Local hotels are booked up as thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the Queen City this weekend to see the U.S. Navy’s famed Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron perform at Wings Over Meridian at Naval Air Station Meridian. With the additional traffic comes an increased need for safe driving and proper planning on the road.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun said residents and visitors alike should plan to arrive early for the Wings Over Meridian performance. Gates open at 9 a.m. each day, with the program kicking off at noon, but security checks and additional traffic volume will eat up a substantial portion of that time.
“It’s going to take longer than you think to get in, to get parked and to get to spot where you can watch the air show,” he said.
Saturday and Sunday performances mark the first time in approximately 15 years that the Blue Angels have flown at NAS Meridian, and previous experience has shown one of the biggest challenges is getting everyone on base, parked and at the show. In addition to arriving early, Calhoun said he strongly encourages everyone to visit the event website, www.wingsovermeridian.com. The site is a wealth of helpful information including a lineup of performers, information on allowed and prohibited items, and directions to get to the parking area.
“People need to review that, know where they’re going, and they should plan on going early,” he said.
Bringing a chair is also an excellent idea, Calhoun said.
Preparations for the air show have been months in the making, and Lauderdale County deputies will be assisting with security for the event, Calhoun said. Mississippi Highway Patrol will also have a presence at intersections along the way to the Navy base.
“Our main function in the air show will be augmenting on base security for the event, as well as doing escorts for some dignitaries that will be here,” he said.
Wings Over Meridian is free and open to the public to attend. In addition to flight performances, the family-friendly event will feature a variety of static display aircraft, simulators, food trucks and more.
For those wanting to avoid traffic, the city of Meridian is offering additional free parking at Uptown Meridian Mall, with shuttles running from the mall to NAS Meridian from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.