Media release from BBIG Marketing:
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be the featured performers when the Wings Over North Georgia Air Show returns early to Rome on April 3-4, 2026, at the Russell Regional Airport.
The Thunderbirds team is the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force, based at Nellis Air Force Base, NV. The elite squadron was formed in 1953 and tours the United States and the world performing aerobatic formation and solo flying demonstrations.
The Wings Over North Georgia event follows closely on the heels of a successful air show last October during the federal government shutdown. The October air show was to have featured the U.S Navy Blue Angels and other military acts, but their schedules were cancelled by the shutdown as a “non-essential” function.
JLC AirShow Management, which is based in Rome, GA, carried on with a host of civilian acts – some already included in the lineup and others recruited at the last minute – to entertain the crowd at Russell Regional Airport. That event featured a first-ever Friday schedule that included a country music concert, twilight flights, a lighted drone show, and a fireworks extravaganza.
“We’re proud to have pulled that off without military acts and now we’ve got our sights set on a bigger, better event with the Thunderbirds,” said John Cowman, president of JLC AirShow Management.
Additional performers, both military and civilian, will be announced in the coming months, Cowman said.
The April air show will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, to avoid scheduling conflicts with Easter Sunday, he said.
Ticket purchasers for the 2025 Wings Over North Georgia Air Show were notified a discount ticket offer for a future air show would be provided due to the cancellation of the Blue Angels. An email from the air show organizer with instructions for utilizing the discount will be distributed the week of November 24. Ticket sales to the general public will begin in early December, following the purchase period for 2025 WONG ticket holders, in time for the holiday gift giving season.
Tickets for the WONG Air Show will be 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.