The Charleston Harbor Airshow with the amazing United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, will be held on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 beginning at 2 pm each day, with shows lasting one hour each day. The Town of Mount Pleasant and the City of Charleston are co-sponsors of the event. The show will center over Charleston Harbor and the Cooper River.
VIEWING LOCATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC:
In Charleston:
•Charleston Maritime Center
•Waterfront Park
•White Point Garden and the Battery
•Liberty Square/Concord Park at Calhoun and Concord
It is advised that viewers bring water for themselves and their family as it will be warm both days. A small cooler would be allowed (no alcohol) for carrying water and snacks.
In Mount Pleasant:
•The best viewing spot in Mount Pleasant is Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
oAboard the USS Yorktown: fees may be applicable
oFrom the parking lot at Patriots Point: $3 parking fee. Seating will be limited. Free access for pedestrians
NOTE: The Pedestrian and Bike Path on the Arthur Ravenel Bridge will be closed during the Charleston Harbor Airshow on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be closures of the Ped and Bike Path during practices on Thursday and Friday. Time frames will be posted later.
RESTRICTED BOAT AREAS:
•Areas in the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor will be restricted in terms of boat traffic and anchorage during the shows.
•For specific information about restrictions regarding boats during practices and the shows, go to http://homeport.uscg.mil/charleston
TUNING IN TO NARRATION:
•Arrangements have been made for the narration of the Blue Angels performance to be broadcast on a local radio station. Radio station 98.9 FM will broadcast the narration of the show in its entirety on April 17 and 18 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM each day. Thank you, 98.9!! Bring your portable radio to the viewing areas to hear the description of the show as the Blue Angels fly.
PARKING:
In Charleston:
Shuttles will be provided from the parking area at Brittlebank Park on Lockwood Drive AND the MUSC Fishburne Street parking lots behind the City Police Department. Cost for parking (which will also help to offset the cost of shuttles) will be $5 per vehicle (standard special event parking rate). Shuttles leaving Brittlebank Park will drop off viewers to White Point Garden and shuttles leaving Fishburne Street will drop off viewers to the Waterfront Park area. Shuttle will return viewers to the parking lots after the show. Shuttles will run from 11am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Handicap parking will be located in the parking lot in front of the Greenberg Building at 180 Lockwood Drive. Shuttles will be provided and will take viewers to White Point Garden or Waterfront Park.
Parking Garage Locations – Flat Rate designated with an *** at $5 per car. All other garages are regular hourly rates
Francis Marion399 King Street
Camden 47 John Street
Wentworth 81 Wentworth Street
Gaillard 32 Alexander Street ***
Aquarium24 Calhoun Street ***
East Bay25 Prioleau Street ***
Majestic Square211 King Street
Charleston Place 85 Hassell Street
VRTC Garage63 Mary Street
Concord Garage1 Cumberland Street ***
Queen Street Garage 93 Queen Street
St. Phillip Street Garage 34 St. Phillip St.
Additionally, a portion of the Concord Park (Ansonborough Fields) area across from the Aquarium Garage will be set aside for parking. The charge for this lot is also $5.
NOTE: Viewing from the tops of parking garages on the peninsula will be restricted due to safety issues and weight levels in the garages. Fire marshalls will be monitoring the top levels of the garages.
In Mount Pleasant:
•Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum Parking: $3 per vehicle
•Memorial Waterfront Park: .50 cents per hour
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS/ROAD CLOSINGS:
Some streets near the viewing areas may need to be closed and traffic patterns may be affected.
•On Saturday, April 17th and Sunday April 18th, the intersections of South Battery and East Battery and Murray Boulevard and King Street (around White Point Garden) will be closed to allow viewers access to the street for viewing.
In Mount Pleasant:
Traffic congestion is expected as early as 10 am near Patriots Point on 4/17 and 4/18. Motorists are urged to avoid Coleman Boulevard, between 12 and 5 pm. Use US 17 South and take a left on McGrath Darby Boulevard to reach Patriots Point.
Alternate Travel Routes
Due to expected traffic congestion in the lower peninsular city, if a motorist is attempting to enter or leave the city during these events, they should consider the following routes:
Outbound Traffic Suggestions
-Ashley Avenue north to the cross-town then to I-26 west or to the Ravenel Bridge (Highway 17 north)
-Lockwood Boulevard or Calhoun Street west to Highway 30 west. Traffic then can divert either onto Highway 61 or remain on Highway 30 to Harborview Road or Folly Road
-Lockwood Boulevard to Highway 17 north or south
-Coming Street north to the cross-town to either I-26 west or Highway 17 north and south
Inbound Traffic Suggestions
The following are only suggestions when traveling downtown during these events:
-I-26 east bound to Rutledge Avenue then east to Meeting/King/Morrison Drive
-I-26 east bound to Meeting Street
-Highway 17 south (Ravenel Bridge) exiting onto either Morrison Drive or Meeting Street
-Highway 61 south onto the Cross-town, Bee Street, or Lockwood Boulevard
-Highway 17 north onto the Cross-town, Bee Street, or Lockwood Boulevard
-Folly/Maybank Highway to the following locations:
-Highway 17 south and north
-Highway 61 north
-Folly Road to the Cross-town, Bee Street, or Lockwood Boulevard
SPECIAL NOTE: On Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16, the Blue Angels will be practicing their maneuvers between 12:00 – 4 PM on Thursday and 2:00 Pm to 4:00 PM on Friday. Drivers on the Ravenel Bridge should be aware of lane restrictions and lowered speeds during these periods and the days of the shows. Traffic management will be in place during the practices on Thursday and Friday and during the shows on Saturday and Sunday. Drivers should be aware of the possibility of low flying aircraft and use caution.
