airport events

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

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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.