2020 Quonset Air Show Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns

QUONSET, RI — Just a few months after the Rhode Island National Guard announced that the annual Open House Air Show would return this summer, the Rhode Island tradition has been canceled. The weekend-long event, scheduled for June 20 and 21, will not be held this year due to concerns about the new coronavirus.

As part of her emergency response to COVID-19, Governor Gina Raimondo has activated the Rhode Island National Guard. For this reason, the department must focus its resources on the virus response effort "while remaining ready for our mission as the primary combat reserve of the Army and Air Force," Major General Christopher Callahan said in a statement.

"During this pandemic response, your Rhode Island National Guard has been mobilized to fight against the spread of the virus, training civilian medical personnel, staffing various call centers, distributing food and necessities to the most vulnerable, and performing a number of other critical functions," Callahan said, adding that the cancellation is disappointing. "The Open House Air Show is an opportunity to open our doors to the public and highlight the work our service men and women do to protect our state and nation each day."

The air show was initially scheduled for June 27 and 28, but was moved to Father's Day weekend to accommodate the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the planned headliner act.

This will be the second year in a row that the air show will not be held. In 2019, the show was not held due to an expected high number of deployments. Last year's cancellation was just the second in its nearly 30-year history. The first was in 2013 due to budget constraints.