Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach: Best Places to Watch

The Pacific Airshow is one of my favorite events of the year in Orange County. If you live even a few miles inland from the coast, you’ve probably already heard the sound waves rolling through your neighborhood. I’ve heard them from as far south as Dana Point and as far inland as Irvine. For me, this weekend always marks the unofficial end of summer, even though “local’s summer” is still going strong here through September and October. Once those jets are overhead, I know the holidays are right around the corner too.

If you’ve never been, or you’re trying to figure out the best way to experience it this year, here’s a full rundown of where to watch: free, paid, and from the water.

When Is the Pacific Airshow?

This year, the Pacific Airshow runs Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, with aerial performances generally running from about 10:00 a.m. to 3:30–4:30 p.m. each day (Friday is typically more of a practice/preview day, with the main show days on Saturday and Sunday). Gates to the ticketed areas open around 9:00 a.m. Show Center sits on the sand along Pacific Coast Highway, roughly between Twin Dolphin Drive and Beach Boulevard, across from the oceanfront hotels.

From General Admission, RV Camping, Pier Seating and Premium Hospitality – there’s a ton of different ticket tiers. You can check it all out HERE. 

You can see the full event footprint and ticketed zones on the official Pacific Airshow map.

Free Places to Watch

Here’s the good news: you don’t necessarily need a ticket to watch the Pacific Airshow. The show is visible from miles of open coastline, not just the fenced-in festival area.

• Huntington City Beach, outside the ticketed footprint: Just walk a few blocks north or south of Show Center and you’ll get essentially the same view as the paid areas, minus the amenities.
• Huntington State Beach: South of the pier, with entrances off Beach Blvd., Newland St., Magnolia St., and Brookhurst St. 
• Bolsa Chica State Beach: North of downtown Huntington Beach. 
• Anywhere along the coast where the flight path is visible: Depending on the day’s wind and flight pattern, you can often catch glimpses from Newport Beach, Sunset Beach, and even further down the coast toward Dana Point.

What you’ll miss out on is the live announcer commentary that comes with the ticketed areas, which calls out each maneuver and performer in real time. If you don’t mind watching without the play-by-play, free beach viewing gets you essentially the same show.

Watching From a Restaurant

If you’d rather watch the show with a cocktail in hand, several oceanfront and rooftop spots around downtown Huntington Beach and Pacific City offer views toward the airshow. Keep in mind that buildings, crowds, and the exact position of the aerial performance box can affect how much you actually see, and reservations fill up fast during airshow weekend. So call ahead and book a reservation!

Local favorites with airshow-weekend views include:

• Duke’s Huntington Beach
• Jolie Restaurant and Rooftop
• SeaLegs at the Beach
• The Bungalow Huntington Beach
• Huntington Beach House
• Pacific Hideaway
• Sandy’s Beach Shack
• Treehouse at Pasea Hotel: Details HERE

Private Viewing Parties & Hotel Events + Experiences

For a more elevated experience, several Huntington Beach hotels host dedicated airshow viewing parties right on the oceanfront. 

• Paséa Hotel & Spa, Ocean Lawn Viewing Party (Saturday): You can see details and book a ticket HERE
• Paséa Hotel & Spa, Blue Room Terrace (Sunday): You can see details and book a ticket HERE
• Driftwood Beach Club at The Waterfront Beach Resort: Book a cabana or daybed by the pool. Details and Tickets HERE
• Cabo Wabo Beach Club Viewing Party at The Waterfront Beach Resort: You can see info and book tickets HERE.
• Book a Hotel Room with an Ocean View: This is a fun way to watch the airshow if you want max comfort and privacy. Keep in mind rooms book up fast and tend to be pricy this weekend!

Watching From a Boat

This is one of the most underrated ways to experience the airshow. Yes, you can watch the Pacific Airshow from a boat. Several local charter companies run dedicated airshow viewing cruises and plenty of private boat owners anchor nearby each year to watch from the water.

Bringing Your Own Boat

Yes, you can watch from your own boat but the U.S. Coast Guard enforces a restricted safety zone offshore for the duration of the event. Know the zone before you head out:

• Federal Register Coast Guard safety zone notice

Paid Boat Experiences

If you’d rather let someone else handle the navigating, several local operators run dedicated Pacific Airshow viewing cruises:

• Davey’s Locker: Details + Tickets HERE
• Newport Landing Whale Watching: Details + Tickets HERE
• Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari: Details + Tickets HERE
• Get My Boat: Like Airbnb but make it a boat. Charter your own experience HERE

These cruises tend to sell out, so if watching from the water sounds like your speed, book early.

My Honest Take

There really isn’t a bad way to watch this one. However you watch it, enjoy the show. And enjoy the reminder that even with the holidays creeping up, Orange County’s best season is still going strong.

Thinking About Calling Orange County Home?

If weekends like this are part of why you love it here, I’d love to help you find a home base close enough to the coast to catch the view. Let’s talk about what your next move might look like.