Aerial Flyovers, Barbecue Competition, Free Concert On Tap for Bombers and Barbecue Celebration May 13 At Hot Springs Airport
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — A free concert by country musician Matt Stell, vintage aircraft and an air show are on tap May 12 and 13 for the second annual Bombers and Barbecue celebration at the Hot Springs Airport.
“We’ll have a full day of family-friendly fun that Saturday, May 13, that will include the free Matt Stell concert, a great aircraft display, an aerial flyover, a barbecue competition, a kid zone and a classic car show, and it’s all free and open to the public,” event coordinator Kim Weatherford said. “We want everyone to come out and have a day full of fun.”
On Friday, May 12, and again on Saturday, May 13, the historic DC-3 aircraft, Flagship Detroit, will be on display for free tours and paid rides, Weatherford said. The rides will be for paying passengers. Annual $100 memberships in the Flagship Detroit Foundation will get members a ride on the plane. For information about the membership visit www.flagshipdetroit.org.
The Bulldog Formation Flight Team of civilian aviators will perform close-formation flyovers over the airport and the city starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.
“These aviators fly Vans RV aircraft and perform breathtaking formations while trailing thick white smoke,” Weatherford said. “It will be spectacular.”
The Bulldog Flight Team is based in North Little Rock and has performed at events all over the region. The formation of six or seven aircraft changes formation seven times during each flight, making tight turns and spewing the white smoke.
Weatherford said the activities will begin at 8 a.m. and last all day.
The complete schedule:
FRIDAY, MAY 12
- Free tours of the Flagship Detroit from 1 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
- Rides on the DC-3 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
- Gates open at 8 a.m.
- Kid Zone/ Food Vendors
- Backyard BBQ Competition runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Classic Car Show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Free tours of the DC-3 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Rides on the DC-3 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Bulldog Air Show at 2 p.m.
- Baggo tournament at noon
- Matt Stell concert at 8 p.m.
Arkansas native Stell can spin a romantic verse as easy as he can rock out an anthem. In fact, it was a love song that catapulted Stell to country music success in 2019 via his hit “Prayed for You,” which spent two weeks at the No. 1 spot. The hit has gone on to rack up over 270 million streams, his first RIAA Platinum certification and more than 20 million views of its official music video.
For more information, contact Kim Weatherford, Kimhamilton1285@gmail.com