Aerospace Center For Excellence

Storytime at the Florida Air Museum
2026-02-17 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-10 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-03 10:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York)
Theme: Hot Air Balloons/Montgolfier Brothers

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACE’s – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time!

Please email us at museum@flysnf.org with any questions!

StoryTime is FREE. Access to the Florida Air Museum AND the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation Playground is included!

Wings 'n Waffles
2026-02-14 09:00 - 10:00
The Florida Air Museum presents Wings ‘n Waffles, our monthly speaker series!

Academic Drone Soccer League – Saturday, February 14th

Join us from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. to enjoy breakfast (chicken and waffles, thus the event name). February’s speaker is a representative from the Academic Drone Soccer League (ADSL). See a live demonstration of drone soccer and learn more about the educational benefits of this program for students of all ages. Gamification of learning and team-based problem solving are just a couple of the many benefits of this engaging initiative. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Drone Soccer League World Cup 2026 taking place at SUN ‘n FUN in April!

Members of the Florida Air Museum receive FREE admission to this event. Non-member cost is $10.00 per person at the door, which includes a day pass to tour the Museum when the event is over, a $5 discount on a regular daily admission!

Storytime at the Florida Air Museum
2026-01-27 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-20 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-13 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-06 10:00 - 10:30
Theme: Space/Stars

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACE’s – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time!

Please email us at museum@flysnf.org with any questions!

StoryTime is FREE. Access to the Florida Air Museum AND the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation Playground is included!

SUN 'n FUNatic Fan Van at Arcadia Municipal Airport
2026-01-20 10:30 - 15:00
The SUN ’n FUN Fan Van is headed to Arcadia Municipal Airport for Taco Tuesday! ✈️🌮

Join us on January 20th as SUN ’n FUN Fan Van Ambassador Anitra Goddard rolls in to one of Central Florida’s favorite weekly fly-in traditions! Stop by the Fan Van to grab SUN ’n FUN swag, learn more about the upcoming SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, and enter to win daily admission passes. Bonus entries for anyone wearing SUN ‘n FUN Swag! 🧢👕

Studio Ghilbi Movie Night
2026-01-17 18:00 - 21:00

Wings 'n Waffles
2026-01-10 09:00 - 10:00
The Florida Air Museum presents Wings ‘n Waffles, our monthly speaker series!

“Demistifying Remote Tower” with John Helms, Excutive Director, and Randy Clayton lead Air Traffic Controller from Bartow Executive Airport – Saturday, January 10th

Join us from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. to enjoy breakfast (chicken and waffles, thus the event name). January’s speakers will be John Helms, Executive Director, Bartow Airport Authority, and Randy Clayton, lead Air Traffic Controller at Bartow Executive Airport. They will explain their decision to migrate to Digital Remote Tower and why they are excited to become the first ATC Tower to use this new system in America. They will also talk about their Air Traffic Control Academy and how Bartow Executive is leading the way in the new age of Air Traffic Control.

Members of the Florida Air Museum receive FREE admission to this event. Non-member cost is $10.00 per person at the door, which includes a day pass to tour the Museum when the event is over, a $5 discount on a regular daily admission!

Storytime at the Florida Air Museum
2025-12-16 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-09 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-12-02 10:00 - 10:30
Theme: Imagination/Inventing/Wright Brothers

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACE’s – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time!

Please email us at museum@flysnf.org with any questions!

StoryTime is FREE. Access to the Florida Air Museum AND the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation Playground is included!

North Pole Express: Air Mail Edition
2025-12-13 17:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-12 17:00 - 20:00
North Pole Express: Air Mail Edition is a holiday event for the whole family! Begin the evening with a reading of the classic children’s story “Polar Express” then board our Boeing 727 for a “flight” to deliver your personal letter to Santa at the North Pole. Once you’ve “landed”, enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies while watching Santa circle the globe in our Science on a Sphere laboratory.

3 boardings per day, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm (45-60 minute experience)

Arrive at the Florida Air Museum

Pajamas encouraged

Don’t forget your letter to Santa!

Gather for a reading of “Polar Express” and board North Pole Express Airways for a “flight” to the North Pole

Take a selfie from the cockpit with a special guest

Return to the Florida Air Museum and enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and Christmas music while watching Santa circle the globe.

Take home a special gift

One ticket per person (adults and children*)*Children 2 years of age and younger are considered a lap child and do not need a ticket. Limit of one lap child per adult.

North Pole Express is SOLD OUT.

Want to see Santa? Take a look at our Flight Before Christmas event on December 6, 2025! Click here for more info.

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Flight Before Christmas
2025-12-06 16:00 - 20:00
Come and experience the magic of Christmas at the Florida Air Museum! Airplanes are the star of the show as you walk through a maze of twinkling lights and enjoy warm apple cider, hot chocolate, and cookies. Make sure to get your selfie with Santa and personally give him your holiday wish list. Flight Before Christmas: Where Holiday Cheer Takes Flight!

Special Guest – Santa Claus

Admission: $10 adults, $5 kids (under 12) pay at the door. Museum members are FREE!

Storytime at the Florida Air Museum
2025-11-25 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-18 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-11 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-11-04 10:00 - 10:30
Theme: Thanksgiving/Seasons

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACE’s – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time!

Please email us at museum@flysnf.org with any questions!

StoryTime is FREE. Access to the Florida Air Museum AND the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation Playground is included!

StoryTime Under the Stars
2025-11-24 18:00 - 19:30
Join us for fun under the stars as we bring our weekly Story Time event outside around our fire ring for stories, songs, and s’mores!

Come and be our guest for a unique and fun-filled Story Time. If you have joined us on Tuesdays in the Florida Air Museum, you know that we have a great time with stories, songs, and learning. This event is open to your entire family, so bring everyone for fun around our large fire pit as we read, sing, and enjoy some s’mores together!

The event is free to all. We ask for a $10 donation per family to help offset the material costs.

When you register, please secure a ticket for everyone in your party. This will help us plan for purchasing s’more making materials.

EVENT NOTES:

Bring flashlights. The area is fairly dark and uneven. We want you to be safe while you are walking to/from your cars.

As you know, Florida weather is unpredictable. Stay tuned for updates in the case of bad weather.

Bring camping chairs. There are only a few picnic tables available.

Address – 4590 Rocky Rd Lakeland, FL 33811

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Wings 'n Waffles
2025-11-08 09:00 - 10:00
“The Science of Weather Forecasting” with Meteorologist Amanda Holly – Saturday, November 8th

Join us from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. to enjoy breakfast (chicken and waffles, thus the event name). November’s speaker will be Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly. She will be speaking about the science of weather and how scientists use weather models to make forecasts, especially during severe storm seasons.

Members of the Florida Air Museum receive FREE admission to this event. Non-member cost is $10.00 per person at the door, which includes a day pass to tour the Museum when the event is over, a $5 discount on a regular daily admission!

Wings 'n Things
2025-11-01 10:00 - 14:00
November 1 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

This annual event is a “must-do” for family members of all ages. Experience the wonders of aerospace through hands-on activities that range from building a wing rib to exploring flight through simulation, to constructing and testing your own balsa wood glider!

Activities (included but not limited to)

· Launch stomp rockets

· Observe the sun through special telescopes

· Build a wing rib

· Make balsa wood gliders

· Sit in a real aircraft

· Check out Drone Soccer

· Explore the stars in our portable planetarium

· Construct and test your own whirlybird

· Test your mechanic skills with riveting

· Explore flight with our flight simulators

· Control Sphero Robots on Mission Mars

· See a F-14 Tomcat up close

· Bounce houses

· Puppy time with our friends from the SPCA

· Plenty of activities for all age levels

Food

Food Food trucks will be on-site for lunch! Meal combos will be priced at $8 with options for a hamburger or hotdog with chips and a drink (Coke, Diet Coke, or Water). A la Carte options for chips or drinks are available for $1.25 each.

Admission and parking are FREE

Skylight Hangar (Hangar A) SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus 3985 Laird Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33811

CampingIf you want to camp the weekend of Wings ‘n Things, please visit Our Year-Round Camping Page for more information and registration.

Map

Storytime at the Florida Air Museum
2025-10-28 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-14 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-07 10:00 - 10:30
Theme: Superheroes of the Aviation and the Community

Come join us as we bring stories to life and create amazing, interactive learning experiences for our Junior ACE’s – exploring the universe, one adventure at a time!

Please email us at museum@flysnf.org with any questions!

StoryTime is FREE. Access to the Florida Air Museum AND the Jerry Holland Destination: Aviation Playground is included!

Wings 'n Waffles
2025-10-11 09:00 - 10:00
Raptor Center of Tampa Bay – Saturday, October 11th

Join us from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. to enjoy breakfast (chicken and waffles, thus the event name). October’s speaker will be the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay.

During the group’s presentation, that includes live birds, we will learn about the aerodynamic design of birds of prey and a few of the aircraft that were modeled after them. We will also learn how the aviation community can work to reduce avian populations at airports, creating a safer environment for birds of all kinds, whether animal or machine.

Members of the Florida Air Museum receive FREE admission to this event. Non-member cost is $10.00 per person at the door, which includes a day pass to tour the Museum when the event is over, a $5 discount on a regular daily admission!

Lifting Literacy
2025-10-04 09:00 - 11:00
Come and explore the world of reading and nursery rhymes through the magical lens of STEM.

Florida Air Museum – 4075 James C. Ray Dr. Lakeland, FL 33811

Join the Aerospace Center for Excellence in partnership with the YMCA of West Central Florida to come and explore the world of reading and nursery rhymes through the magical lens of STEM. This program is designed for families with children ages VPK-5th grade and was created to inspire and support struggling readers.

Attendees will enjoy breakfast while hearing about the YMCA’s New Worlds Reading Program. Following breakfast, children will explore some of the most beloved nursery rhymes by enacting how they would rescue the characters from disaster using creative, STEM solutions. Each child will leave with a FREE book and a full imagination! Attendance is FREE, seats are limited.

All slots are full, you can register below to be added to a wait list if any spots become available.

Register Here

Register Here
