Tips to beat Air Show traffic

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Pilots showed off their stuff, a day before the Great New England Air Show opens to the public.

As they prepare, visitors should prepare as well.

Hundreds of thousands of people will head to Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee this weekend and 22News is working for you with tips to avoid the crowds.

Steven Vautrain, the Wing Commander of the 439 ^th Airlift Wing, told 22News, “Bring sunscreen because we've got warm weather and drink lots of water, we do have misting stations and free water."  

Remember everything you bring will have to be searched, so pack light and there are some banned items.

• Weapons
• Coolers & loose ice
• Tents
• Cans, glass & alcohol
• Cooking equipment
• Pets
• Bicycles and Skateboards

As with every air show, traffic backs up quickly, but there are ways to make getting in to see the action faster and easier.

Take note that there are three entrances

Visitors can enter the main entrance on Westover Road, but there is also an entrance on James Street and a back entrance on New Ludlow Road in Granby.

Insiders say that entrance is often the least crowded.

The doors to the air show open up at 8:30 am but it's not a bad deal to get there even earlier.

Lt. Colonel James Bishop told 22News, “Come early of course there will be crowds but we've take precautions to alleviate some of the big traffic jams and we're a big base so we have plenty of parking too

The show, parking and water are all free.

For more information, visit the show's website.