Milwaukee's lakefront to be packed this weekend for Air & Water Show
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Cody Holyoke reports Video by tmj4.com
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MILWAUKEE- The lakefront will also be busy this weekend as thousands of people will be in town for the Milwaukee Air & Water Show.
Preparations are in full swing for a busy weekend that's sure to attract some big crowds.
You can almost set your calendar by the sounds of jets soaring over Milwaukee. Back for another year, the Air & Water Show promises a chance to see dozens of air and watercraft in action in your own backyard.
"Every year's been a great success. Of course, you have hundreds of thousands of people from Bay View to Shorewood watching this great event," said Paul A. Rogers, President Milwaukee Air & Water Show, Inc.
The high turnout means business is likely to soar.
Vendors spent the day preparing for the massive crowds.
"Everybody wants to have a good show and bring a souvenir home, and that's what we supply them with," said Noah Henson.
Visitors won't just have their eyes on the skies this weekend. Also at the lakefront, free tours of naval ships brought to commemorate the War of 1812 Bicentennial.
"They'll see our ships. There's four ships. But more importantly, they'll see our sailors. The men and women who man the ships," said Rear Admiral Gregory M. Nosal.
Tourism officials are already noticing the financial rewards brought on by the shows.
"I don't have an exact number on the economic impact, but I know it's in the millions of dollars, based on the numbers of visitors who are coming for these events," said Dave Fantle, deputy secretary of the Department of Tourism.
Meanwhile, spectators already have a spot picked out on the lakefront.
The F-22 Raptor is one of the big events this weekend. The show kicks off Saturday morning at 9 a.m., so if you're coming, you may want to get here a little earlier and find a spot to sit along the lakefront.
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