Beachgoers near Lifeguard Tower 11 in Huntington Beach got an unusual visitor Friday, as a Goodyear blimp settled onto the sand while Pacific Airshow unveiled its 10th-anniversary performer lineup. Organizers staged the landing as a promotional spectacle for the three-day event, which they say will return Oct. 2–4, 2026. Headlining the show will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds alongside the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, joined by a mix of military and civilian acts.
Lineup, dates, and tickets
According to Pacific Airshow, the Oct. 2–4 event will feature the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the Air Force F-35A demo team, the U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Airshow Team, and the U.S. Navy F/A-18 West Coast Rhino Demo, among others. Tickets are on sale now, with general admission listed from $10. On-beach activations are planned, including an NXTGN STEM Lab and performer signing sessions. The site notes that performers and offerings are subject to change, and organizers are continuing to roll out additional acts.
Blimp touchdown and organizers' remarks
The blimp touched down at the spot where Pacific Airshow director Kevin Elliott and Mayor Casey McKeon stepped out for Friday's announcement, turning the shoreline into a made-for-photos launch pad. Elliott cast the stunt as part of the show's broader community mission. "Human connection is hard in our tech-driven, busy lives," Elliott told the Los Angeles Times, adding that pairing elite flying with Huntington Beach's beachfront is where the event’s "magic" comes from. He also joked that "the Thunderbirds might be the only people who like Huntington Beach more than Casey," a line that drew laughs at the sandside unveiling.
Timing and local politics
Friday's high-flying reveal landed just one day after the California Fair Political Practices Commission announced fines for McKeon and four other Huntington Beach elected officials for failing to disclose VIP passes tied to the 2022 Pacific Airshow, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. McKeon told the paper the city has corrected reporting procedures and said, "As dignitaries, we go to events all the time," characterizing the fines as a paperwork issue rather than a matter of substance.
What to expect this fall
Organizers said the 10th-anniversary edition will introduce on-beach features, including a sports bar with a two-story viewing tower and Fox Sports coverage on the big screen, and they urged fans to monitor the show's site for further performer announcements and ticket updates, according to Pacific Airshow. With the lineup still being finalized, the event's backers are banking that the blend of military demos, civilian aerobatics, and beachfront activations will pull in both local crowds and visitors to the coast in October.
