HICKORY, NC (October 3, 2016)…Join the fun Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15, to watch seaplanes take off and land on Lake Hickory. Spectators will get a close look at the planes, meet the pilots, explore the Hickory Regional Airport’s world-class aviation museum, watch the planes fly over downtown Hickory, listen to great live music, enjoy delicious food, and ride the beautiful Lake Hickory Adventures dinner yacht.
Food and festivities will be at the Wittenburg Access Area on Lake Hickory (89 Wildlife Access Rd, Hickory, NC) The Hickory Regional Airport (3101 9th Avenue Dr NW, Hickory, NC), and aboard the Lake Hickory Adventures yacht (6706 Limbaugh Lane, Hickory, NC). Food purchases and cruise ticket sales will raise money for a local Boy Scout troop and a local veteran family aid organization, VetKids.org.
Admission to the Wittenburg Access Area and the Hickory Regional Airport is free. Food, concessions and Lake Hickory Adventures cruise tickets will be available for sale. A portion of the proceeds will be given to VetKids.org. Individual donations to VetKids.org will also be accepted throughout the event.
Cruise tickets can be purchased in advance at LakeHickoryAdventures.com or purchased while boarding, based on availability. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for sale onboard during cruises.
The schedule for the weekend is as follows:
Friday, October 14
3 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Wittenburg Access Area on Lake Hickory NC
Several seaplanes should arrive, land on the lake and beach at Wittenburg Access throughout the afternoon.
Lake Hickory Adventures cruise departures every 2 hours:
3 p.m. from Wittenburg & 4:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
5 p.m. from Wittenburg & 6:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
7 p.m. from Wittenburg & 8:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
Saturday, October 15
7:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Pancake Breakfast fundraiser by Boy Scouts with seaplane arrivals and lake landings throughout the morning. Land-based planes will land at Hickory Regional Airport
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Amphibious planes and seaplanes take off from Wittenburg, while land-based planes take off from Hickory Regional Airport. All planes meet in flight and fly over downtown Hickory. Land-based and amphibious planes land at Hickory Regional Airport. Seaplanes land at Wittenburg Access.
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Lunch at Crosswind Cafe with tours of the Hickory Aviation Museum at the Hickory Regional Airport
12 p.m. – evening Planes depart the area. Concessions will available at Wittenburg Access
Lake Hickory Adventures cruise departures every 2 hours:
11 a.m. from Wittenburg & 12:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
1 p.m.from Wittenburg & 2:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
3 p.m.pm from Wittenburg & 4:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
5 p.m. from Wittenburg & 6:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
7 p.m. from Wittenburg & 8:00 pm from Lake Hickory Marina
This event will take place in fair weather only. Watch the Lake Hickory Adventures Facebook page for weather-related updates as the date approaches.
Thanks go out to event sponsors and organizers for their generous contributions of time and resources: ASIGNCO (signs, banners and more), Hickory Sheet Metal (full-service mechanical contractor), Vanfleet Aviation (Flight instruction and scenic flights), Lake Hickory Adventures (Public Dinner Cruises & Private Charters), Airport Raceway Gas Station, Seaplane Pilot Association, City of Hickory and Hickory Regional Airport