Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority to Welcome Community for FREE Family-Friendly Smith Field 100 Year Celebration This Friday, September 12
Fort Wayne, Ind. – The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority (FWACAA) is hosting a FREE, family-friendly event this Friday, September 12, 2025, at Smith Field Airport. Smith Field 100 is open to the entire community and will celebrate 100 years of aviation in Northeast Indiana with live music, hot air balloons, local food trucks, and more!
Smith Field 100 will honor Fort Wayne’s rich aviation history, while celebrating the future with a community party. The event will take place at Smith Field Airport on Friday, September 12 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM and features a variety of activities for all ages. Tethered hot air balloon rides will be available for $10 a person from Xclusive Balloons, with the evening ending with a spectacular hot air balloon glow. Live music will be provided by local band, Whoa, Man. Nearly a dozen local food trucks and over 20 local vendors will be onsite with a variety of food options and unique items for purchase. Sweet Helicopters will have helicopter rides for $50 per person. A free children’s activity area will have face painting, caricature drawing and balloon art provided by T.A.G Art Company, as well as a number of bounce houses and aviation-related kids’ crafts. There will also be aircraft displays for the public to view.
“We’re excited to open Smith Field Airport to the community that has supported a century of flight in Fort Wayne. This free, family-friendly celebration is our way of saying thank you.” Said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director or Airports. “We are honoring our history, inspiring the next generation of aviators, and sharing the Hoosier Hospitality that makes our airports special. We look forward to seeing a great crowd at Smith Field 100!”
Parking for Smith Field 100 will be offsite at First Assembly of God church. Parking will be $5 per vehicle with all proceeds going to the National Airmail Museum, whose team will be volunteering to provide parking assistance. The National Airmail Museum’s mission is to inspire a new generation of aviation enthusiasts and bring the rich history of pilots and aircraft in and around Fort Wayne, including the story of the National Airmail Service, which began at Smith Field Airport in 1925. Accessible parking will be available onsite at Smith Field for those who need it. FREE shuttles will run between First Assembly of God church and Smith Field Airport for all attendees throughout the event. Those who prefer to park and walk will be able to do so as well through a specific walking route.
Gates for Smith Field 100 will open at 5:00PM with shuttle service beginning prior. The hot air balloon glow will begin around sunset and will conclude at the end of the event. Whoa, Man will begin live music at 6:00PM. Gates will close at 9:00PM. More information about Smith Field 100 can be found on Fort Wayne International Airport’s website - Smith Field 100 Celebration | Fort Wayne Airport Authority.
About Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority (FWACAA) was created in 1985 and is responsible for managing the Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) and Smith Field Airport (SMD). The Airport Authority is governed by a six-member board appointed by the Mayor of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Commissioners. Serving Northeast Indiana and the surrounding region, FWA offers nonstop service to 14 cities on four airlines. In 2024, FWA served 856,803 passengers – a record year for passenger traffic. As a result of FWACAA’s commitment to customer service, Fort Wayne International Airport was recognized by USA Today as one of the friendliest airports in the nation. For more information about the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, visit www.FWAirport.com.