Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced sales of Event Parking Passes for the 2021 Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach will go on sale Monday, April 19 at 9 a.m. Event Parking Passes will be required for all three shows beginning with Friday's practice show on May 28, 2021 and culminating with the final show on Sunday, May 30. The $10 per vehicle Event Parking Passes can be obtained from State Parks' website. Additionally, 1,800 passes will be distributed to Long Island's three health care networks to be provided to their frontline health care workers involved in the pandemic response.
"The return of the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is one of the latest examples of our work to re-open by putting common-sense measures in place to keep New Yorkers safe," Governor Cuomo said. "We are especially pleased that this year we will be able to recognize the selfless and courageous health care heroes who have sacrificed so much over the past year in order to keep their fellow New Yorkers safe. Thanks to their dedication and perseverance, New York has been able to not only beat back the virus, but begin our return to normalcy as well."
To purchase an Event Parking Pass, visit the State Parks' website here. There is a limit of one pass per transaction. Bethpage Federal Credit Union, along with New York State Parks and WABC are working together to bring a livestream of the air show on Saturday, May 29, 2021 with a rain day of Sunday, May 30, 2021. This is an exciting and important addition to bring the air show to anyone who cannot attend the event at Jones Beach. It will be available here and on WABC-TV's Connected TV Apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.
State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "State Parks is excited to host the return of the Air Show, and we ask all the fans to be cognizant of the new procedures designed to keep people safe. With their cooperation and the hard work of sponsors, partners, performers and staff, we can all look forward to a successful and carry on this tradition that brings so many families and friends together."
CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union Wayne Grosse said, "We are really excited to add the livestream to this year's air show. With limited in person attendance, the livestream will show off Long Island and the air show to the rest of the country."
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Jones Beach will be limited to 50% capacity and only Special Event Parking Pass holders will be admitted to the parking fields. Public transportation/ buses will be running however, no other buses will be authorized. Taxis, Lyft, Uber, ride-sharing, or individual drop-offs will not be permitted. An Event Parking Pass will be required per vehicle, not per person; every vehicle will need a pass. Upon purchase, there is no additional event fee or ticket required. Empire passports cannot be used for the purchase of this pass and cannot be used for entry into the parking fields during this special event.
It is critical that at the time of purchase, a valid email address is provided. Pass holders will receive a confirmation email followed by a second email, which will include the QR code needed for entry, within a week prior to the event. The QR code will only scan for a one-time use at the designated parking field. The pass holder will be assigned a half hour time interval for arrival; example 8:00AM-8:30AM. It is recommended that the QR be downloaded prior to arrival.
All attendees must remain on the beachfront; sitting or standing on the boardwalk will not be permitted. Social distancing guidelines will be adhered to. Masks/face coverings are required when visitors cannot maintain a 6-foot distance. When on the beach, parkgoers must maintain a 10-foot distance between blankets. Additional information regarding the show can be found here.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs and over $2.8 billion in additional state GDP. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518-474-0456. Also, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
