Photo: Mike Biden

Kelowna is in for a special treat this weekend.

The skies over Kelowna will be filled with smoke and the aerobatic maneuvers of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds July 9 and 10.

The Snowbirds have added a special stop in Kelowna to mark and celebrate Kelowna airport's 75th birthday.

Both shows will take place over Okanagan Lake, north of the William R. Bennett Bridge, at 1 p.m.

“In 1946, Kelowna citizens voted in favour to purchase the 320-acre Dickson Ranch to establish an airport and have continued supporting YLW ever since,” says Sam Samaddar, Kelowna Airport Director. “YLW is excited to be able to celebrate this important milestone together with our community 75 years later.”

Following the CF Snowbirds Demonstration on Saturday, there will be a Wings n' Wheels event from 4 to 6 p.m., where attendees will have the opportunity to meet the CF Snowbirds and see the CT-114 Canadian Tutor up close at YLW.

The Wings n’ Wheels event will also have food trucks, face painting, music and a car show presented by August Motors and the Vintage Car Club of Canada – Okanagan Chapter.

There are many different ways to get to the Wings n’ Wheels event at the KF Centre for Excellence:

• Parking – Please follow directions provided by YLW staff and road signage.
• Public Transit - Visit? Kelowna Regional Transit? for?the most current routes, pickup times and fares.
• Rail Trail – YLW is conveniently located along the Okanagan Rail Trail. To plan your route visit the Okanagan Rail Trail interactive map.

The Snowbirds have held charitable events in Kelowna over the past few years but this will be their first full aerial shows since July of 2014.

“We have not seen Canada’s elite Canadian Forces pilots here for years, but they will be here to help us mark Kelowna International Airport’s 75th Anniversary,” says Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran.

“This commitment to our city reflects YLW’s status as one of the top airports in Canada and our city’s history as an aviation pioneer and aerospace leader.”