Supplied Photo
With thousands of spectators expected to attend the 2026 Cold Lake Air Show on July 18 and 19, organizers are encouraging visitors to review the official traffic plan before heading to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake.
The traffic management plan has been designed to help move vehicles safely and efficiently into and out of the air show grounds, while reducing congestion on surrounding roadways. Visitors are asked to follow the designated routes based on where they are travelling from and to follow the directions of traffic control personnel throughout the weekend.
Know your route
Spectators travelling from Cold Lake South are asked to use 50 Avenue and follow Veterans Drive to the designated parking areas on the base.
Those arriving from Cold Lake North should travel west on Highway 55 before heading south on Highway 897 to access 4 Wing through the back gate.
Traffic flow during the event
To accommodate the large volume of vehicles expected each day, Veterans Drive will operate with a dedicated traffic pattern.
From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, Veterans Drive will provide a three-lane inbound route onto the base. Air show admission gates will be open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., Veterans Drive will transition to a three-lane outbound route to assist with departures. During this time, no inbound traffic will be permitted on Veterans Drive. Access to and from the base will continue to be available through the back gate throughout the day.
Parking and alternate transportation
Parking for the air show is available on site, with event staff directing visitors to available lots upon arrival. Organizers encourage attendees to arrive early to avoid peak traffic periods.
Guests travelling by ATV may access the air show using the Iron Horse Trail adjacent to Kingsway, while cyclists and pedestrians are asked to use the Millennium Trail.
Visitors requiring accessible parking are advised that a limited number of disabled parking spaces will be available near the entrance gates for vehicles displaying a valid disabled parking placard. Golf carts will also be available to assist guests from the parking areas on a first-come, first-served basis.
The official traffic plan, access maps and additional visitor information are available on the Cold Lake Air Show website.
The 2026 Cold Lake Air Show could not take flight without the support of our many sponsors, including:
City of Cold Lake – Premier Sponsor
EllisDon Construction Services Inc. – Partner in Construction
Cenovus Energy Inc. – Family & Community Engagement Partner
Canadian Natural – Safety Sponsor
Bird Construction Group Ltd. – Hosting Sponsor
CAE, Inc. – Hosting Sponsor
Enbridge Inc. – Hosting Sponsor
Inter Pipeline Ltd. – Hosting Sponsor
Lockheed Martin Corporation – Hosting Sponsor
Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 – Hosting Sponsor
Imperial Oil Resources Limited – Entertainment Sponsor
L3 Technologies MAS Inc. – Transportation Sponsor
Strathcona Resources Ltd. – Volunteer Appreciation Sponsor
Town of Bonnyville – Entertainment Sponsor
Raytheon Canada Limited – Support Sponsor
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism – Regional Supporter
Top Aces Inc. – Support Sponsor
Edmonton International Airport – Support Sponsor
B&R Eckel’s Transport – Defence Team Sponsor
Cold Lake Bus Lines – Transportation Support Sponsor
ColossoVision – Media Sponsor
Connected Media Inc. – Media Sponsor
Domino’s Pizza – Support Sponsor
Edmonton International Raceway – Support Sponsor
Grand Centre Golf & Country Club – Support Sponsor
Grimshaw Trucking LP – Transportation Support Sponsor
Hamel Meats (2015) Ltd. – Support Sponsor
LakeCity Motor Products Ltd. – Transportation Support Sponsor
Lakeland Co-op – Support Sponsor
Lakeland Inn Hotel – Accommodation Sponsor
McDonald’s Restaurant – Support Sponsor
Microtel Inn & Suites – Accommodation Sponsor
Pattison Outdoor Advertising – Media Sponsor
Ramada by Wyndham Cold Lake – Accommodation Sponsor
Sobeys Cold Lake – Support Sponsor
Stingray Radio (Boom, Hot, and New Country Radio) – Media Sponsor
The Kanata Inn Bonnyville – Accommodation Sponsor
Tim Hortons – Support Sponsor
Vista Radio (The Ranch 99.7) – Media Sponsor
Windspeaker & The Raven Digital and Broadcast – Media Sponsor
The preceding text is a paid endorsement for the 2026 Cold Lake Air Show.