Arlington Fly-In
Arlington SkyFest

A message from the Arlington Fly-In Board of Directors
November 24, 2025

With heavy hearts the Arlington Fly-In Board of Directors voted unanimously that our successful 2025 event would be our last, and to close the organization. It was not an easy decision. The board felt this was the best course of action to maintain our legacy as one of the premier aviation and community events in the Pacific Northwest for more than 56 years.

Some of our reasoning:

  • Our relationship with Arlington Airport has fundamentally changed:
  • The board believes we have been wrongfully accused of not providing requested facts and data. We could find no request from the Airport requesting such data. Once we knew the interest, the data was provided immediately.
  • The board believes these false accusations improperly influenced the Arlington City Council, which voted to eliminate 50% of the tax grants we receive. These grants, from hotel and motel taxes, are specifically designated for tourist events such as ours.
  • All three of our inquiries and public information requests have not been answered by the city with relevant information related to these accusations.
  • The Arlington Airport started a competing fly-in type event
  • The city of Arlington recently gave notice to Arlington Airpark that they will not renew their lease into 2026.
  • As a 100% volunteer organization, the time commitment required of our core, year-round team has become unsustainable and it's been a challenge to find managers with our unique skills set.
  • Key senior volunteers have retired. With decades of exemplary service to our organization we wish them well and hope they get some much deserved R&R. 
  • The board considered other options, but this feels the best way to end - on a high note as 2025 was very successful.

We have communicated with our volunteers and community partners via email and phone. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Arlington Fly-In and Arlington SkyFest, and will forever be. Our community partners have been equally a critical part of our organization. We cannot stress both these points enough.

Thank you, volunteers and partners, for almost 6 decades of history and excellence.

The board has authorized a dissolution committee to complete the final steps of closing the organization in 2026. As a charitable, 501(c)3 organization we will follow all state and federal laws in terms of the disbursement of our assets. The board intends to donate any remaining funds to other 501(c)3 organizations in Arlington and Snohomish County.

We're working on a great celebration of the Arlington Fly-In and SkyFest in early 2026 and will notify volunteers and partners in January.  

More information may be posted to this website at a later date.