Mather was established Feb. 21, 1918. Born from America’s need to train aviators for WWI, Mather Airport has sat sentinel in the Sacramento County community for nearly a century. Overnight, the base transformed a domain of cattle and vineyards into a facility where pilots were taught to fly. Although re-adapted during interwar periods for fire control and mail delivery, Mather stood strong and useful over the decades and continued to inspire crowds by hosting aerial exhibitions that captivated guests from near and far.
Through two world wars and the tense years of the Cold War, this magnificent airport has stood the test of time and served as a training center for every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, NATO, and our Allies. Mather closed its gates for the last time as a military facility on Sept. 30, 1993 under the leadership of Wing Commander, Colonel Robert Martinelli. This historic military facility has changed along with the times to today’s mixed-use combination of aviation and business in the shadow of California’s Capitol.
Join us this weekend as we celebrate Mather Airport, our region’s rich military history, and pay our respects to the many local veterans who have served our country.
Airshow After Dark gates are open 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. on Friday, with flying performances from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and ‘Wonder Bread 5’ concert from 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Airshow gates open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, flying performances are 11:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. each day.
Discounted tickets are still available; all ticket prices increase this Friday, Sept. 21 at 11:59 p.m. For more information about the performers, tickets and more, visit the
California Capital Airshow website.