SEQUIM — With last year’s Air Affaire grounded thanks to the pandemic, organizers look to bring back some favorites for a one-day event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The eighth Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire and Fly-In offers rides in an airplane, a tethered hot air balloon and/or helicopter along with the sights and sounds of dozens of airplanes, classic cars and remote control airplane demonstrations at the Sequim Valley Airport, 468 Dorothy Hunt Lane.
Cost is $10 per carload.
“The weather will be good, and it helps that people will want to get outside with all that’s been going on,” event organizer/co-founder Emily Westcott said.
The Air Affaire started in 2013 as a joint celebration for the City of Sequim’s centennial and the airport’s 30th anniversary.
Continuing with the event has been Captain-Crystal Stout, who will offer tethered balloon rides starting at 8:30 a.m. for $25 per person.
Pilot Keith Kossuth brings his 1929 Travel Air Plane to the event with rides available for $80 per person.
Seattle Air Taxi also provides helicopter rides all day for $60 per person.
Organizers say all rides are first-come, first-served with no reservations.
Wing walkers Mike and Marilyn Mason of The West Coast Spin Doctors will fly in Saturday afternoon to show off their skills, as they’ve done in years past.
Sequim and Port Angeles pilots also return to bring their radio-controlled airplanes to display their flying skills.
Similarly to airplanes flying in for the show, vehicles of all makes, models and years can participate in the show and shine for $5 per vehicle. Antique vehicles are expected to join this year, with an arrival time starting at 8:30 a.m., organizers said.
Other anticipated attendees include historic planes from the Port Townsend Aero Museum, Life Flight Network and a food truck from Frugals in Port Angeles.
Live music features Cool Jam at 10:30 a.m., Buttercup Lane at noon and Jay L Henry at 1:30 p.m.
Participation is weather dependent with more attendees tentatively joining the day of the event.
For more information, visit olympicpeninsula airaffaire.com.
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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
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