by kellie abrahamson and richard abrahamson
The Sea & Sky Spectacular had Jacksonville Beach booming last weekend as thousands flocked to enjoy an incredible air show, a festive street fair and gorgeous weather. It was so packed that certain areas of the beach were impossible to navigate as throngs of aviation aficionados gathered to watch the skies. If you happened to miss the weekend’s biggest party, we feel for you. EU was there and we had a great time!
During the six hour air show, the skies above Jacksonville Beach were never calm. Over two dozen performers showed their skills each day, doing death-defying stunts that boggle the mind and caught your heart in your throat. Pilot Gene Soucy and “wingwalker” Teresa Stokes were one of the stand-outs, amazing the crowd with their phenomenal routine, which at one point had Teresa doing a handstand on top of the plane as it flew by. World-renowned stunt pilot David Martin also put on an incredible show, making his Breitling CAP 232 plane do impossible feats of aerobatics. The highlight of the show was, of course, the Blue Angels. It seemed all activity on the ground stopped once the squadron took to the sky. Their “high speed, minimal distance” maneuvers had jaws dropping throughout their demonstration.
Of course, there was plenty on the ground to do and see as well. Sea & Sky Spectacular sponsors set up booths peddling their wares and giving away free goodies. Members of the US Armed Forces had really cool booths- many offering tours of their incredible vehicles. In addition, the Army set up a rock climbing wall while the National Guard let people try out their flight simulator. Guests could meet their favorite high-flying pilot celebrities during the Aviation Alley autograph sessions, which took place all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Children were catered to in the Kiddy Hawk Kids Area, sponsored by Jax4Kids.com. A massive aircraft carrier slide was a huge hit throughout most of the day and a booth offering personalized dog tags was also a popular offering. Little guests could also get their faces painted, play games and do crafts to pass the time.
In addition to all of this, the Sea & Sky Spectacular had a special VIP area roped off near the show’s center point. For $25 for adults and $15 for children, aviation enthusiasts got the best seats in the house plus a meal and a couple of drinks. This area was also home to the even more exclusive, by-invitation-only VIP Viewing Cabanas. Carlyle & Co., the only officially licensed retailer of Breitling timepieces in Jacksonville, teamed up with the high-end watch company to host one of the cabanas. Their beach-front spot, situated at the show’s center point, provided guests with snacks, shade and exquisite views of the planes as they performed their daring feats of aerial acrobatics.
“We decided to join with Breitling and be at this event together as a way to give back to our customers and say thank you,” Christian Abrahamson, manager of Carlyle & Co. at the Avenues, explained.
In addition to their clients, several pilots, including a few Blue Angels and David Martin, stopped by the Carlyle/Breitling cabana to enjoy the festivities. We spoke with Martin between acts and he had high praise for the Sea & Sky Spectacular.
“It’s been great,” he said. “They put on a good show and they’ve treated us really well.”
All in all, the Sea & Sky Spectacular was a terrific and not at all typical day at the beach. From the incredible acts in the sky to the fun activities on the ground, this is one event that the whole family can enjoy. It’s too bad it only happens once a year!
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