Tuscaloosa in Extremely Early Talks to Bring Back Airshow After Long Hiatus

The city of Tuscaloosa is in extremely early conversations about possibly bringing another airshow to the Tuscaloosa National Airport, the last of which was held almost 10 years ago.

The skies over the Druid City have hosted five previous airshows, major draws that frequently featured the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and other military aviators of world renown.

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The last event was held in April 2018, but was plagued by spring storms. Between the high cost of organizing the event, the logistics of planning around the weather and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, that airshow eight years ago was the last of its kind in Tuscaloosa.

In 2024, Mayor Walt Maddox said any talks about another airshow were probably years away, and now, a recently uploaded agenda suggests those conversations are about to get underway.

READ MORE: Mayor Says Blue Angels Won't Return to Tuscaloosa Anytime Soon

On Tuesday night, the council will vote on a resolution entering an agreement with the Umbrella Entertainment Group and Air Show Network to potentially plan, coordinate and manage "a future aviation-related special event at the Airport."

Jeff Powell, the city’s director of the Tuscaloosa National Airport, said in a statement to the Thread that this is still in its early stages, and the Tuesday vote is only about partnering with industry experts to decide if another airshow is practical.

"This no-cost agreement enables the City to evaluate the feasibility of hosting future special events at the Tuscaloosa National Airport, assist with applications for consideration, and provide for production of such events if selected," Powell said.

Still, the prospect of another airshow in Tuscaloosa is sure to excite those who remember the flurry of them in the 2000s fondly.

For more coverage of those conversations as they advance, and for other hyperlocal coverage of news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.