It’s time to look to the skies.

Oregon’s Airshow of the Cascades is set to run Aug. 26-27 at the Madras airport. The event features a variety of national acts and local attractions — from live music to aerobatics to a headliner demonstration from the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Growlers Legacy Team.

“We’ve got three national acts, which has never happened before,” said Rick Allen, the airshow board’s secretary and treasurer. “Normally, we’d have one every other year. To get three in one year is just the luck of the draw.”

The three F/A-18s will be flying in and out of the Redmond Airport, since they require a longer runway, Allen said. The demonstration will be one of only 12 air shows in the United States.

Besides the legacy team demonstration, this year’s airshow will feature demonstrations from the U.S. Air Force A-10 Demonstration Team and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team — a returning act from last year’s event.

Allen attributed the show’s ability to bring in multiple big name acts to two factors: its timing and reputation. The airshow always happens the weekend before Labor Day, he said, which means it doesn’t have a lot of national competition.

It helps that the event has been around since 2000. That longevity allows Madras to establish itself in the national airshow sphere — and it doesn’t hurt that as Central Oregon grows, the airshow grows along with it, Allen said.

Beyond the military presence, this year’s event will feature fireworks, live music from Precious Byrd and the Bend-based Sweet Red & the Hot Rod Billies.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to camp at the site, with RV and tent space available for rent on the Cascade Airshow website.

Allen recommended coming prepared — even for attendees who are just planning on staying for a day. The site is all asphalt, so he recommends attendees bring lawn chairs, as well as water and sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun. Pets are not permitted.

Allen said he expects a large crowd and encouraged attendees to be proactive about reserving parking.

Those interested in attending the airshow can learn more about the event, view a full schedule and purchase tickets for $5 less than the gate price at cascadeairshow.com.