In October 2019 a reorganization made the fly-in part of the Aerospace Center for Excellence, a non-profit organization that was established in 2014 to provide young students with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instruction.

In April 2010, Sun 'n Fun received a US$7.5M grant from the Aviation Education Foundation for the new Central Florida Aerospace Academy building.

[11] The first weekend fly-in, called Mid-Winter Sun 'n Fun, was held in January 1975 at the Lakeland Municipal Airport and was limited to pilots and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), SESAC and FSAACA members.

The following year, the fly-in was expanded to a full week, and the City of Lakeland approved a lease for the convention site to be moved to the southwest quadrant of the airport.

[15] During the 2004 show, Bruce Bohannon and his turbocharged Exxon Flyin' Tiger set four time to climb world records.