Produced by Guest blogger
Tsz Kam Yeung
Hello, I am Tsz Kam Yeung, an MSc Events Marketing Student from Hong Kong. There are many festivals held in Bournemouth throughout the year such as Arts by the Sea festival in October, the Christmas Market and Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival in June. However, the festival I like the most is the Bournemouth Air Festival which is held at the end of August every year.
It is the biggest air show in the UK and attracts many tourists who come to Bournemouth to see it every summer. It is also a free event. The air show takes place across the coastline, so you can see it from Boscombe to Bournemouth Pier. However, if you live at Lansdowne Point, you can also get an amazing view from the 12th floor.
This is my favourite part of the air show! They fly in close formation and are famous for their precision flying. When I watched their display, they made a heart in the sky at the end of the show. It was lovely… One of the loudest aircraft is the Typhoon, you can definitely hear this when it flies, no matter where are you in Bournemouth. However, the air show is not only in the afternoon, there is a night air display too.
It’s not just about planes
Although it called the Air Festival, it doesn’t mean there are only aircraft at the show. There are representatives from the military including a Royal Air Force Village, a Royal Navy Village, and an Army Village. If you have any questions or you are interested in a career in the Forces, it’s a great opportunity for you to find out more about them and get a closer look at the actual vehicles, equipment and weapons. Everyone loves to take pictures of them. There is also an opportunity to pre-book and have a look around a military ship.
Music & Entertainment
There are some activities that are suitable for children in the lower gardens such as face painting, a children’s plane making workshop and a magic show etc. As well as the night air show, there are fireworks at Bournemouth Pier and a live-music concert with different popular DJs and singers.
Food and Drinks
As mentioned earlier, the festival is held from Bournemouth to Boscombe Pier. There are a variety of street vendors including a Crêpe stall and a Thai food venue, as well as local food and drinks, such as Dorset Teas alongside the beach. There are also some VIP hospitality packages which include a 2-course lunch, cream tea and VIP viewing deck. Although the street vendors may not have comfortable seating, I prefer them as they are cheaper and have a wider choice of food and drinks.
Bournemouth Air Festival is not only suitable for aircraft lovers. It can be enjoyed by everyone, as there are so many activities taking place during the festival. I hope you enjoy the festival as much as I did.
Tsz Kam Yeung, Hong Kong, MSc Events Marketing, 2017/18
