Soar and Shore Festival Returns to Atlantic City July 15-16

The inaugural Visit Atlantic City Soar and Shore Festival is set to take to the skies above Atlantic City this summer.

The show, which is scheduled for July 15 and 16, is being produced by Herb Gillen Airshows of Columbus, Ohio. Company president Herb Gillen, who toured the city and its facilities with his team in April, said a lineup for the show will be announced in May.

Gillen said the air show is free and should be easily viewable from any spot on the beach or the boardwalk. He stressed that the event is more than just an air show. “There will be other activities going on at the beach and along the boardwalk,” he told the Courier Post.

While the U.S. Navy and Air Force demonstration squadrons were not available this year, Gillen said he anticipates securing military participation for future shows.

One independent performer who is confirmed represents the FighterJets Demo Team. The company, which owns a collection of military jets, is sending an MiG-17 fighter to Atlantic City.

Atlantic City has hosted an annual air show for decades, a streak that ended when the August 2024 show was canceled. In December 2024, members of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber had announced that there likely wouldn't be an air show in 2025.

“It's a pretty quick turnaround for something that really just got confirmed that we were doing it less than a couple months ago,” Gillen said in an interview with the Courier Post. “It'll be a little different than in the past. We're not selling any kind of premium seating. It's come down, grab your space, and enjoy the show.”

Visit Atlantic City, a nonprofit that promotes economic development in a private-public partnership with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, has assumed leadership for promotion of this year's event in collaboration with the Greater Atlantic City Chamber.