Atlantic City's Soar & Shore Festival 2025 brings crowds and excitement for practice day
Atlantic City is getting ready for takeoff. Tuesday was practice day for the air show now known as the Soar & Shore Festival's air show, which is back for the first time since 2023.
The air show is centered around Bally's Casino. Businesses in Atlantic City said the crowds bring a boom in business, and they are happy to have the show back.
All eyes were on the sky Tuesday afternoon for the Visit Atlantic City Soar and Shore Festival practice session. The beach near Michigan Avenue and Park Place was packed with people soaking in the sunshine and the aerial stunts.
The air show was canceled by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce in 2024 and was again in 2025, with officials citing operational challenges and the cost of the show.
Visit Atlantic City announced in the spring that a new version of the show and festival would be back, but this time rebranded, renamed, and with some changes.
It's heavily centered on aerial displays by civilian aircraft, rather than military planes.
"It brings in a large crowd to the city, and that's great, especially at the halfway point through the summer time," said Joe Seratore, bartender at the Wonder Bar.
Seratore said the team is happy to have the show back in town, and the event itself is still one of their favorites.
"So it's great to get that surge into the city and brings a lot of energy, a lot of business and all the bars definitely know the difference when it's here and when it's not here," he said.
Over at Back Bay Ale House, staff are also happy to have an air show this year.
"It was such a bummer last year when we didn't have it," said Rachel Cavileer, bartender and manager.
Cavileer said the good weather is also a plus, and she's happy to see people from all over get a chance to experience what Atlantic City has to offer.
"Not only do we see any increase of business, but it also brings people who wouldn't necessarily come down here, come to the city or this section," she said.
The show will start on Wednesday at noon. The first act will be the Misty Blues Parachute Team, and the show will run until 2 p.m.
Air Show Lineup of Performers
Practice Day July 15th & Show Day July 16th
From 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Show Center will be Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino
Featured Aerial Acts:
- 12:00 PM: Misty Blues Parachute Team – All-women skydiving team
- 12:12 PM: Nathan Hammond's Super Chipmunk – High-energy aerobatics
- 12:22 PM: USCG MH-65 – Dolphin SAR Demo
- 12:34 PM: 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey ANG – Four F-16 flybys
- 12:44 PM: B-25 Mitchell Bomber – Legendary WWII aircraft
- 12:54 PM: UH-1H Huey with Smokey Bear – Vietnam-era helicopter
- 12:59 PM: Warbird Thunder – Aerobatic team
- 1:14 PM: 108WG KC-46 Pegasus – Aerial refueling tanker
- 1:22 PM: Third Strike Wingwalking – Dual wingwalking + solo acrobatics
- 1:35 PM: Thom Richard FM-2 Wildcat – Classic U.S. Navy fighter
- 1:47 PM: Skip Stewart – Award-winning aerobatic daredevil
- 1:59 PM: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 Fighter – Cold War-era Soviet jet
Performance schedule subject to change.
Festival Events
Jimmy Johnson's Atlantic City "Quest for the Ring" Championship Fishing Week
- July 14th - 19th from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- At Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Atlantic City Hotel, Casino & Marina
- Nightly weigh-ins and activations
FIFA Activation
- July 15th - 16th from 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Second Annual Car Show
- July 16th from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- At Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
- Free car show, food trucks, and pipe organ demos
Silent Movie Experience
- July 16th at 6:00 PM
- At Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
- Silent film Sherlock, Jr. + Two Tars with live organ
Beachfront Fireworks Display by Grucci
- July 16th at 9:00 PM
- On the beach between Brighton Avenue and California Avenue, in front of Tropicana Atlantic City
- Take in a spectacular display of fireworks along the Atlantic City skyline
ESPN's: Slippery Stairs
- July 17th from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
- On the beach at Arkansas Avenue
- Competitive stair-climbing game show
