California Capital Airshow: A Guide to Attending

If you're planning on heading east to the this weekend at Mather Airport, you're not alone: Organizers expect more than 100,000 people at the sixth-annual event.

Here's a list of things to bring, things to see and how to get there.

The basics: when, where, how much?

The airshow runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and admission for ages 13 and older is $15 at the gate ($12 online). Ages 6 - 12 will pay $5 online or $10 at the gate, and 5-year-olds and younger are free. Parking is $10.

The show is held at Mather Airport, east of Rosemont. To get there from Rosemont, take Bradshaw Road to Old Placerville Road and follow the signs. Or take Highway 50 to the Mather Road exit, head south and follow the signs.

What will I see?

The airshow has many planned attractions, including F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets, a re-enactment of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and more.

Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation pilots will fly a P-51 fighter plane in formation with a current-day fighter.

On Saturday, a U-2 spy plane will fly over the show. On Sunday, a special 9/11 tribute and missing-man formation flight is planned.

The specific schedules aren't released until the day of the performance for safety and weather reasons.

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Why won't the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds be performing?

Airshow officials answered this common question on their Facebook page this way:

"For four years in a row we had a military jet team and there is a huge demand for military jet participation, be it single-ship or team-based.The [Department of Defense] has a responsibility to spread the wealth, and the California Capital Airshow can't always have the most sought-after acts--there just aren't enough to go around. They will be back in the future as we communicate with both teams often."

What can I bring?

Sunscreen, unopened water bottles, "pre-packaged or sealed food," lawn chairs, blankets, backpacks and other items are allowed into the event, according to its website.

Oh, and wear comfortable shoes.

What isn't allowed?

Coolers, aluminum cans, glass bottles, loose ice, alcohol and other items are not allowed.

How should I get there?

, and parking is $10 (cash only, or in advance online). Free bicycle parking is available.

What about safety?

Airshow officials told the Sacramento Bee they've taken a number of measures to ensure safety. Because of the hot weather, "cool down tents" will be available "at each end of the flight line," the airshow said on its Facebook page.