TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — MacDill Air Force Base has cancelled its popular show that would have featured the Navy’s demonstration flying team due to forced budget cuts.

The base in Tampa made the announcement on Friday. Officials said the two-day show in April had to be cancelled because of the government’s automatic spending cuts that took effect on Friday.

MacDill spokesman Terry Montrose said they “waited until the very last minute” to make the decision.

The show was scheduled for April 6 and 7 and was free to the public. It draws nearly 100,000 spectators to the area and would have included a show by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.