airport entertainment

Musical help for Thanksgiving travel

Are you traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday?

You certainly won’t be alone.

And, at many airports, you won’t be bored.

That’s because a full schedule of holiday music, entertainment and special events is scheduled to take place in terminals and concourses around the country.

One example:

San Francisco International Airport’s You Are Hear series, kicks off Wednesday, November 23rd, with performances from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in three different spots in the airport: Bart Davenport, a pop & soul singer/songwriter, will be in Terminal 1; the Nice Guy Trio will perform jazz and world music in Terminal 2; and the Del Sol Quartet will offer new classical music in the International Terminal.

Not traveling to or though SFO? Many other airports are offering holiday entertainment, shopping promotions, free gift wrapping and other events as well. Check your airport’s website, or check back here for more listings throughout the week.

 

 

Kid Band Week at Austin Airport

In Austin, the self-proclaimed live music capital of the world, you can’t spit without hitting a Grammy winner.

So it makes sense that even the kids in town make music you’d like to hear.

That’s the idea behind Kid Band Week, underway now at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

On Wednesday, July 20th, check out blues rock guitarist Carson Brock, who’s been playing since he was four.

On Thursday, July 21st, The Aviators make a return visit to the airport. The rock group, which had its first gig at the airport during Kid Bank Week 2008, is made up of six students, ages 11 to 16 from the Natural Ear Music School.

And on Friday, July 22 the Rian C band takes the stage. Fifteen year old Rian Castillo plays guitar, piano, and lead vocals with his twin Riley on drums, and 13 year old Brandon Vizcarra on bass guitar. The group plays a variety of country, rock, Spanish and alternative music.

All shows take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the post-security performance stage located near Gate 10 in Ray Benson’s Roadhouse.

SXSW at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport

The SXSW music and film extravaganza is taking place all over Austin right now – and that includes out at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The airport’s regular live music series takes place on a center stage (Ray Benson’s Roadhouse) and four other venues inside the terminal: The Saxon, Lefty’s, Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar and Austin City Limits/Waterloo Records & Video. Usually there are 13 shows a week, but through March 21, in honor of SXSW, the schedule expands to a total of 23 performances.

All free. All great. And all post-security.

Here’s a link to the full schedule of SXSW performances at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, including the final SXSW-related event, which will take place Monday, March 21 with Austin Jazz original Elias Haslanger (1-3 p.m) and Ty Mayfield (3:30-5:30 p.m).

Enjoy!

Kids karaoke contest at Houston’s Bush Airport

Well, this looks like it will be totally fun:

On Wednesday morning, December, 22, 2010, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston will be having a karaoke contest for kids under 17 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m in the Terminal A ticket lobby.

If you want to participate you’ll have to register right away and plan on arriving at the airport around 5 a.m.

Why so early?  The contest will broadcast live on TV; although there’s no word yet on what program or station.

Want to register? The airport is asking contestants to register by emailing: has.events@houstontx.gov.

Want more information? Call (281) 233.1171.

Good luck!

IAH Kids Karaoke

Holiday treats for air travelers

Thanksgiving vintage postcard

Lines will be long, tempers will be short, but there will be some entertainment at many airports this holiday weekend.

Rockettes in green holiday outfits

On Wednesday (November 24th) four members of the world-famous Rockettes (not necessarily the Rockettes pictured above) will pose for photographs with holiday travelers at Nashville International Airport (BNA) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the ticketing and baggage claim areas.

Rockettes vintage photo

Wednesday is also Passenger Appreciation Day at Philadelphia International Airport. Entertainment will include strolling entertainment, a PGA Tour Shop putting competition, Body Shop makeovers and skin consultations for men and women and food sampling – including the distribution of 2500 TaskyKakes in the B/C Food Court between noon and 5 p.m.

PHL TastyKakes

In Chicago, blues and jazz bands will perform at O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. Look for stages beyond the security checkpoints in each domestic terminal and in the Arrivals Level of International Terminal 5.  Staff from the Chicago Children’s Museum will also be on hand to host special activities in the “Kids on the Fly” play area in Terminal 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kids on the fly

At Chicago Midway Airport on Wednesday, there will be live entertainment in the Baggage Claim area from 2 to 5 pm and, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., complimentary hot cocoa just past the security checkpoint. (Look for hot cocoa on Sunday as well.)

The Thanksgiving music series at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport concludes today (Wednesday) with a performance by Johnny Roquemore and the Apostles of Bluegrass from 5 to 7 pm in the Atrium.

And on Thanksgiving Day, travelers flying on Southwest Airlines will be served a complimentary adult drink!