Photos: The 58th Air And Water Show In All Its Noisy Glory

By Gwendolyn Purdom in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 22, 2016 7:17PM

In case you somehow didn't hear it: The annual Air and Water Show swooped back into town over the weekend and featured its signature display of mind-blowing aerial formations, roaring patriotic pride and, we assume, varying degrees of neck strain from all the craning to see the show from the sidewalks in front of our buildings. The yearly event brought about the usual crowds (which the CTA had wisely anticipated with increased service throughout the weekend), and though onlookers faced a two-hour rain delay on Saturday, once the sun returned the rest of the weekend's entertainment seemed to go off without a hitch (or a tragedy, like last year's show).

One star of Sunday's show was former Bear Charles "Peanut" Tillman, who joined the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team for a tandem jump. Facing Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers is nothing compared to leaping out of a plane, Tillman said.

"I've never seen an aerial view like Chicago when you skydive, it was absolutely amazing. It's the only way to do it," Tillman told reporters after his jump Sunday. "Once we went up, my adrenaline was pumping, my heart was beating like a lab rat. My adrenaline is like at a 10 right now, I'm turnt up!"

Other groups such as U.S. Air Force F-35 heritage flight, Team Oracle and returning favorite, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, who haven't appeared in the show since 2011, also wowed the crowds that stretched outward from North Avenue Beach and dotted rooftops along the lakefront and beyond.

Photographer Tyler LaRiviere was there for Chicagoist capturing every last dive, flyover and barrel roll.