Fly-ins and events
September
Bowstring Airport Fall Colors Fly-in & Camp-Out
Sept. 25, 2026 | 5 p.m.
9Y0 Bowstring Airport, Itasca County, MN
Fri, Sept 25-Sunday, Sept 27, 2026
Join us at Bowstring Airport for a weekend of aviation, camping, and fall colors at one of Minnesota’s best grass strip airports. Pilots and visitors alike are welcome to fly in or drive in and enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere in the heart of Itasca County.
Enjoy great food throughout the weekend:
Friday: Burgers & brats (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Saturday: Breakfast (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.), burgers & brats (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.), fish & spuds (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Sunday: Breakfast (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.), chili (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Camp under your wing or nearby and take in the peak fall colors, great company, and classic lakes area flying experience.
Rain date: Oct 2-4, 2026 Contact: Ken Reichert at 218-244-6328 or BowstringAirport@gmail.com
Fountain Aviation Grand Opening & Fly-In Open House
Sept. 26, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
KAEL Albert Lea Municipal Airport
400 Airport Rd, Albert Lea, MN
Fountain Aviation is the new FBO at Albert Lea Municipal Airport, and we're opening the hangar doors to introduce ourselves. Free admission, everyone welcome.
FREE ALL DAY
Aircraft on display, close enough to walk right up to
- Vote for your favorite airplane
- Hangar tours
- Flight simulator
- Paper airplane building & flying contest
- Bouncy houses
- Kids' coloring area
FOR A FEE
- Airplane rides over Albert Lea
- CAF BT-13 Valiant warbird rides, sold and operated by the Commemorative Air Force
- Burgers & brats, $10 for adults and free for kids
SCHEDULE
- 9:45 AM - Last call for airplane show sign-up on the ramp
- 10:00 AM - Doors open, food service begins, airplane show judging and voting begin
- 5:00 PM - Awards: airplane show winner, paper airplane winners, and prize drawings
- 6:00 PM - Event closes
PILOTS, BRING YOUR AIRPLANE
Fly in, park on the ramp, and enter your airplane in the show. Tube and fabric, glass panel, homebuilt, or hangar queen made honest again, all of them are welcome. Free to enter, first prize is $500 off your next annual at Fountain Aviation, and every participant gets a free meal. Judging starts at 10 AM and the winner is announced at 5 PM. Day-of sign-up on the ramp until 9:45 AM. Please note: aircraft are parked on display. This is not an air show, so there are no flying demonstrations.
Contact Andrew Grant at andrew_grant@fountainaviation.com.
Lakes Area Aviation Annual Fall Color Fly In / Drive In
Sept. 26, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
KLXL Little Falls MN
Enjoy the fall colors in MN and come visit us in Little Falls. Family friendly event includes EAA 1681 Brat Feed Fundraiser, bouncy house, car show, static displays, scenic flights, and more!
Contact Jacob Heffron at 218-270-0751.
October
Sixth Annual Fall Color Fly-In or Drive-In
Oct 3, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT
Ontonagon County Airport-Schuster Field
All are welcome. Join us at the Ontonagon County Airport in Ontonagon, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Superior for the spectacular fall colors. Lunch will be served starting around 11 a.m. Enter drawings at event for a chance to win one of the many great prizes donated from multiple businesses. For those driving to the event, there will be scenic airplane rides available. Sign up on day of event. In case of inclement weather make-up day will be Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Contact Lisa Linna at 906-884-6214 or airportmgr@ontonagoncounty.org.
Fall Colors Pancake Breakfast Fly-In — Madeline Island Airport (4R5), La Pointe, WI
October 10, 2026 | 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
4R5 Madeline Island Airport
Fly in for a pancake breakfast on the island and see Madeline Island and Lake Superior at peak fall color from the air. Discounted 100LL is available at nearby KASX (Ashland) for the weekend ($0.45/gal off) to fuel some great sightseeing and enjoy the fall colors!
Suggested donation is $10 per person. 100% of proceeds go to LaPointe Emergency Services.
Shuttle rides into town, a T-6 flyover around 9:00 AM, ambulance and fire trucks on display, and music.
All are welcome, fly, drive, or take the ferry!
Contact Friendsof4R5airport@gmail.com for more information.