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 1-6, 2025 the 51st 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!
Hours for the museum are:
- March 31st – 10 AM to 4 PM
- April 1st – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 2nd – 9 AM to 2 PM
- April 3rd – CLOSED for The Bash
- April 4th – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 5th – 9 AM to 5 PM
- April 6th – 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!
Engage the Ramus Skylab Innovation Center
Middle and High School students can learn about constructing and testing a pitot tube through DATC: Avionics Tech! On Tuesday-Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Friday-Sunday, several STEM activities will be available for youth of all ages including:
- Sphero Robots
- NOAA Science on a Sphere
- Clothespin Airplane Construction Activity
- Straw Gliders
- 3D Printing
STEM Activities will be open Friday and Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Please visit the SUN ‘n FUN Daily Schedule for more information.
Enjoy the Flight Sim Experience
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!
Kids Club
Kids Club is located at the Family Oasis in the evenings only. 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. Tickets are $45/child. Pre-registration is recommended, as there are limited spots available. Each ticket includes childcare, dinner, snacks, and activities as listed below. Kids can be dropped off after 5:30 PM (5 PM on Tuesday, April 1st) and may be picked up any time before 10 PM. Click here for more information!
For more information on any of these activities, visit www.flysnf.org. Let’s Turn Up the FUN at 51! Grab your tickets for the 51st SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, FL, April 1-6, 2025!
