An A-400 taxis along the tarmac at during the 2021 Chièvres Air Fest at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium, September 25, 2021. The 2022 Chièvres Air Fest June 24 and 25 is set to feature the A-400 and many other aircraft from the U.S. and its host nation partners. (U.S. Army photo by Photo by Christophe Morel)
2022 Chièvres Air Fest to captivate audiences for two days
By the USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office
CHIEVRES AIR BASE, Belgium – U.S. Army Garrison Benelux is hosting the second annual Chièvres Air Fest June 24 and 25, 2022, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium, in order to celebrate the longstanding partnership between the U.S. Army and its host nation community partners.
The fest will be open only to U.S. Department of Defense and NATO ID cardholders on Friday, June 24, and to the general public on Saturday, June 25. No base sign-in options will be available on Friday.
The program will feature aircraft from the U.S. and partner nations, as well as several displays of military equipment and history. Some aircraft are scheduled to perform aerial demonstrations for attendees.
Families with children will find inflatable bounce houses, carnival rides and games, axe-throwing lanes, and more. A wide variety of food and drink will be available for purchase. The SHAPE International Band is scheduled to play live music.
During the evening on June 25, local bands are scheduled to perform as well as Belgian-American rock and blues musician BJ Scott. Scott, besides being a famous singer and performer in Belgium, is also one of the coaches on The Voice Belgique, the French-speaking Belgian version of The Voice television franchise. She is also a radio show host on French-speaking Classic 21.
Fireworks are set to close out the Air Fest at 10:45 p.m. with a flash and a bang for the gathered attendees.
Major changes since last year include the participation of the Red Devils (Diables Rouges), the Belgian air component’s official aerobatic demonstration team.
There will also be several more entrances to the Chièvres Air Fest this year. Gate access will be clearly identified from the road on the day of the event with signage attendees can follow to the fest.
Accessible parking for people with disabilities and bicycle parking will be available.
For safety reasons, attendees may not bring certain items onto the air base. These include coolers; drones; drugs and drug paraphernalia; glass; laser pointers; food and drink brought from off-post; skateboards, long boards, “Razor” style boards and hoverboards; and weapons, including knives, impact weapons, electric pulse weapons and more. Animals are also not allowed on post, except for service animals.
Belgium is currently in the lowest status in terms of the country’s COVID-19 barometer. As such, outdoor activities do not require the use of a COVID Safe Ticket (CST) for entry.
All bags entering the festival are subject to search. Other items deemed by security to pose a safety hazard or diminish the enjoyment of the event by other guests may be confiscated.
Personal photography and videography are allowed at the Chièvres Air Fest, and selfie sticks and tripods are allowed on post. Any commercial photography or professional filming requests must be pre-arranged with the garrison Public Affairs Office.
The garrison’s partnership with the local community extends back decades. The Army reactivated the 80th Support Group [Area] in 1984 and relocated it to Chièvres, Belgium, after having inactivated it in 1972. The unit absorbed the NATO/SHAPE Support Group mission in 1984, and the 80th Area Support Group (NSSG) was headquartered at Caserne Daumerie. Oct. 1, 2005, the unit was re-designated U.S. Army Garrison Benelux.
The garrison’s mission includes sites throughout Belgium, the Netherlands and northern Germany.
USAG Benelux continues to plan, program, budget, and execute projects to ensure its customers receive the quality of life commensurate with their service, so they can continue to operate and win within the beauty of the Benelux region.
Learn more about the Chievres Air Fest 2022 on our website.