Media release from BBIG Marketing:
With the kids out of school on fall break, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend the afternoon and evening Friday, Oct. 17, watching the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show at Richard Russell Regional Airport in Rome.
“Since 2012, the Wings Over North Georgia usually features Saturday and Sunday performances,” said JLC AirShow President John Cowman. “For 2025, the air show is expanding to include a full and exciting slate of activities on Friday as well, just in time for the final day of fall break.”
Gates will open at 2 p.m. Friday, just in time for the pre-show practice by the world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels, who will headline the Saturday and Sunday air show performances.
Then, a concert featuring Atlanta country artist Kurt Thomas starts at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Thomas has won Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star” contest and has opened for acts including Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Zac Brown, Sugarland, Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Gary Alan.
A twilight flight will feature World War II-vintage aircraft – Jim Tobul in the F4U Corsair and Scott “Scooter” Yoak in the P-51 Mustang – accompanied by the U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster II Demonstration Team.
As the sun sets over the beautiful north Georgia hills, Friday twilight and night flights will include Jerry “Jive” Kerby in the T-28 Trojan, Kyle Fowler in the Long EZ, Bob Carlton of Vertigo Airshows in the FOXJET twin-engine sailplane, the Redline Airshow demo team, and the ’Chuters Parachute team.
A first-time lighted drone show by Starlight Aerial Productions will follow the live performances and a huge fireworks extravaganza presented by Parker Industries will conclude the Friday evening entertainment.
Parking lots open at 8 a.m. and the admission gates open at 9 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 18-19, for static aircraft, ground displays and pre-show demonstrations with performances for the main shows beginning at noon each day.
The Blue Angels will be accompanied by “Fat Albert,” the U.S. Marine Corps C-130 transport aircraft that hauls support personnel and gear for the team and offers a flight demonstration of its own as part of the air show.
Additional performers in the world-class 2025 WONG lineup include: the Bill Braack Jet Car Show, Bob Carlton of Vertigo Airshows, Redline Airshows, and the Georgia State Patrol SWAT Team. The Ladies of Liberty singing group also will perform throughout the weekend.
WONG was established in 2012 and has been named North Georgia’s favorite fall family weekend event and twice voted one of USA Today’s top 10 fan favorite air shows in the world.
This year will be the 11th Wings Over North Georgia event — and the first since 2022 — presented by JLC AirShow Management, which is based in Rome, GA.
“We held our first event in 2012 and each year we have incorporated improvements and enhancements to continue to offer one of the top air show experiences in the U.S.,” said Cowman. “In fact, we’re planning to announce yet another major act soon! We’re especially excited about our lineup and can’t wait for aviation fans in our area to see this year’s show.”
Tickets for the Air Show are now available at https://www.wingsovernorthgeorgia.com/guest-information/ticket-options. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance as no tickets will be sold on the day of the air show performances. For additional show information, follow the air show’s Facebook page or visit the Wings Over North Georgia website at https://www.WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com.