Cleared for takeoff: Flight Fest returns to Chilliwack

“OK Tire has come up as a presenting sponsor to help make it all happen,” Firkus said. “The community’s embracing the fact that we’ve got an event going on again.”

The last Chilliwack Flight Fest took place in 2019, and the director said getting back into organizing the event was a learning process all over again.

“We’ve got a lot of new volunteers that are learning,” he remarked. “What’s part of the challenge is that even some of the experienced volunteers, we forget stuff. We’ve done it all the time, but you don’t do it for a few years, and it’s just a learning curve again.”

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Chilliwack Flight Fest 2022.

With clear skies and sunshine, Firkus said there were no issues as far as the performers in the sky; his biggest concern was that people stayed hydrated.

“We’re working on a little mister tent here to keep everybody cool, and it should be a great day,” he said.

The event hosted a variety of performers and exhibits, including the Canadian Museum of Flight, Kyle Fowler, Richard Mrazek, and Mike Tryggvason.

“We’ve got the Kids Landing—the kids love to come out and play around,” Firkus said. “Ross Granley’s coming out; we’ve got a couple of new performers who’ve never been here before as well. Hopefully a little bit for everybody.”

While the total number of attendees is yet to be determined, the Chilliwack Flight Fest Society director said the focus throughout the planning process has been on preparing for a large turnout.

“A lot of these things that have come back have had record crowds, so we’re trying to be prepared to get as many people in here as we can,” he said. “We’re worried about parking as much as anything else.”

Image: L. Gomes / PML / Chilliwack Flight Fest 2022.

by Laurice Gomes

Cleared for takeoff: Flight Fest returns to Chilliwack

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