Chicagoist Air and Water Show Survival Tips

By Jacy Wojcik in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 14, 2008 8:00PM

Summer is coming to a close, signified every year by the 2 million people that cram onto the shoreline for the annual Chicago Air and Water Show. The Trib put together a survival guide for the weekend so we figured we'd crank out our own list of tips...

• Find a friend with an apartment/office/rooftop downtown, bring a bottle of wine and some sandwiches and use it as time to hang out with some pals while occasionally taking in some derring do stunt work.
• Avoid Bill Murray falling out of the sky at 3pm on Friday. Or try to catch him and tell him about the annual Bill Murray Film Festival you host every year in your modest apartment.
• Don't forget money for the ice cream vendors that constantly parade back and forth on the lake front bike path with their ringing bells and smiling faces.
• Bring a radio if you want to get commentary from WBBM 780. They will be broadcasting everyday beginning at 10:45 am. Otherwise the only commentary is streamed through speakers by North Ave beach.
• Avoid the recruitment tents like the plague. Unless they have free candy. Then you should obtain free candy and dart off quickly into the masses.
• Not into it? Buy earplugs. Or just leave town. Seriously. Go away. To quiet, peaceful Wisconsin. Anywhere. We're guessing the traffic out of town will be glorious. Run away while you can.

The Air and Water Show is celebrating its 50th year and begins Friday at 3pm including a concert and fireworks. Saturday and Sunday the water show starts at 9am and air show 11am both ending at 4pm.