong to the Olympic Flight Museum collection, can reach up to 138 mph. Photo courtesy: Olympic Flight Museum

For guests who want to experience flight for themselves, they have the opportunity to ride in the B-25D Liberator Bomber “Grumpy.” For this paid group experience, passengers can sign up ahead of time for each ride. Those interested in signing up can do so by contacting the Olympic Flight Museum at 360-705-3925

Olympic Flight Museum neighbors at Glacier Aviation will also offer helicopter rides, plus a Harleys and Hotrods vintage car show is free with admission to the air show.

While the Olympic Air Show is certainly the museum’s biggest event, it is not their only one. In February, they also have a paper airplane flight school for kids, as well as a bi-annual military collectible sale. Vendors come to sell vintage military equipment, attire and other artifacts. They also offer facility rentals for private events.

Save time to check out the displays in the museum too. The Olympic Flight Museum is open to visitors year round, Tuesdays through Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A great way to see unique, vintage aircrafts from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, the Olympic Air Show takes place at the Olympia Regional Airport, and goes from 9:00 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. The opening ceremonies begin at 12:00 p.m.

For tickets and other information, visit the Olympic Flight Museum website or call 360-705-3925.

The Olympic Flight Museum is located at 7637-A Old Hwy 99 in Olympia. The museum is open Tuesdays – Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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