The Chicago Air & Water Show (No. 2 on the list of festivals in our Top 100 Events list) will open on Friday with a parachuting performance by Bill Murray. The Chicago native will jump with the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights on behalf of the USO of Illinois. Additional star power for the Friday kickoff comes courtesy of The Brady Bunch's Florence Henderson, who will sing the National Anthem on North Avenue Beach at 3 p.m., followed by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the anticipated Murray dive.
Actor Gary Sinise, who also has Chicago roots (and is a co-founder of the Steppenwolf Theatre), will play a free concert with his Lt. Dan Band at the North Avenue Beach Boathouse at 5 p.m. The opening-day festivities culminate with a fireworks display over Lake Michigan at 8:45 p.m.
An extreme water show on Lake Michigan takes place at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with the air show continuing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Performers include the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team, Sean Tucker & Team Oracle, and the Aero Shell Aerobatic Team. Presented by Shell Oil and the City of Chicago, this is the 50th annual Chicago Air & Water Show, the country's largest free air and water exhibition.
