Arctic Thunder Air Show drew in massive crowds as an ideal family-friendly event

The Arctic Thunder Open House is a captivating event that drew in crowds from all over Alaska, offering a unique blend of excitement, patriotism, and awe-inspiring displays of aerial prowess. For many attendees, the experience begins long before the first jet takes to the sky. Families and enthusiasts alike often arrive early, buzzing with anticipation as they find the perfect spot to unfurl their blankets and set up their lawn chairs. Vendors line the periphery, selling everything from tacos and corn on the cob to memorabilia.

Once the show began, the crowd's collective gaze turned skyward as a symphony of engines roared to life. The sheer power and precision of the aircraft left spectators breathless. Whether it was the heart-pounding aerobatics of the Thunderbirds or the freefall jumps from the Golden Knights, each performance showcased the skill and discipline of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army.

For many, this air show has been a tradition since they were children, and they are now bringing their kids. Amanda Wiggins was born and raised in Alaska, and she says she has been to almost every air show. She continues to do it with her kids because it is so accessible to everyone outside the military community.

“It's a great free thing to do with the family. It's not going to cost us an arm and a leg. We could come out, hang out, leave and come and go as we please,” Wiggins said. “It's something that we are not used to seeing on an everyday basis. We're not military. So this is just kind of a see into the life.”

Wiggins also brought up how safe she felt bringing her children to this event. One aspect of the show that was reassuring to many parents was the wristbands on every child. Each child had their name written onto a wristband in case of emergencies.

Beyond the aerial feats, the air show also included 40 static displays where attendees got up close and personal with a variety of military aircraft. For 12-year-old Noah Rolf, seeing these displays was their favorite part of the air show.

“I liked seeing the guns, the anti-aircraft guns and all of the machinery,” Rolfs said.

For younger kids, the Kid Zone was the place to be. There were bouncy houses, face painting, shade, vendors, resources and a mechanical bull that was safe for kids to ride.

The air show wasn’t only fun for kids. Kimberly Goodson and Aiona King, both active-duty airmen, were getting their faces painted while waiting for the main show to start. They were both excited to see the performances because these acts weren’t something a servicemember would see every day.

“We see airplanes all the time, but you don't see them like this,” Goodson said.

For King, this was her first air show and was most excited to see the Thunderbirds.

“I actually went TDY to Vegas a few months ago and got to go to their museum and see where they're actually located. So actually having to come out to JBER and actually see them is pretty great,” King said.

Another aspect of the air show that attracted several people was the Alaska Native Veterans photo exhibit. The display showcased the work of Bill Hess, who worked with Alaska Native veterans since 1981. This exhibit was part of the theme for this year’s air show: honoring legacy and inspiring the next generation.

Ben Mallott, the Alaska Federation of Natives Vice President of External Affairs, said he was proud to partner with the military and ConocoPhillips Alaska to bring this exhibit to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

"We first showcased the photo exhibit at the 2023 AFN Convention and it was a great way to honor our many generations of veterans from the Alaska Territorial Guard to Vietnam, the Korean War to World War II,” Mallott said.

One of the people looking at the display was Mary Nicolai and her son. Nicolai was attending the air show for the first time and was excited to see it. She was shocked when she looked at the veteran display and found her uncle’s face staring back at her.. The caption on the photo labels her uncle as an unidentified scout at non-commissioned officer training at Camp Carrol in December 1983.

“That’s so cool,” Nicolai said. “That’s the last time he went to Camp Carrol and I remember because that was right before my brother graduated from High School.”

According to Nicolai, her uncle, David David, retired as a staff sergeant but is very humble and doesn’t talk much about his service. He is now 82 years old.

The planning for the next Arctic Thunder Open House will be underway soon. The show will be scheduled for Summer 2026.