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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Predatory shark enters Florida surf zone, waders hold their ground (video)
A large shark attacked a pelican in the Florida surf recently, creating a spectacle but not generating the type of response you might except among waders. The accompanying footage, captured by Lisa McMillion at Pensacola Beach, shows what was believed to be a bull shark thrashing as it tried to pull the large bird underwater. Remarkably, only two swimmers rushed toward shore, but even they appeared to be laughing. The two women who figure most prominently in the footage were among waders who did not budge, despite the shark being only yards away. (Click here if footage doesn't appear below.) Perhaps they were unaware that bull sharks are notoriously aggressive and have been implicated in dozens of attacks on humans over the years. Or perhaps they figured the shark already had its mouth full. Surfer writes: 'Are Floridians numb to sharks? Sure seems like it, as recent footage showing a large shark just a few feet from shore, rampaging in the water, munching a pelican, and swimmers a mere few feet away…just standing there nonchalantly, and watching it all go down.' Louisiana radio station 97.3 The Dawg informed its followers: 'You can see some people rush out of the water as the shark approaches the shore, but two women closest to the shark were undeterred by this potential threat.' Nobody was attacked, but the waders' reactions might show that Floridians are, in fact, numb to the presence of sharks. Fun fact from the Florida Museum: 'Bull sharks were blamed for a series of attacks in 1916, which served inspiration for Peter Benchley's book Jaws, which Steven Spielberg turned into a blockbuster movie in 1975.' This article originally appeared on For The Win: As large shark attacks bird in Florida surf, waders hold ground Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Need a parking spot for Blue Angels? Here are nearby places where you can pay to park
While visitors wait all year long for the Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show, one of the biggest dilemmas of the day is finding a parking spot when the show rolls around on July 12. If you don't want to wake up at 2 a.m. to head to the free main lot or walk a mile from your spot to the sand, there are some ticketed options for prime parking spaces that can be reserved ahead of time – if you're willing to pay. Luckily, most places that offer parking spaces also offer food and drink vouchers, live music, and other add-ons. Here are some ideas to get your search started. All things Blue Angels: Blue Angels weekend starts Thursday. Here's what's happening 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Each Laguna's parking pass includes two drinks and an appetizer for the ticket purchaser that can be redeemed upstairs at the restaurant. Pricing varies depending on the day, starting out at $88.02 on Thursday, $116.69 on Friday's Blue Angels dress rehearsal and $145.37 for Saturday's air show. Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite. 165 Fort Pickens Road Get up close and personal with the Blue Angels while parking at the Salty Rose at Pensacola Beach Resort with parking tickets available for both Friday and Saturday. Each ticket includes a prime parking spot, a free appetizer and two complimentary cocktails from the Salty Rose. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite at $108.55 per space for Friday's show and $215.26 per space on Saturday. 5 Via De Luna Drive Unit B Red Fish Blue Fish is offering table rentals to make sure you have a seat to catch the Blue Angels firsthand. All tables are reserved for 1.5 hours before the air show on Saturday and 30 minutes after. Four-top tables are available for $400 and six-top tables are available for $600. A 20% gratuity will be added to the final bill after the event. Table reservations include one parking spot per table, and a license plate will be needed to complete registration. For questions or further information, call 850-712-9381. To make a reservation, visit the Red Fish Blue Fish Watch Party survey here. 12 Via De Luna Drive Hilton Pensacola Beach is hosting a watch party from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton poolside, with shuttle transportation offered to and from Gulf Breeze High School. Tickets will include a full buffet offered from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., pool and beach access, live music and a private viewing area and can be purchased on the Hilton Pensacola Beach website. Ticket pricing is as follows: Blue Angel VIP Ticket (adult): Includes shuttle transportation to and from Gulf Breeze High School, access to full buffet, complimentary sodas and bottled water, one drink ticket redeemable for house liquor, wine, import or domestic beer and access to Hilton pools. Accompanying children must have individual ticket purchases. ($200 per ticket) Blue Angel VIP ticket (5-12 years old): Includes shuttle transportation, full buffet, complimentary sodas and bottled water, and access to Hilton pools. Accompanying children must have individual ticket purchases. ($50 per ticket) Blue Angel VIP ticket (4 and under): Includes shuttle transportation, full buffet, complimentary sodas and bottled water, and access to Hilton pools. Accompanying children must have individual ticket purchases. ($0.01 per ticket) This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show parking: Where you can pay to park
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pensacola Beach Air Show parking requires a plan. Casino closed at 3:30 a.m. in 2024
The Pensacola Beach Air Show is just days away, and that means the most sought after thing for fans (other than seeing the Blue Angels) is the coveted parking space at Casino Beach. Every year, thousands crowd the beach to get a glimpse of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels. But, there are not thousands of parking spots on Casino Beach, and parking has been tricky to find for years during Blue Angels weekend. Here's what to know about parking and how to find it. Finding a parking spot is always the most difficult part of getting to Casino Beach to watch the Blue Angels fly, and each year security closes the parking lot earlier and earlier. Just a few years ago, you'd have to get to Casino Beach around 4 or 5 a.m. to find a spot. However, in 2024, deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office closed the parking lot at 3:30 a.m. Many people began their journey to the beach the night before air show and waited overnight. If you don't make it to Casino Beach in time to find parking, Park East and West have additional parking. The Santa Rosa Island Authority will provide a free trolley service to Casino Beach. During Blue Angels weekend, the SRIA extends its trolley schedule to help alleviate parking and traffic concerns with show. On July 11, the full dress rehearsal of the show, the SRIA's three open-air trolleys will begin their routes at 7:30 a.m., extending to Park East until 6 p.m. On July 12, the official air show, the three trolleys along with four buses will run from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. All trolley stops are designated with a bright Escambia County Area Transit-branded feather flag. After the air show, trolleys servicing Portofino Resort and Park East will be staged on Via de Luna Drive in front of Sideline's Sports Bar. Trolleys for Park West will be staged on Fort Pickens Road in front of Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker. Yes. In fact, watching by boat is one of the best ways to watch the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Prior to the air show, the U.S. Coast Guard will mark off areas of the water directly beneath the show, but you'll find plenty of spots to anchor and get a great view of the show. Two of the most popular spots are near Quietwater Beach (on the east side of the Bob Sikes Bridge) and Little Sabine. Your view will be slightly obscured by some of the condos and hotels, but you'll have your own space onboard your boat and you won't have to deal with the regular traffic. July 9: Breakfast with the Blues – At 7:30 a.m., the Blue Angels will make a brief appearance at Pensacola Beach to mark their flight paths. Fans won't get a show, but it makes for the perfect distraction during breakfast for anyone who comes out to watch. July 10: Practice flight – The Blue Angels will conduct a practice flight at 2 p.m. The Blues' performance should be identical to what fans see on Saturday, making it the perfect opportunity to catch a less-crowded version of the show. July 11: Full dress rehearsal – Friday's dress rehearsal starts at 11 a.m. and is identical to the full show, so expect a full-show crowd. The Blue Angels are set to perform at 2 p.m. July 12: Official show – Saturday's official show will mimic Friday's, starting at 11 a.m., with the Blue Angels flying at 2 p.m. The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show will officially start at 11 a.m., but fans will want to arrive earlier. Not just to beat the traffic and find a good spot, but because a handful of pre-show flight demonstrations will take to the skies around 10:30 a.m. Here's who is performing: The Black Ducks in WWII-era aircraft Sheldon Heatherington in a Zenith 75 STOL named 'Redbird' Gene Valentino in an Icon A-5 Tanner Matheny in a 1946 Navion named 'Olivia' Veterans Flight team in their WWII-era Stearman biplanes honoring WWII and Korean War veterans, led by Roy Kinsey HT-18 training helicopters from TAW-5 aboard NAS Whiting Field VT-10 flying T-6 Texans from TAW-6 aboard NAS Pensacola U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue demo from an MH-65E Dolphin The official air box will close, and lifeguards will clear the water around 11:40 a.m., which is when the official performers will take flight. The Blue Angels always close out the air show at 2 p.m. alongside the team's beloved support aircraft, Fat Albert. Fat Albert will typically fly for about 15 minutes before the Blue Angels take to the skies for the next 45. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show parking fills fast
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Angels weekend gives Pensacola three chances to see the Pensacola Beach Air Show
The Blue Angels are returning for the Pensacola Beach Air Show as the team reaches the halfway mark of its 79th air show season. The full Pensacola Beach Air Show 2025 schedule gives fans a pretty clear idea of what to expect this year, along with a look at more than a dozen other military teams and civilian pilots that will join the Blues during the show. Blue Angels weekend, officially dubbed Red, White & Blues week, commences with a quick flyover-tour of Pensacola Beach on Wednesday and culminates with a breathtaking air show on Saturday. You can find the Pensacola Beach Air Show schedule below, along with tips on when to go. Pensacola's Red, White, and Blues week will return on the week of July 9. The Blue Angels will perform their arrival and circle maneuvers over Pensacola Beach on July 9 before three days of back-to-back air shows. July 9: Breakfast with the Blues – At 7:30 a.m., the Blue Angels will make a brief appearance at Pensacola Beach to mark their flight paths. Fans won't get a show, but it makes for the perfect distraction during breakfast for anyone who comes out to watch. July 10: Practice flight – The Blue Angels will conduct a practice flight at 2 p.m. The Blues' performance should be identical to what fans see on Saturday, making it the perfect opportunity to catch a less-crowded version of the show. July 11: Full dress rehearsal – Friday's dress rehearsal starts at 11 a.m. and is identical to the full show, so expect a full-show crowd. The Blue Angels are set to perform at 2 p.m. July 12: Official show – Saturday's official show will mimic Friday's, starting at 11 a.m., with the Blue Angels flying at 2 p.m. The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show will start with more than a handful of pre-show flight demonstrations at 10:30 a.m. Here's who is performing: The Black Ducks in WWII-era aircraft Sheldon Heatherington in a Zenith 75 STOL named 'Redbird' Gene Valentino in an Icon A-5 Tanner Matheny in a 1946 Navion named 'Olivia' Veterans Flight team in their WWII-era Stearman biplanes honoring WWII and Korean War veterans, led by Roy Kinsey HT-18 training helicopters from TAW-5 aboard NAS Whiting Field VT-10 flying T-6 Texans from TAW-6 aboard NAS Pensacola U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue demo from an MH-65E Dolphin The official air box will close, and lifeguards will clear the water around 11:40 a.m., which is when the official performers will take flight. USAF B-1B Lancer arrives to tease the raw power and speed of the legendary swing-wing bomber. Red Bull Air Force team performs the 'Presentation of the Colors' by skydiving with the American Flag – landing at show center. Expect aerobatics from helo pilot Aaron Fitzgerald and pilot Kevin Coleman in his Extra 330 SC, too. B-1B Lancer comes back for more action and maneuvers to impress. RJ Gritter is next overhead, flying a red, white, and blue Decathlon and bringing high-energy aerobatics to Pensacola for the first time. The father-son duo of Ken and Austin Rieder with Redline Airshows will deliver formation thrills and precision flying in their RV-8s. Next up, the four-man Titan Aerobatic Team performs synchronized loops and bomb bursts in their WWII-era AT-6 Texans. Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitzgerald team up again in a high-adrenaline, two-aircraft routine to finish up with the Red Bull Air Force finale before a short 10-minute water break. The Blue Angels always close out the air show at 2 p.m. alongside the team's beloved support aircraft, Fat Albert. Fat Albert will typically fly for about 15 minutes before the Blue Angels take to the skies for the next 45. If you're hoping to get a parking spot at Casino Beach's main parking lot on Saturday, you'll almost need to camp out. Escambia County Sheriff's Office reported that the main lot closed between 3-3:30 a.m. in 2024, more than an hour earlier than it closed in 2023 (4:37 a.m.). Friday's show is usually just as packed as Saturday's, but finding parking can be a bit easier. Last year, the main lot closed at 7:47 a.m., which is later than previous years. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Beach Air Show 2025 schedule: When to catch the Blue Angels
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Angels fly at Pensacola Beach Air Show Friday. Here's what's happening
Pensacola Beach's biggest week of the year is finally here: Red, White & Blues Week, better known to locals as Blue Angels weekend. The Blue Angels will be soaring familiar skies above the team's hometown as tens of thousands of fans gather for the Pensacola Beach Air Show on July 9-12. More than a dozen military teams and civilian aerobatic performers will be joining the Blue Angels above Pensacola Beach's emerald green waters and sugary-white sands. Live updates: Showers, 100-degree heat index forecast as Blue Angels Air Show approaches | LIVE COVERAGE Fans will see some new faces while cheering on returning ones, like Julian MacQueen, the Veterans Flight Stearmans, the Red Bull Air Force Team with Aaron Fitzgerald and Kevin Coleman and plenty more. The Blue Angels will, of course, headline the four-day event, which kicks off with "Breakfast with the Blues" on Wednesday, July 9, followed by a practice flight on July 10, a full dress rehearsal on July 11 and the official air show on July 12. Here's a look at what to expect at the 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show. The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show officially kicks off on Wednesday, July 9, with "Breakfast with the Blue." The Blue Angels will hold a special practice over Pensacola Beach on Thursday, which will feature the same performance fans are likely to see on Friday and Saturday. Friday's show is referred to as a dress rehearsal, but it will be identical to the official show on Saturday. Both shows will start at 11 a.m. Pensacola's Red, White, and Blues week will return on the week of July 9. The Blue Angels will perform their arrival and circle maneuvers over Pensacola Beach on July 9 before three days of back-to-back air shows. July 9: Breakfast with the Blues – At 7:30 a.m., the Blue Angels will make a brief appearance at Pensacola Beach to mark their flight paths. Fans won't get a show, but it makes for the perfect distraction during breakfast for anyone who comes out to watch. July 10: Practice flight – The Blue Angels will conduct a practice flight at 2 p.m. The Blues' performance should be identical to what fans see on Saturday, making it the perfect opportunity to catch a less-crowded version of the show. July 11: Full dress rehearsal – Friday's dress rehearsal starts at 11 a.m. and is identical to the full show, so expect a full-show crowd. The Blue Angels are set to perform at 2 p.m. July 12: Official show – Saturday's official show will mimic Friday's, starting at 11 a.m., with the Blue Angels flying at 2 p.m. The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show will officially start at 11 a.m., but fans will want to arrive earlier. Not just to beat the traffic and find a good spot, but because a handful of pre-show flight demonstrations will take to the skies around 10:30 a.m. Here's who is performing: The Black Ducks in WWII-era aircraft Sheldon Heatherington in a Zenith 75 STOL named 'Redbird' Gene Valentino in an Icon A-5 Tanner Matheny in a 1946 Navion named 'Olivia' Veterans Flight team in their WWII-era Stearman biplanes honoring WWII and Korean War veterans, led by Roy Kinsey HT-18 training helicopters from TAW-5 aboard NAS Whiting Field VT-10 flying T-6 Texans from TAW-6 aboard NAS Pensacola U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue demo from an MH-65E Dolphin The official air box will close, and lifeguards will clear the water around 11:40 a.m., which is when the official performers will take flight. USAF B-1B Lancer arrives to tease the raw power and speed of the legendary swing-wing bomber. Red Bull Air Force team performs the 'Presentation of the Colors' by skydiving with the American Flag – landing at show center. Expect aerobatics from helo pilot Aaron Fitzgerald and pilot Kevin Coleman in his Extra 330 SC, too. B-1B Lancer comes back for more action and maneuvers to impress. RJ Gritter is next overhead, flying a red, white, and blue Decathlon and bringing high-energy aerobatics to Pensacola for the first time. The father-son duo of Ken and Austin Rieder with Redline Airshows will deliver formation thrills and precision flying in their RV-8s. Next up, the four-man Titan Aerobatic Team performs synchronized loops and bomb bursts in their WWII-era AT-6 Texans. Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitzgerald team up again in a high-adrenaline, two-aircraft routine to finish up with the Red Bull Air Force finale before a short 10-minute water break. The Blue Angels always close out the air show at 2 p.m. alongside the team's beloved support aircraft, Fat Albert. Fat Albert will typically fly for about 15 minutes before the Blue Angels take to the skies for the next 45. Parking remains one of the trickiest parts about attending the Pensacola Beach Air Show, and outside of arriving hours before you probably think you need to, there are no tips or secrets to snagging a good parking spot. The Casino Beach parking lot is the main place to park, but it fills up early. The main Casino Beach parking lot closed by 3:30 a.m., a full hour before the 2023 Saturday show when the main Casino Beach parking lot closed at 4:37 a.m. That same year the lot closed at 7:47 a.m. for Friday's show. As an alternative, the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is extending public transportation hours along Pensacola Beach on Friday and adding extra buses to the schedule on Saturday to accommodate the surge of visitors. SRIA's buses and open-air trolleys will pick up anyone who parks further out along the island. SRIA's three, free open-air trolleys will start service on Friday, July 11, at 7:30 a.m. The trolley service will extend down to Park East, located about a mile east of Portofino Resort, until 6 p.m. Afterward, it will resume its regular route until midnight. On Saturday, July 12, SRIA will have four buses, plus the three trolleys, running between 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Like Friday, the trolleys will them resume their original route until midnight. The trolleys will carry passengers from Park East and Park West to show center at Casino Beach, stopping only at designated stops. Trolley stops will be marked with a bright Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)-branded feather flag. One the show wraps up, the trolleys and buses servicing Park East will be staged at Via de Luna in front of Sideline's Sports Bar and the Hampton Inn. The staging area for Park West will be at Fort Pickens Road, in front of the Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker. Pensacola Beach Air Show is centered around Casino Beach, so that is where you'll have the best view. That said, you don't have to be in the thick of it to watch the show. When you're flying as fast as the Blues, it takes a lot of space to set up maneuvers, so you'll have a view even if you're a little out of the way. Of course! In fact, watching by boat is one of the best ways to watch the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Prior to the air show, the U.S. Coast Guard will mark off areas of the water directly beneath the show, but you'll find plenty of spots to anchor and get a great view of the show. Two of the most popular spots are near Quietwater Beach (on the east side of the Bob Sikes Bridge) and Little Sabine. Your view will be slightly obscured by some of the condos and hotels, but you'll have your own space onboard your boat and you won't have to deal with the regular traffic. New this year: Escambia County Emergency Management will implement a new vessel exclusion zone to create a 250-yard lane for first responder vessels to respond to incidents and injuries. The vessel exclusion zone will begin from the shoreline between Flounders and the Santa Rosa Island Authority Administrative Building and extend approximately 250 yards into the sound. Emergency Management has deployed 24 buoys and signage to alert boaters to the vessel exclusion zone. While the vessel exclusion zone is in effect, boaters are prohibited from anchoring their boats within the red buoys. However, boaters may cross through the vessel exclusion zone while traveling to their destination. Hellcat Productions LLC, will be live streaming the Pensacola Beach Air Show on YouTube on Saturday, July 12, if you can't make it out to the show. You can catch the stream here. Yes! But also no. When nothing is going on, you'll be able to swim as much as you like, as long as you observe the beach flags posted along Pensacola Beach. However, during some performances, like the Blue Angels' demonstration, the public will be told to vacate the waters. Here are some things you should bring with you to the Pensacola Beach Air Show: Chairs, blankets or something comfortable to sit on Food and snacks A cooler to bring drinks and keep them cool Backpacks Sunscreen You should also bring some ear protection. The Blue Angel jets are loud enough that you can feel the roar of the engines pierce through your chest. The Santa Rosa Island Authority says you cannot bring the following to Pensacola Beach: Glass containers Alcohol (if west of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier) Open containers off the boardwalk or establishment Grills Dogs or animals outside of designated dog parks (excludes service animals) Drones Here is a look at the 2025 Blue Angel pilots and their roles: #1 | Cmdr. Adam Bryan | USN — Flight leader and commanding officer #2 | Cmdr. Jack Keilty | USN — Right wing #3 | Maj. Brandon Wilkins | USMC — Left wing #4 | Lt. Cmdr. Wes Perkins | USN — Slot #5 | Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman | USN — Lead solo #6 | Lt. Connor O'Donnell | USN — Opposing solo There are three officers who serve as pilots for the Blue Angels' beloved support aircraft known as 'Fat Albert.' Capt. Sam Petko | USMC — Lead C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Capt. Isaac Becker | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Maj. Josh Horman | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Fat Albert is a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules that follows the Blue Angels across the country as they perform air shows during a season. The modified C-130 carries the team's maintenance and support equipment and has its own moment in the sun during air shows as it performs its aerobatic maneuvers for about 15 minutes ahead of the Blue Angels. Editor's note: This story was updated to include more information about the trolley schedule and watching by boat. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show 2025: Everything to know
