Thousands Crowd Lakefront As Blue Angels Return To Chicago Air And Water Show

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Thousands crowded Chicago's lakefront as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels made their return to the Chicago Air and Water Show on Saturday.

WBBM's Lisa Fielding reports Fullerton Beach was filled with a diverse group and there were many from overseas experiencing their very first airshow.
"It is pretty unique," said Tristan from Argentina. "It is amazing. We love it."

Tristan and his wife celebrated their first anniversary at their very first air show. They just moved to Chicago and say they will be back again next year.

Singer Robin Thick was also at the show. He was seen shaking hands with the pilots and thanking them for a great show.

Not everyone was there to enjoy the show. About a dozen people gathered on the other side of the North Avenue pedestrian bridge west of Lake Shore drive to protest this year's Air and Water show.

They were members of local peace and justice groups trying to bring attention to what they say is the glorification of war and are calling on the city to drop Boeing as a sponsor of the show.

They staged a so-called "die in" where demonstrators fell to the ground while an air-raid-style siren blasted to signify the dying in Gaza and Afghanistan from drones made by Boeing.

Over one million are expected to attend the two-day show. The Air and Water Show will be streamed live at airandwater.cbslocal.com/live on Sunday and you can listen to WBBM Newsradio 780 and 105.9 FM.