People’s Air Display planned for Summer in Lee’s 10th anniversary

Summer in Lee reaches its tenth year as a free community fundraising event on the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent. Organised in support of Children with Cancer UK, the weekend brings live music, family entertainment, stalls and food traders to the promenade, with all proceeds directed to the charity.

This anniversary year introduces something new. Organisers are planning a People’s Air Display over the Solent, an aerobatic spectacle intended to draw more visitors and increase the funds raised.

The programme is expected to feature historic and specialist aircraft, including a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota, a Spitfire, wingwalkers on Boeing Stearman biplanes, Jubilee Pitts, Gazelles and a Seafire. An experienced display team is working alongside local event partners to deliver the flying.

A dedicated crowdfunding appeal has been launched to help meet the costs of the air display. The target reflects the additional expense of bringing multiple aircraft and the safety arrangements required for flying over a coastal public area. Early support has come from local residents and aviation enthusiasts who see the display as a fitting way to mark a decade of community fundraising.

Summer in Lee has grown steadily from its first edition into a regular fixture on the local calendar. The event remains free to attend, relying on the goodwill of traders, performers and volunteers. Music runs across both days, with children’s activities such as a pirate disco, circus skills and a bubble man providing daytime entertainment. Stalls offer a mix of merchandise chosen for quality and variety, while food and drink outlets serve the crowds that gather along the seafront.

The addition of flying displays builds on the location’s natural advantages. Lee-on-the-Solent faces open water, giving spectators clear views across the Solent without the need for restricted airfield access. The display is designed to complement rather than replace the existing programme of music and family attractions, so visitors can enjoy both the ground-level atmosphere and the aircraft overhead.

Organisers emphasise that the air display depends on continued public support through the crowdfunding campaign. Success would allow the anniversary weekend to stand out while furthering the long-term goal of raising money for Children with Cancer UK. Whether or not the full line-up materialises, the core event continues to offer a free day out that brings people together on the seafront and channels local energy into a national cause.

The People’s Air Display takes place on Saturday 22 August 2026, from 12 noon onwards.
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