Air show a no go

Organizers say decision wasn’t easy



NOT THIS YEAR—WWII-era planes cruise the skies during a past Wings Over Camarillo air show. Organizers announced that the August event has been canceled this year but will return in 2021. Acorn file photo

NOT THIS YEAR—WWII-era planes cruise the skies during a past Wings Over Camarillo air show. Organizers announced that the August event has been canceled this year but will return in 2021. Acorn file photo

For the first time in 40 years, there will be no summertime air show in Camarillo.

The Camarillo Wings Association, the nonprofit that puts on the Wings Over Camarillo air show, canceled the annual event for 2020 in the midst of uncertainty about how long state and local stay-at-home ordinances will last. The event will be rescheduled for Aug. 21 and 22, 2021, association leaders announced in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Camarillo Wings Association felt obligated towards their attendees, in addition to their partners, sponsors, performers, and vendors, to make the announcement to postpone the air show now, rather than having to cancel at the last minute,” the association said in a written statement.

Before the association made the decision to cancel the event, John Lowe, president of Camarillo Wings Association, told the Acorn that advice from the International Council of Air Shows, loss of sponsors and the decisions of organizers of other local events planned for August would play a role in the call association leaders made.

On April 9 the Camarillo City Council denied a $15,500 contribution to the association for the planning of the event, but Lowe said that loss of funding alone would not put a stop to the show. Last year’s air show was the first to receive monetary support from the city.

As has been the case in previous years, aerial performances, pyrotechnics, classic cars, a STEM pavilion, local vendors, food trucks and craft beer were all in the works for the event.

“The decision to postpone was tough to make. However, we are determined to make next year’s show the most memorable yet,” Lowe said.

Plans are already in progress for next year’s show, association leaders said.