ST. GEORGE — Swing dancers and aviation enthusiasts will be taking off at St. George Regional Airport for one weekend this month.
The airport’s Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum is holding its annual Armed Forces Celebration May 19-20.
In the air, the museum’s C-7 Caribou military cargo plane — one of less than a dozen in the country still airworthy — will take to the skies on both days of the celebration.
“We’re going to fly that big bird,” said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jack Hunter, who runs the museum.
The museum will show off work that has been done on its rare C-54 Skymaster, which arrived under its own power a year ago.
“We’ve got it all done inside and people will be able to see it,” said Hunter, adding that spectators will have the ability to look at a plane that was a part of the Berlin Airlift in the late 1940s and later renamed to honor Utah native and “Candy Bomber” Col. Gail Halvorsen.
“It’s taken a lot of work and there’s still a lot of work to do,” he said.
For an extra fee and by placing a reservation at 435-395-8523, aviation enthusiasts can have the experience to take a seat in a World War II-era T-6 Texan plane for a short flight over the airport.
Saluting the armed forces is important to Hunter, and the Armed Forces Weekend has become the museum’s biggest event each year.
On the ground, the 10th annual 1940s Hanger Dance returns on Saturday night, May 20. The museum’s hangar is transformed into a World War II-era USO complete with Andrews Sisters-style performers and a band full of boogie-woogie bugle boys.
Swing-era 1940s attire is encouraged, but not required.
“We’ve got the swing dancers and the 18-piece orchestra,” Hunter said of the 6 p.m. event, adding that those who can’t dance but love the music of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman are welcome to the ball.
“You can just come for the music; it’s done so well,” he said.
Event details
- What: Armed Forces Celebration and 1940s Hangar Dance at Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum
- When: Friday, May 19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dance is Saturday, May 20, from 6-10 p.m.
- Where: Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum at St. George Regional Airport, 4196 S. Airport Pkwy.
- Admission: $8 with those ages 17 and under as well as World War II and Korean War veterans getting in for free. Dance tickets are $20 in advance by calling 435-669-0655 and $25 at door, as well as $250 for reserved table for eight and $189 for VIP ticket. World War II and Korean War veterans get free admission to the dance but are asked to call in advance.
For more information, see the event website.
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