There’s no need to go into festival withdrawal Sunday. Gig Harbor Wings and Wheels, the adjunct festival to the July Fourth Freedom Fair, brings another day of planes, cars and festivities to the South Sound.
“It’s a great chance to see the pilots and planes up close, and enjoy live music and good food and a great air show,” said event organizer Doug Fratoni.
The event takes place at the Tacoma Narrows Airport and features airplanes, a car show, live entertainment, children’s entertainment, food, a beer garden and car-versus-plane races.
Now in its fifth the year, the event drew about 4,000 people in 2014, said Fratoni. The festival is put on by the Tacoma Events Commission.
Every plane/pilot who participated in Saturday’s Freedom Fair air show over the Ruston Way waterfront will be on hand with the exception of the jets. Each plane will be on static display and fly at least once during the day with some performing acrobatics.
A P-51C Mustang fighter from the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron will be on display along with the group’s mobile theater featuring the short film “Rise Above” on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen (see accompanying story.)
The Smoke ‘N’ Thunder jet dragster will race two planes. The jet car reaches a speed of 300 mph in just a few seconds and stops with the aid of a parachute.
The “wheels” portion, a car show, usually has about 150 entrants, Fratoni said. It attracts a variety of cars.
“We had a guy with a 2021 Camaro that looked like Bumblebee from the ‘Transformers.’ We have hot rods from the ’30s. The grand champion last year was a Suburban from the ’50s,” Fratoni said.
The Hub at Gig Harbor will be open and operating a beer garden. Three food booths will be selling Philly sandwiches, ice cream, hot and corn dogs, turkey legs, and other food and beverages.
Entertainment will be going on all day.
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