airport events

Tuesday Travel Tidbits: JetBlue Trying Again

Airports, Contests, Free Stuff, Holidays, , ,

JetBlue’s first attempt at selling 200 copies of its limited edition “Get Packing” board game – which includes a real flight certificate in each box – was a big bust.

After a big promotional push, when it came time for the games to go on sale on Amazon, it appeared a shopping bot immediately grabbed up all available copies and complaints flooded in.

Now Jetblue is trying again.

This time they’re running a sweepstatakes: enter here by the end of 12/19/17 for a chance to win one of 195 games. 5 additional copies of the game are being auctioned off on Charitybuzz to benefit Make-A-Wish.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has added extra performances to its holiday music line-up:

On December 20, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the airport’s Asleep on the Wheel stage (near Gate 10), Ray Benson will perform with The Barton Hills Choir backing him up.

The Choir will then go on to perform a mix of golden oldies, classic rock and modern favorites. December 22 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.,  The Austin Jazz Workshop will perform jazz infused instrumental versions of classic Christmas Carols.

See the full schedule of music offerings at AUS here.

Germany’s Dusseldorf Airport has brought back ice-skating inside the terminal for the holiday season – this time with real ice.

Ice-skating and loaner ice-skates are free each weekend through the first weekend in January.

Free airport ice-skating is also offered during the holiday season at the Munich Airport Christmas and Winter Market and at Denver International Airport.

Music, events coming up at IAD, DCA, CLE and PIT airports

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Balloons

 

At least four airports throughout the country have sent StuckatTheAirport.com a heads up on events taking place in the terminals next week and into October.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) will host a series of music and dance performances in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.

At DCA, events take place on Wednesday afternoons from noon until 2 p.m. in National Hall, opposite Il Viaggo Restaurant.

Sept 20: Argentinian music with T Trifilio Tango

Sept 27: Peruvian dance and music with Papalca

Oct 4: Folk music with Cecilia Esquivel of Canto Sur

Oct 11: Mexican dance with Los Quetzales

These same groups will perform at Dulles airport on Thursdays from noon to 2 pm on the upper level of the Ticketing area.

Sept 21: Argentinian music with T Trifilio Tango

Sept 28: Peruvian dance and music with Papalca

Oct 5: Folk music with Cecilia Esquivel of Canto Sur

Oct 12: Mexican dance with Los Quetzales

 

There’s also a full schedule of events – live music, special guests, food samples and other treats – scheduled at both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) from September 18 to 22, courtesy of Fraport USA.

Celebrate Cleveland will welcome Cleveland Indians’ mascot Slider, Professor Wylde’s traveling show from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland’s Singing Angels to the airport.

Malley’s Chocolates and Mitchell’s Ice Cream will also treat travelers to complimentary treats during the week as well.

Pittsburgh International Airport is teaming up with Airmall Pittsburgh for the third annual Discover Pittsburgh week and the 25th anniversary of the airport.

PIT will welcome Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, The National Aviary and the Pittsburgh Zoo in addition to Iceburgh, the Pirate Parrot, and other mascots.

Daily food sampling will take place at the Strip Market and bands will perform in the airport’s Center Core.

At Denver Int’l Airport: Mini-golf, rock-climbing, more

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Denver International Airport has released the line-up for the “Events at DEN” series that will take place throughout the summer, fall and winter out on the covered plaza connecting the main terminal and the Westin hotel.

If you’re landing in Denver and taking the train into town (and you should), you’ll be passing right by these events, so take note and plan to spend some extra time having fun at the airport.

Here’s the run-down:

May 19: Jazzfest: A free jazz concert stretching from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a variety of Colorado bands, including Dotsero, the Mary Louise Lee band and the Hazel Miller Band. 

June 1- 30: Putt-Putt on the Plaza. This was a success last year, so DEN is bringing back a free 18-hole miniature golf course. Hours: 10 a.m to 7 p.m. daily. Show an ID to get a putter, golf ball and scorecard.

August 1 – 20: Colorado Adventures: From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, head to the DEN Plaza for zip-lining, a rock climbing wall and a virtual fly fishing experience.

Sept. 28 – Oct. 9: 4th Annual Beer Flights: Coinciding with Oktoberfest celebrations and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, DEN’s beer garden will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with happy hour entertainment performances daily 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission includes a souvenir glass to taste your samples.

 Nov. 24 – Jan. 7: Ice skating. Free ice skating was popular last year, so that’s going to come back again this year – but bigger, with entertainment. Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Love this: Tennis court at Munich Airport

Events, Sports, ,

The MAC Forum – a giant outdoor covered space at Munich Airport – is used to host events such as an annual Christmas Market, volleyball tournaments and surfing.

Now there are two tennis courts set up in the space, with a grandstand and a full schedule of tennis training camps, appearances by big name tennis players and free balls and rackets, showers and changing rooms for those who want to take a lesson or play.

The courts will be open from Wednesday, April 19 through Friday, April 28 and are there to help promote the BMW Open by FWU, a tennis tournament taking place in Munich the first week in May.

More Best Airport Amenities from 2016

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(SAN DIEGO, APRIL, 29, 2016: Members of the Fern Street Circus perform at the San Diego International Airport. Photo: Gary Payne)

We’re ending the year with a look back at some of the cool new amenities and events airports offered travelers during 2016.

During 2016, San Diego International Airport awarded its first performing arts residency to the Fern Street Circus, which spent several months at the airport creating, rehearsing and performing a new show about – what else – traveling – and just clowning around with passengers.

The train between Denver International Airport and downtown Denver finally started running.

And events on the plaza between DEN’s terminal and the Westin Denver International Airport got underway. Through January 1, there’s ice-skating on the plaza.

During 2016 airline and airport employees joined passengers at airports in Miami, Seattle, Denver, Charlotte, North Carolina and other airports to stand very still and be filmed for the latest viral internet trend known as the mannequin challenge.

And, the first batch of the 100 sets of bathrooms being updated at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were declared winners in the 15th annual America’s Best Restroom Contest.

Here’s to more great events and amenities for travelers during 2017.

Plaza parties at Denver Int’l Airport

Events,

DEN plaza photo for event

They promised and now Denver International Airport (DEN) is delivering – with “Events at DEN,” a series of public events in the 82,000-square-foot open-air plaza that connects the iconic Jeppesen Terminal with the adjacent Westin Denver International Airport.

The canopy-covered open-air plaza is a destination on its own – with stunning views of the terminal tents, the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver, a variety of major public art installations and an easy walk to the transit center facility where you can hop on a train to downtown Denver.

Here’s what’s coming up:

June 16-26: Putt-Putt on the Plaza with a free nine-hole, Denver-themed putt-putt course from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (weather permitting). On June 16 there will also be golf pros on duty offering tips, a golf simulator and other surprises from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

June 30: Film on the Fly – Live music from the “New Sensation” tribute band from 5-9 p.m., followed by a showing of classic aviator movie, “Top Gun,” starting around sunset. (Everyone gets free DEN branded aviator sunglasses.)

July 21 – Spirit of Colorado: day celebrates the rich Western Colorado heritage with a day of music, stuntmen, gold mining for kids, an old West photo booth, 4-H demonstrations, tastings from local Colorado distilleries, a mechanical bull and more. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Aug. 18 – Film on the Fly Aha! There IS an alien connection at DEN airport… An evening of bike stunt performers, a DJ, raffle prizes and more (from 5-8:30 p.m.) will be followed by a showing of film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”

Aug. 20: A Wheels Up! Bike Celebration with a display of Colorado-made cruisers, electric bikes and innovative bikes, along with a Wish for Wheels charity build-a-bike station for kids living in underprivileged communities, a bike skills course complete with loaner bikes, raffle prizes, bands and more. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sept. 1: FISE World Sports Welcome Party: DEN is welcoming the extreme sports competition featuring freestyle BMX, flatland BMX, skateboarding and scooters with an afternoon of music, parkour and BMX stunts and autograph signings by extreme sports celebs. Hours: 3-7 p.m.

Lambert St. Louis Int’l Airport celebrates travelers

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STL Airport

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL) has enlisted a yellow jellybean-looking character to help kick off a week of  customer appreciation events as part of National Tourism Week, May 1-7.

The yellow bean will be available for selfies at an interactive display window in the Terminal 1 baggage claim and there will be a special event each day, including free snow cones on Tuesday and a Budweiser Clydesdale on Thursday. (A horse in the airport? I’ll ask for photos…)

Here’s the schedule:

Monday, May 2: Two Pedros Band | Concourse C | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 3: Free Snow Cones by Southwest Airlines | Gates E14 & E16 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Dave & Greg band w/ Tim McCready | Concourse A | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Fredbird | Terminal 2 | 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 4: Looney Tunes characters from Six Flags St. Louis | T1 & T2 | 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Kara Baldus Trio feat. Regi Drake | Terminal 2 | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 5: Budweiser Clydesdale | Terminal 2 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Johnny Chase Duo | Concourse C | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friday, May 6: Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers | Terminal 2 | 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh & Cleveland Airports celebrate their cities

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superman

This week the AIRMALL at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is celebrating the city with a series of activities and exhibits.

Here’s a rundown of events:

On Tuesday, July 21:  The Cleveland Culinary Launch & Kitchen is highlighting entrepreneurs and products such as BBQ sauces, roasted almonds, cookies and more – all made in Cleveland.

On Wednesday, July 22:  As part of “A Christmas Story House” display, travelers will have photo opportunities with character cutouts, the Leg Lamp and other movie memorabilia from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

On Thursday, July 23:  The native Cleveland contemporary jazz band Forecast will perform from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Main Terminal Food Court.

And on Friday, July 24, Mitchell’s Ice Cream will treat passengers to a complimentary cone or cup from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Main Terminal Food Court.

PIT Trading card one

The AIRMALL at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is also celebrating its city this week.

On Tuesday, July 21, Peace Love and Little Donuts will give travelers a taste of its “far out” donuts from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. near the video wall in the airside terminal.

Wednesday, July 22, Ronald McDonald will be offering passengers free Big Macs from noon to 2 p.m. at the McDonald’s in the Center Core. The celebration honors the local inventor of the Big Mac, Jim Delligatti.

On Thursday, July 23, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s dinosaur exhibit includes hands-on activities and replicas from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. near the video wall and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the National Aviary will be on site with an African penguin to greet travelers.

And on Friday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be furs, pelts, skins, feathers and other touchable items from animals all over the world at the airport’s Pittsburgh Zoo’s exhibit near the video wall. Small reptiles from the zoo will be there as well.

Have fun!

Dusseldorf Airport: event central

Fun Stuff, , ,

A few years back I had the good fortune to tour Germany’s shiny Dusseldorf Airport.

The early morning visit came on the heels of a long Oktoberfest night and I was having a bit of hard time paying attention and understanding our guide’s heavily accented English.

But I perked right up when we crossed a huge indoor public space and the guide said the word “circus.”

Turns out that on first Sunday of every month Dusseldorf Airport turns its public hall into an event space for the community.

Free events have included a ski jump with real snow, dance festivals featuring celebrities from Germany’s version of “Dancing with the Stars,” a florist championship, sports previews for the summer Olympics and soccer championships, fashion shows and, yes – a circus.

Here’s a highlight they’ve made of some of the past events:

Music and art mash-up at O’Hare & Midway airports

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Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports are participating in the city-wide Chicago Artists Month 2012 celebration with airport events that match music groups with artists.

Performances on tap for today (Friday, October 19th) from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in O’Hare include the Breezy Rodio Duo playing reggae while artist Kenneth Amorio creates oil paintings. At Midway, artist Quinton Foreman will create art while Chicago Samba plays music.

Look for the Artist Month stages at O’Hare in Terminal 1 on the lower level baggage claim area near Ciao’s concession, in Terminal 2 past security next to Wicker Park Seafood and Sushi Bar and in Terminal 3 past security near the entrance to Concourse L. The stage in International Terminal 5 is on the lower level meeter/greeter area next to the gift store.

At Midway, the stage is in the lower level baggage claim area next to the information booth.