By: Adina Glenn

After a one-year absence, the Bethpage Air Show is returning to Jones Beach State Park on Memorial Day weekend.

This year, the show, which is sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, will have new ticketing with reduced capacity and social-distancing measures in place to keep viewers at the beach safe.

“As we continue to see progress in our fight against COVID and cautiously reopen our state, we can look forward to enjoying more and more outdoor adventures this summer – including the annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

“With safety measures in place, New Yorkers and visitors can get back to enjoying all that Jones Beach and Long Island State Parks have to offer, and this annual festival is a great way to get outdoors and support the regional Long Island economy,” he added.

The in-person show was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 crisis.

This year’s show features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog), U.S.  Army Golden Knights U.S. Army parachute team, and U.S.  Coast Guard Search and Rescue team, as well as many other world-class civilian performers.

The Bethpage Air Show will take place Friday, May 28 (a practice show); Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, 2021 from 10 a.m. to  3 p.m. each day.

Visitors must purchase a ticket in advance to park at Jones Beach during the show. Details on purchasing a ticket will be announced at a later date. Parking capacity will be reduced by 50 percent, and only those with a ticket will be allowed to enter.

New York State Parks will have additional staff on hand to enforce all health and safety requirements, including face covering requirements and social distancing. State Park Police will be supplemented by assistance from New York State Police.

Individuals with appointments at the Jones Beach Covid-19 testing or vaccine sites will not be impacted, and will be able to enter through dedicated traffic lanes.

“After a challenging year, Bethpage is proud to work with State Parks to ensure air show fans of all ages can enjoy a beautiful day at the beach and honor our nation’s military this Memorial Day weekend,” Bethpage Federal Credit Union CEO Wayne Grosse said in a statement.

“While this year’s show will look a little different with reduced capacity, we are glad New Yorker’s will still be able to enjoy the fun, high-energy Air Show that all the fans have come to expect,” he added.

Last year’s air show was virtual because of the pandemic.