Niagara 5000 Takes Over Namesake Niagara District Airport for VIP Hangar Experience Fundraising Event

There’s no shortage of events to attend on an August weekend, considered the peak season for hospitality experiences, but there’s one ticket no one was turning down in Niagara Falls, Canada, in early August. I was fortunate to attend the Niagara 5000 for a supercar and private jet showcase that delivered an unforgettable experience for any aviation and motorsport enthusiast, along with a one-of-a-kind VIP airport hangar event.

Over 30,000 people attended the weekend-long event, held from August 7 to 9, that seamlessly blended luxury and innovation with a philanthropic message in aid of McMaster Children’s Hospital, one of Ontario’s largest pediatric academic tertiary care teaching hospitals, and Cassie + Friends, a juvenile idiopathic arthritis charity.

Named after the Niagara District Airport and its 5,000-foot runway, Niagara 5000 offered everything from golf activations to an awe-inspiring aviation showcase, with the main event being a private party in the airport hangar.

The Niagara 5000 has made headlines since its inaugural weekend in 2023, with the exclusive event firmly landing itself a coveted spot on Ontario’s social calendar. Events and hospitality were focused on Niagara District Airport, which closed on Saturday to host The Hangar Experience fundraising event.

Alana Hurov, CEO of Niagara 5000, described the takeover of the airport hangar as “an epic party … the star of the show.” The choice of McMaster Children’s Hospital as the main fundraising cause was a personal one for Alana, whose daughter lives with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and has been previously cared for at McMaster.

Still a relatively new arrival to Ontario’s event scene, the Niagara 5000 is already cementing its position as one of the most high-impact events of the summer season. What made Niagara 5000 unique is its takeover of Niagara District Airport’s hangar area for one of the most memorable events of the weekend.

Another sign of the event’s growth is the involvement of Grand Touring Automobiles, the title sponsor for the Niagara 5000. Grand Touring Automobiles sponsored several exclusive experiences over the weekend, including the STK Kickoff Party and the Supercar Cruise & Parade, as well as taking part in The Hangar Experience fundraiser.

One of the highlights of the weekend was seeing Niagara Falls lit up in the signature purple of Rolls-Royce, with an impressive firework display at STK Steakhouse inside the Embassy Suites by Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview, but another event received even more attention.

Niagara 5000’s hallmark event was The Hangar Experience, held inside a private airport hangar at Niagara District Airport. This exclusive VIP experience saw the space transformed into a dynamic luxury lounge, with tickets selling for $350 per person, and raised $10,000 for charity.

Guests were treated to a supercar display, including the latest models from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, and beyond. Inspired by the display of horsepower, the SimStaff simulators were amongst the most popular activities inside the hangar, allowing attendees to imagine themselves driving a Formula One car.

With the supercars covering the speed element of this celebration, Cirrus, a leader in personal aviation with its SR Series and Vision Jet, had attendees turning their attention to the sky with its spectacular aviation show.

The hangar’s luxury lounge offered a whistlestop tour of gourmet cuisine, high-performance engineering, live music, and entertainment, along with food and wine provided by local businesses such as Reif Estate Winery from the Niagara-on-the-Lake region. Guests were entertained with music by DJ Marcus Del Re and treated to live demos of the latest treatments and wellness services from Platinum Medicine.

While praised for its philanthropic work, Niagara 5000 also uplifted the local economy, spotlighting businesses throughout the weekend. Along with Bowmore whisky and cigar tastings in the private lounges, the airport terminal also hosted a floral display by regional designers and an exclusive boutique shopping experience. Guests were also able to swap plane spotting for a sport closer to the ground with a golf activation event hosted by Peninsula Lakes Golf Club.

The focus on Niagara 5000 isn’t solely on the wonder of seeing sports cars and personal jets, like the SR22T, up close.

Other events in the Niagara 5000 itinerary included the Casino Royale Fundraising Gala at Fallsview Casino, the Supercar and Kids Festival, the Hagerty supercar parade and cruise, and a wine and wheels day-long tour.

With over 200 supercars rolling into Ontario for The Hangar Experience and other events, including the McLaren P1, Aston Martin, Pagani, and McLaren Artura, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Niagara District Airport have never seen so much horsepower. You can discover more about Niagara 5000 by visiting its official website and supporting the work of McMaster Children’s Hospital through its MacKids organization.