Florida International Air Show recognized by Southeast Tourism Society

Patty Wagstaff COURTESY PHOTO

Southeast Tourism Society has named the Florida International Air Show one of the Signature Events of the Southeast for 2024.

Signature Events of the Southeast, formerly known as the “Top 20 Festival and Event Awards,” was launched in 2023 as part of the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Southeast Tourism Society. STS has recognized events and festivals around the Southeast since 1985.

Travel industry experts select top events to be highlighted for the year, and STS publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list is published on both the Travel Media Press Room and Escape to the Southeast websites, and is recognized on all Southeast Tourism Society’s social media platforms.

This year’s Florida International Air Show is scheduled for Nov. 2-3 — celebrating its 43rd year of presenting exciting entertainment to residents and visitors of Charlotte County on the grounds of Punta Gorda Airport, 28000 Airport Road, Punta Gorda.

Beginning as a single-day event, the show has grown to a three-day extravaganza with fan-friendly activities, a large variety of acts, interactive displays and much more.

“If you’ve not been to an air show before, it’s like taking NASCAR, pizza, baseball, hotdogs, fireworks, football and Lynyrd Skynyrd and rolling it all into one giant rodeo,” says Denise Dull, president of the Florida International Air Show. “There’s something for everyone in the family.”

The Florida International Airshow also received a USA TODAY 10 Best Readers Choice Award this year for its November 2023 event, which featured the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. It was also a record attendance year.

“For more than 40 years, STS has been spotlighting the best festivals and events in the Southeast,” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of Southeast Tourism Society. “Our goal is to highlight the efforts of devoted event organizers and provide additional media exposure and accolades for their events. The Southeast offers so many unique, year-round opportunities for tourists and festivalgoers to create memories and support the tourism industry — a vital economic generator for communities.”

Events considered for the STS Signature Events of the Southeast recognition must be at least three years old and have an attendance of at least 1,000. Nominations open in early spring. Members and non-members are eligible to apply. Winning submissions are automatically judged in the Festival or Event of the Year category for STS’s Shining Example Awards.

The Southeast Tourism Society is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the development of travel and tourism professionals and organizations within the Southeast region. The association’s mission is to empower a diverse network of tourism professionals through education, advocacy, recognition and networking. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The Florida International Air Show is a Florida 501(c)4 nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. It is a multi-day event showcasing nationally known performers and exciting static displays of aircraft and vehicles. The air show offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about aviation, space and military service.

FIAS events provide beneficial exposure to the community and Punta Gorda Airport. As a significant economic asset, it has donated over $3.6 million in contributions to local Southwest charities since its inception.

For more information, go to www.floridaairshow.com . ¦

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