Nearly four years to the day since they last soared above the Mississippi coast, the Thunderbirds are returning to Biloxi as the centerpiece of a two-day air show April 29-30.

Dubbed “Thunder Over the Sound Air & Space Show,” the event is being co-hosted by Keesler Air Force Base and the City of Biloxi. The airshow will be divided into two portions, with the morning portion taking place at Keesler and featuring aerial performances, ground demonstrations and military aircraft static displays, along with a STEM Expo.

The base will open to the public at 9 a.m. each day, with the air show starting at 9:30 a.m. A full schedule of events can be found here.

Each afternoon, the Thunderbirds will take to the skies over the Mississippi Sound at approximately 3:30 p.m.

The Thunderbirds, formally known as the 3600th Air Demonstration Unit, last flew over Biloxi in May 2019. Now in its 69th year, the unit was formed in May 1953 at Luke AFB in Arizona, just six years after the U.S. Air Force was designated as its own branch of military service.

The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration, according to the Air Force. The entire show runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. The Thunderbirds’ show season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to train new members.

For those attending the upcoming Biloxi air show, here’s what you need to know:

• Parking: The general public is required to take shuttle buses from off base parking locations onto Keesler AFB. Parking areas for the air show will be at in Oak Park at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Kensington Drive in Biloxi; at IP Casino at 867 Bayview Avenue; and Harrison Court at the intersection of Benachi Avenue and Lasalle Drive. Requests for handicap accessible shuttles can be made through parking attendants.
• Prohibited items: Among items not allowed onto the base are drones, federally prohibited substances, bicycles, hoverboards, scooters, skateboards, coolers, large purses, tote bags and backpacks, large camera bags, firearms, personal defense sprays (mace, etc.), stun guns, signs, banners or flags, laser pointers, artificial noise makers, combustible flammable items, fireworks, handheld weapons such as knives, pets (other than service animals), alcohol or outside food & drink (other than infant formula, breastmilk or cold packs), glass containers, umbrellas or pop-up tents.
• Permitted items: Items allowed on Keesler AFB include small purses, school-sized backpacks, small diaper bag, camera, video cameras, cellphones, folding chairs, strollers and wagons, and water bottles (no glass).
• Boat regulations: For those wishing to view the Thunderbirds from the water, buoys identifying the fly zone over the water in the Mississippi Sound and Back Bay will be placed prior to the air show. Boaters of advised to remain outside the perimeter of the marked area.
• Kids Zone: A Kids Zone at the air show is available for $10 per child and includes a bounce area, slides, basketball, soccer and more children’s activities.
• Beer Garden: A Beer Garden will offer premium shaded seating at the center of the air show, available only to those age 21 and up. Tickets for the Beer Garden are $20 each and available through Eventbrite.