The roar of overhead engines will make a buzz in Vanderhoof. After years as one of Canada's leading airshow sites, a revamped and refurbished Vanderhoof Municipal Airport is once again hosting a public event.
"Expect to look skyward and see some sights that have been missing from the airspace over town for the last 18 years," said Peet Vahi, one of the volunteers helping revitalize the Vanderhoof International Airshow Society.
Saturday is the one-day event, a hangar party with some special aviation features. The group's intention is to use this year as a stepping stone towards a full airshow in Vanderhoof in the next year or two.
"Planes, both performers and fly-in visitors, will begin arriving on Friday so expect to see some new faces in the community for the weekend," Vahi said. "A flying demonstration will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday with a combination of jets, warbirds and acrobatic aircraft taking part."
Admission at the gate will be $5 for adults and older youth. Anyone under the age of 16 gets in for free.
The Saturday set of experiences is set up in a sequence. Following the flying demonstrations, a dinner will be served at about 5 p.m. by Nechako Catering at the BID Group's new hangar facility at the airport. Entertainment will be provided throughout dinner by special guest star Bryant Olender. Tickets for the dinner and Olender feast are $25.
After the dinner, the Vancouver dance band BANG! will rock the hanger from 9 p.m. till the late hours. Featuring principal vocalist Shelly Preston, drummer Jack Guppy of Legendary Hearts fame, and a who's who of B.C. bandmates, BANG! is a popular attraction in the Lower Mainland. Tickets to that part of the entertainment menu are $20 each.
Air demo tickets are available at the airport (coming down Highway 16 from Prince George, turn right onto Burrard Street in the heart of downtown; follow Burrard Avenue through town and across the Nechako River bridge; turn right at the end of the bridge and follow Northside Road up the hill, past the golf course and the airport is easily seen at that point; it's a 10 minute drive from the highway).
Dinner and dance tickets are available at the Hobson History Museum (2464 Burrard Avenue, 250-567-3399) in downtown Vanderhoof or at the air demos while supplies last.
