BETHALTO/EAST ALTON - The St. Louis Regional Airport will host their 30th annual Wings-n-Wheels Fly-In, and the event promises tons of family-friendly fun.
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From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, community members can tour planes, enjoy the Speed Demons Car Show, and check out food trucks, vendors and kids’ activities. More fun is planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, with free Young Eagles Flights available for kids ages 8–17, the Bethalto Farmers Market, food trucks, vendors and kids’ activities. For Airport Director Danny Adams, the weekend is a chance to bring people together and celebrate the aviation community.
“We love sharing aviation. We are an airport, and we’re trying to be active in the community and giving people the opportunity to come out,” Adams said. “Secondly, we just like having the community involved.”
The event is completely free to attendees. Community members can walk the tarmac on Sept. 26 and tour the planes that come in, including the New Spirit of St. Louis, the Missouri Commemorative Air Force's B-25, Arch Medical Helicopter, and Illinois State Police Aircraft. Guests are invited to tour these planes and can pay for a ride in the B-25.
The Speed Demons Car Show will also run throughout the day, with registration open from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. and the award ceremony planned for 2:30 p.m. It costs $20 to show your car and there will be awards for 24 different classes and Top 40 awards.
Families can also check out food trucks and vendors at the airport, and there will be plenty of kids’ games, bounce houses, barrel cars and more for the youngest aviation fans to enjoy.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, kids ages 8–17 can enjoy a free Young Eagles Flight provided by EAA Chapter 864. You must register online to secure your spot.
The Bethalto Farmers Market will run through the morning with a wide variety of farmers, artisans and vendors selling their wares. The classic food trucks, vendors and kids’ activities will also be offered.
Adams noted the importance of carrying on the St. Louis Regional Airport’s Wings-n-Wheels Fly-In tradition. He shared that the event has grown a lot in recent years, and it’s always fun to see which planes and cars make it to the fly-in. There is usually an impressive variety, with some “super cool” aircraft on display.
He added that the fly-in might spark an interest in aviation for young attendees, which can encourage them to pursue a career in the field. This is a goal for Adams, who wants to see the industry continue to grow.
“When I was young, I got to go to a cool event like this, and I remember that being my first experience and exposure to aviation. And look at me now, working in airports,” he said. “That’s the goal. If we can just put the aviation bug in one person, and they go and make a career flying or doing air traffic control or working on planes, that’s kind of the purpose: to give the exposure and let people know what all opportunities exist in the aviation industry.”
He is also proud to bring in the Bethalto Farmers Market and collaborate with groups like Bethalto Spirit and the Bethalto Chamber of Commerce. Adams emphasized that the fly-in — and the airport — would not be successful without the community’s support.
As the 30th annual Wings-n-Wheels Fly-In approaches, he hopes to welcome many families and community members out on Sept. 26 and 27.
“You can be up close to planes, and you can be up close to maybe some equipment and around the airport. That’s not something that everybody gets to do every day,” he added. “It’s a full community event. There’s all kinds of hands involved, and overall, I think it's a great time. Just come out and enjoy the fun.”
For more information, click here or visit the official Facebook event page.
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