Acquisition Aims to Boost Data-Driven Decision Making for Farmers Through Drone Imagery and Integrated Platforms John Deere has announced the acquisition of Sentera, a Minnesota-based provider of remote imagery solutions for agriculture. The move is set to enhance John Deere’s precision agriculture tools by integrating high-resolution drone imagery into its existing digital platform, the John […]
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Once again, Fourth of July 2025 is all about drone shows!
Across the country, cities big and small are swapping loud, smoky fireworks for quiet, eco-friendly drone light displays. Some places are using drones alongside traditional fireworks, while others are replacing them entirely. Either way, the skies are set to dazzle with patriotic shapes this Independence Day.
If you want to celebrate America’s birthday with a high-tech twist, here are the best Fourth of July drone shows to watch in 2025:
Fourth of July 2025 drone shows around the country
Small town drone shows to watch for Fourth of July 2025
Not every drone show requires an expensive theme park ticket or serious advance planning to get a seat. Many small towns offer drone shows intended for the residents — intended to be free to watch from the city center. Here are some of the best small town drone shows for Fourth of July 2025:
Tigard 4th of July Celebration (Tigard, Oregon)
The city of Tigard is back with its second-annual Fourth of July Drone Show.
This family-friendly event includes live music, kids’ games and food vendors — and of course, a drone light show to cap off the night. No personal fireworks, alcohol or pets are allowed, making it a relaxed, safe environment for all ages.
Details:
Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
Admission: Free
Location: Tigard, Oregon (specific event details to come)
Pro tip: Arrive early to snag a good spot — and bring lawn chairs!
City of Goleta 4th of July Drone Show (Goleta, California)
Southern California’s Goleta (which is a city near Santa Barbara) is running its first-ever community drone show this Fourth of July — and admission is completely free.
The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. at Dos Pueblos High School, with food trucks, DJ Darla Bea spinning tunes, a dance floor, and more family fun. The drone show is expected to begin around 8:30 p.m., and it should be visible from up to 10 miles away — but you’ll get the best view inside the stadium itself.
Details:
Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
Admission: Free
Location: Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, CA
Schaumburg Boomers Fireworks & Drone Show (Schaumburg, Illinois)
At Schaumburg Boomers Stadium, you don’t have to choose between tradition and innovation — you’ll get both fireworks and a drone show!
After the baseball game, the sky lights up with fireworks blended with drone choreography. The Fourth of July show takes place on Saturday, July 5 (so you can extend your holiday celebrations an extra day).
Details:
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
Admission: Ticket required for Boomers game (ticket prices vary)
Location: Wintrust Field, Schaumburg, IL
Major drone shows happening on Fourth of July 2025
Small town drone shows are sweet, but many of the major U.S. theme parks and event venues put on epic drone shows — often synced to music or held in tandem with fireworks. If you’re willing to spend some money on tickets, here are the best of the best when it comes to Fourth of July 2025 drone shows.
Grant’s Farm Summer Nights (St. Louis, Missouri)
My family lives near St. Louis, so it’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Grant’s Farm. It’s one of those rare places that’s just as magical for adults as it is for kids — from feeding goats to sipping a free beer in the courtyard.
And every summer, they run an event called Grant’s Farm Summer Nights, which runs every Friday, Saturday, and select Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The evening event includes tram rides, food, drinks, live bands (starting at 6 p.m.) and a drone show (starting at 9 p.m.). With July Fourth falling on a Friday in 2025, that means Summer Nights align with the holiday.
Holiday World is a theme park dedicated entirely to, well, holidays. So why not spend America’s holiday here?
The Indiana theme park runs a 15-minute drone show every night between Saturday, June 21 through Sunday, August 3, featuring 500 drones alongside fireworks and a DJ.
And though Holiday World tickets cost less than $100, you might splurge on a drone show dessert party for $30 which gets you preferred seating plus access to desserts, fruit, cheese, and bottled water.
Why Fourth of July 2025 is all about drones
There are several reasons why more cities, theme parks and event venues are opting for drone shows:
Fire safety: Drones don’t spark fires like fireworks can, making them a safer choice, especially in drought-prone areas.
Environmental benefits: Drones produce no smoke, no debris and minimal noise pollution.
Quieter celebrations: Sensitive guests — including pets, veterans, and young children — can enjoy the holiday without the loud booms.
Creative storytelling: Drones can create more detailed animations than fireworks.
Now the list above is just a smattering of all the Fourth of July 2025 drone shows happening nationwide — of which there will be dozens. In 2024, for example, Sky Elements flew about 35 different Fourth of July drone shows across 12 states.
Can’t wait for July Fourth? Speaking of Sky Elements, they nabbed a third-place, podium finish on America’s Got Talent Season 19. Their final performance (which I got to witness myself at the AGT Season 19 finale!) was so fitting for July Fourth. Dubbed American Dream, it showcases all sorts of American themes and was set to the song “A Million Dreams” by Pink. Watch it here:
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On the eve of Universal Epic Universe’s grand opening to the public, I had the surreal honor of attending the VIP media preview event — and let me just say: this theme park lives up to its name. Yes, I rode every ride. Yes, I indulged in a jaw-dropping amount of theme park eats.
But the real cherry on top was the drone show. The Epic Universe drone show marked a brilliant finale to an opening-night spectacular in Celestial Park, choreographed by French drone entertainment company Dronisos.
If you’ve seen their work at Disneyland Paris, Dollywood or one of their many major global events, you know Dronisos is a big deal. But here at the Epic Universe opening celebration, the show was elegant and — dare I say subtle. It was an artistic welcome to what’s one of the world’s important theme park launches in years.
The spectacular at drone show at Celestial Park
The brief drone show capped off a roughly 8-minute ceremony narrated by Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, with a special introduction by Steven Spielberg. Held on May 21, just before the park opened to the public on May 22, the moment was centered on the Celestial Park lagoon.
Fountains blasted in sync with fireworks. But then, all eyes turned skyward.
In a minimalist but powerful display, drones lifted above the Helios Grand Hotel to spell out one word: epic. Another set of drones launched from behind the hotel to create a luminous, circular frame around the text. The symbolism couldn’t have been clearer—or more cinematic.
“It wasn’t a drone show,” Laurent Perchais, CEO Dronisos, said in an interview with The Drone Girl after the drones landed. “It was a show — and we brought the drones to be a part of it.”
Watch the whole spectacular nighttime celebration here, as filmed by my friends at Attractions Magazine:
Behind the scenes with Dronisos
After the spectacle, I caught up with Perchais in Celestial Park. He revealed that the show involved two drone launch zones: roughly 1,000 drones launched from behind the hotel, and just under 300 drones from a smaller front zone. That layered deployment is what created the show’s dimensionality — and its elegance.
“This was a one-shot show with very high expectations,” he said. “Theme parks like Universal have high expectations for safety, creativity — everything. But that’s why we love working with them.”
Sally French, The Drone Girl, with Laurent Perchais, CEO Dronisos.
Dronisos collaborated with Universal — and together the team made the conscious decision to keep the drone segment simple.
“The creative team knew not to overuse drones,” Perchais said. “They used them for impact, not excess. They worked the transitions beautifully.”
That balance was intentional — and frankly, refreshing. I’ve seen hundreds of drone shows, and while maximalism has its moments, restraint takes finesse. This one had it.
What’s next for Dronisos?
While this was a one-night-only event, you can catch Dronisos this summer at Dollywood, where they’re launching a new drone show for Dolly Parton’s theme park. They also have shows planned in Miami on July Fourth and across Europe throughout the summer.
But wait… how’s the rest of the park?
The portal to Isle of Berk. (Photo by Sally French)
As for the rest of Universal Epic Universe? It’s a home run. I got to ride Battle at the Ministry, which absolutely lives up to the hype (yes, it’s epic). But my surprise favorites were the two family coasters: Curse of the Werewolf and Hiccup’s Wing Gliders. Who knew gentle coasters could be so joyful?
And I’d be remiss not to mention the food. I devoured a DK Crush Float, which is basically Epic Universe’s response to Disney’s Dole Whip — augmented with toffee, popcorn and Fanta soda. I had two of the mac and cheese cones from Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel, which were so good I’m considering them an essential food group.
The DK Crush Float at Super Nintendo World’s Donkey Kong Country. (Photo by Sally French)
Universal Epic Universe is opening with a bang—and thanks to Dronisos, that bang included 1,300 glowing drones painting the sky with elegance and restraint.
Epic, indeed.
Want to experience Epic Universe for yourself? Grab discounted tickets from my preferred ticket partner, Undercover Tourist!
