BCP Council, organisers of next week’s Bournemouth Air Festival, are to use donations at this year’s event to fund future leisure, community and cultural activities across the area.
The three-day festival – the 16th to be held – starts on Thursday, 29 August.
Spectators can donate online when they buy the commemorative souvenir brochure or at eight selected seafront kiosks.
It’s the last year the Bournemouth Air Festival will be managed and run by BCP Council with officers exploring the ongoing, sustainable management of the event.
Bournemouth Air Festival attracts more than 400,000 visitors every year who come to enjoy the aerial acrobatics, ground entertainment and displays, fun fair and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Village across the area’s award-winning beaches.
New entertainment at this year’s event will see an outdoor cinema located on the beach, a virtual-reality RNLI Lifeboat experience situated in the STEM village and two Swedish historic fighter jets – the Saab Viggen and Saab Draken, make their inaugural festival appearance.
Popular crowd favourites including the AeroSuperBatics WingWalkers and Rich Goodwin’s Jet Pitts Muscle Biplane will also be back in action this year.
Flight times for the highly anticipated RAF Typhoon have also been announced, with the jet set to take to the skies six times in a mix of day and dusk displays: Thursday 29 August at 4.30pm and 7.42pm; Friday 30 August at 4.10pm and 7.40pm; and Saturday 31 at 5.24pm and 7.35pm.
Cllr Richard Herrett, Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations at BCP Council said: “We’re excited that the 16th Bournemouth Air Festival is just 10 days away, but, due to the tough financial climate, we have had to find innovative ways to fund these types of events going forward.
“Donations given at this year’s festival will help fund a diverse future calendar of leisure, community and cultural activities for all to enjoy.
“This will help us to make greater use of our beautiful outdoor spaces, as well as encourage more people to be active and enjoy our cultural offering.
“It will also help drive further visits to our fantastic three towns and connect residents in our vibrant communities, all while supporting the local economy in the process.
“My thanks go to anyone who can make a donation this year.”
To purchase this year’s brochure with an optional donation of £2, £5 or £10, visit: See Tickets – Programmes For The 2024 Bournemouth Air Festival Tickets | OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
- Picture: Royal Air Force Typhoon Display Team.