Festival D’Avion named as one of the signature events in Southeast

Tarheel Festivals LLC announced Thursday that the 2021 Festival D’Avion scheduled for April 9-10, 2021 will be postponed until the Fall due to continued COVID-19 restrictions. The new dates for the Festival will be October 29-30, 2021.

The third annual Festival D’Avion, hosted at the Moore County Airport, was on track to be the largest and best to date in the spring of 2020, and this celebration of freedom and flight joined a long list of community events and activities across the Sandhills area and the United States to be canceled or postponed due to health precautions.

The event was moved to April 2021, with the hopes that conditions for the COVID-19 virus would be improving and that local and state restrictions would be more relaxed. Continued concerns for mass gatherings and timing for the vaccine distribution caused the event date to be changed for the third time.

All Festival D’Avion components, including the Celebration Concert, hospitality functions, Runway 5K race, aircraft exhibits, fly-overs and entertainment will be rescheduled for the October 2021 dates. All event sponsorships will transfer to the new dates, and any Festival D’Avion tickets purchased for the Festival in advance or donated to military families will be honored for the new dates. Sponsorship packages and event tickets will remain on sale over the coming months.

“We are very disappointed to have to move our dates for a third time for the Festival D’Avion, but are doing so with guidance from the local and state health officials and from the Pentagon that controls the approval and participation for the military services involved with our event,” said Peter Stilwell, co-founder for the Festival D’Avion. “We are optimistic that outdoor events and Festivals will return again in the late summer allowing our Festivals to continue. The continued safety for our Festival patrons, sponsors and volunteers continues to be a priority.”

The members of the Moore County Airport Authority were notified in January about the postponement and have approved the new dates for late October.

“The Moore County Airport will continue to support the Festival D’Avion as a premier event for our facilities and for the community, “ added Airport Manager Scott Malta. “We are in complete agreement with the Festival staff that moving the event later this year is the best option to maintain a safe environment for the participants and guests. It will allow the opportunity for this unique event to be successful. October is a great time relating to weather and availability for greater participation from the branches of the military.”

About the Festival D’Avion:

The Festival D’Avion is a celebration of Freedom and Flight and honors the men and women that have served in the armed forces. The 11⁄2 day event, hosted at the Moore County Airport, includes a celebration concert featuring the Ultimate Eagles Tribute Band, Runway 5K race/walk, special aircraft exhibits, scheduled aircraft fly-overs, Warbird displays, precision jump team exhibitions, programmed entertainment and a special scheduled fly-out of all participating aircraft. The five branches of the military have approved participation for the Festival D’Avion and will provide a variety of static aircraft and military equipment displays. Classic cars and trucks will also be displayed during the event. A variety of food and beverage options will be available from area and regional food trucks, craft beer breweries, North Carolina wineries and vendors.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email