It's a bird, it’s a plane...it’s Santa? 🎅 Christmas is on its way, and St. Nick is coming to Lakeland, in a brand new vintage ride. The father of Christmas will be making an appearance at SUN ‘n FUN’s Holiday Flying Festival + Car Show.

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So don your ugly holiday sweater + get in the holiday spirit by attending the free fest (minus a $20 parking fee) which happens this weekend, Fri., Dec. 4 + Sat., Dec. 5 at Lakeland Linder International Airport (900 Don Emerson Dr.).

Along with Santa, this holiday-inspired aviation celebration combines food + goods vendors, air competitions, demos, outdoor fun + more. Bonus: All proceeds will go to SUN ‘n FUN’s Aerospace Center for Excellence STEM education programs.

Here are a few plane awesome things you can expect from this event. ⬇️

A demonstration from the F-16 Viper + F-35 Lightning II teams. #ProTip: Keep your eyes peeled to see the new paint job on the F-16 Viper.
Formation flyovers, performed by the GEICO Skytypers airshow team, in vintage airplanes – which were used to help train “the greatest generation of pilots” during WWII.
A performance by The Black Daggers – the US Army Special Operations Command’s official Parachute Demonstration Team. Don’t miss out on catching the special night jump.
A first-time event in Lakeland: A STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) competition between competitors – where pilots will compete to win $12,000.
Planes on display, both for viewing + for sale, like this red + white beauty.
A car show, which includes classics, exotics, vintage, and other types of vehicles.
A hot air balloon glow + 5K race.

Click here for the full lineup + to learn about COVID-19 measures being taken at the event. #ProTip: Bring a Grinchy friend to Cloud 9 + share this event with them, by using the buttons below.