My dad and I made it out to the 34th Annual World War II Weekend at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, PA, on Sunday, June 8th. This was my third consecutive year attending and my dad’s fifth. Like the past two years, this event did not disappoint.

We made the two hour drive out to Reading and what was nice this year compared to last, was that as soon as we parked, we were able to get right on a shuttle bus that took us to the event.  Last year had much longer lines. Maybe attendance was a bit lower because it was Sunday, or perhaps due to the less-than-ideal weather. Last year also marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which likely drew a larger crowd. This was our first time attending on a Sunday.

When we arrived, we started by exploring the vendor area, where sellers offered everything from shirts and costumes to WWII memorabilia. Then we walked through each country’s encampment—something I’m always fascinated to see. The amount of time and attention to detail that goes into setting these up is incredible. Reenactors were also on hand, all of them very knowledgeable about the war.

We toured the planes, checked out tanks and military vehicles, and got a close look at the kinds of items soldiers would have carried with them. At one point, we stumbled upon the paratroopers suiting up for their jumps later during the airshow. All around the grounds, vintage 1940s music played over speakers, adding to the feeling that we’d stepped back in time to a WWII encampment.

Around lunchtime, we made our way over to the airshow area. At about 12:30, I walked over to a food truck to grab us lunch. On my way back, I caught the paratroopers jumping out of the planes—an awesome sight! (Check out my social media for the video.)

We stayed for the airshow, which never fails to impress. (You can also catch highlights on my social media sites.) All of the pilots put on a fantastic display. The Jersey Jerks, an airshow team, always stand out with their formation flying and aerial tricks.

Unfortunately, it started to rain around 2:30, and the show had to be paused with plans to resume once the weather cleared. Not long after, my dad and I decided to head out and make our way home.

It was another great year at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s WWII Weekend! Every time I attend, I’m struck by the size of the crowd and how many people come out to celebrate history and honor those who fought and died for our country. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend checking it out. Visit the museum’s website for more info: https://maam.org/

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