Every year in the Spring, the Aerospace Center for Excellence hosts the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo as the main fundraiser for our year-round educational programming. From April 14-19, 2026 the 52nd annual SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, FL will be underway with tons of activities, airshows, exhibitors, and all things aviation! Check out these amazing things to do at ACE and the Florida Air Museum during the week of SUN ‘n FUN!
Visit the Florida Air Museum
The Florida Air Museum admission is included with your SUN ‘n FUN ticket purchase. Stroll through indoor and outdoor aircraft displays while viewing historic aviation collections, including the Howard Hughes Collection. Visit sections of the museum that focus on airshow history, SUN ‘n FUN, NOAA, the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame, and more! Visit the museum on April 15th at 11 AM for the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, open to the public!
Hours for the museum are:
- April 13th – 10 AM to 4 PM
- April 14th – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 15th – 9 AM to 2 PM
- April 16th – CLOSED for The Bash
- April 17th – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 18th – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 19th – 9 AM to 5 PM
Take a Tour of the Piedmont Boeing 727 Classroom
Ever imagine taking a Boeing 727 and putting a fully-functional classroom in it? This aircraft is just that! Take a tour of the Piedmont Boeing 727 Classroom on your visit to the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo! Hours for tours are 9 AM to 2 PM and are hosted by the CFAA Unmanned Squadron, the after-school UAV club!
Check out the Drone Soccer World Cup Tournament
The 2026 Academic Drone Soccer World Cup is an international Aviation-focused competition where student teams build, and compete using drone soccer systems in a fast-paced, team-based aerial sport. The event brings together schools and organizations from around the world to showcase skills in engineering, programming, teamwork, and strategic gameplay. Beyond competition, it promotes hands-on learning, innovation, and cross-cultural collaboration in emerging drone technologies.
Friday, April 17th
- 10:00am – 4:00pm Open Play
- 5:00pm – 6:30pm Evening Reception
Saturday, April 18th
9:00am – 4:00pm Elimination Tournament
The action takes place at the Aerospace Center for Excellence Pavilion! Don’t miss your chance to witness the future of drone technology and fierce youth competition.
Engage the Ramus Skylab Innovation Center
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday 9AM-5PM | Thursday 9AM-1PM
- AvionicsTech – Build a pitot tube! – sponsored by DATC
- NOAA Science on a Sphere Presentations
- “Tales of a Fighter Jet Pilot” by “Kentucky”
Saturday 12PM-5PM & Sunday 9AM-5PM
- Sphero Robots – The ultimate coding robotic ball! Come explore with us as you learn coding skills, and inventiveness.
- 3D Printing Activities
- Build and Decorate a Clothespin Airplane
- Build and Fly Hoop Gliders
- Paper Airplanes – fold different types, test out primary control surfaces affect on flight
- Coloring Sheets
- NOAA Science On a Sphere – Immerse yourself in all things Earth Space Science on our global display system that projects visualizations of planetary data on a six foot diameter sphere.
Please visit the SUN ‘n FUN Daily Schedule for more information.
Flight Tech Sim Center
Looking to leverage home flight simulation for personal or professional applications? Maybe you’ve heard about how flight simulation can help stay proficient between flights, or even add hours to your logbook. Or, perhaps you’d like to get into the “next best thing”? Head to the Buehler Restoration Center right behind the Florida Air Museum to test out a variety of flight simulators!
Attend Forums at Central Florida Aerospace Academy
The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo has several Forum opportunities that provide our guests with a wonderful array of aviation-related topics to experience and enjoy! The SUN ‘n FUN Educational Forums have been an event staple for many years. The Forums offer our guests an opportunity to expand their aviation knowledge during their week and are held in the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA), our onsite aerospace-based high school career academy.
Click here for more information on the different Educational Forums offered during the week of SUN ‘n FUN!
Junior ACES Youth Activities
Whether you aspire to be a pilot, mechanic, dispatcher, drone pilot, engineer, astronaut, airport developer or an airport manager, your dreams can come true. Explore all the aerospace industry has to offer through our specially designed Junior ACES youth STEM activities at our 51st SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo. For more information, click here!
Family Oasis
Family Oasis is located in the heart of our Future ‘n Flight Plaza. It is an “oasis” designed for families with young children– a place to escape the heat and regroup. Families will find refreshing amenities such as comfort stations, nursing areas, crafts, picnic tables, and air conditioning. Admission is included with your daily ticket!
Note: Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian inside the Family Oasis.
Family Oasis Hours: Tuesday, April 14th through Sunday, April 19th: 9 AM – 5 PM
Kids Club
Enjoy the SUN ‘n FUN nightlife while your kid(s) are engaged in a fun-filled night of their own! Drop off your child(ren) for a night full of exciting activities, crafts, and dinner with certified sitters from Carilly. Each night’s theme will match the activities happening at the show, so you and your child(ren) can share your experiences.
Pre-registration is recommended, as there are limited spots available. Each ticket includes childcare, dinner, snacks, and other activities. Click here to register.
Kids Club Hours
- Saturday, April 18th: 5:30 PM – 10 PM
- Wednesday, April 15th: 5:30 PM – 10 PM
- Friday, April 17th: 5:30 PM – 10 PM
For more information on any of these activities, visit www.flysnf.org. Let’s celebrate the Red, White and Blue at 52 while honoring America’s 250th anniversary! Grab your tickets for the 52nd SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, FL, April 14-19, 2026!
