John Deere Acquires Sentera to Expand Aerial Scouting Capabilities

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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How One Service Provider Navigates NYC’s Airspace Rules for Drone Building Maintenance

In a previous post, Aviram Adi, founder of SkyClean NYC, explains how drones are revolutionizing building maintenance by improving safety, cutting costs, and enhancing sustainability.  Now, he provides the deep dive on navigating the complex regulations that impact commercial drone building maintenance in New York City. DRONELIFE neither makes nor accepts payment for guest posts. Navigating […]

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Designing for Scale: How U.S. Drone Manufacturers Are Building a Competitive Edge

At XPONENTIAL 2025, industry leaders reveal how design-driven manufacturing and supply chain innovation are powering a new era for American-made drones The annual XPONENTIAL conference, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles and Systems International (AUVSI), brought more than 7,500 global leaders and end users from over 60 countries to Houston, Texas, from May 19–22, […]

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Fourth of July 2025 drone shows: where drone fans should spend Independence Day

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:

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.

Though daytime admission is entirely free, this one is still quite affordable. Tickets for the Fourth of July 2025 Grant’s Farm Summer Nights event cost just $12 per person (plus tax).

Holiday World’s Holidays in the Sky

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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Aloft and uAvionix Partner to Deliver Airspace Visibility for Drone Operators and Public Safety Agencies

– Aloft Technologies, a provider of unmanned aircraft systems fleet and airspace management solutions, and uAvionix, a pioneer in command, navigation and surveillance systems for UAS, have announced the integration of uAvionix’s FlightLine ADS-B surveillance network and Casia G ground-based optical detect-and-avoid (DAA) system into Aloft’s Air Boss platform for enterprise UAS Traffic Management (UTM). […]

AgEagle to Integrate RedEdge-P Camera with Ascent AeroSystems Spirit UAV

– Ascent AeroSystems, a global designer and manufacturer of rugged, compact, high-performance unmanned aerial systems, has signed an MOU with AgEagle, a provider of best-in-class unmanned aerial systems and sensors for military, public safety, and commercial use, to integrate the AgEagle RedEdge-P multispectral camera with its high-performance Spirit coaxial unmanned aerial vehicle. The RedEdge-P multispectral […]

C-Astral Aerospace and Auterion Unveil Stealthy MWT (Medi Wing Tactical) Delivery Drone

– C-Astral Aerospace and Auterion have announced their collaboration at AUVSI Xponential 2025. This partnership showcases the Red Dot: Best of the Best Design Award-winning SQA2 eVTOL blended wing body UAS, enhanced by Auterion’s trusted software platform for robotics and autonomous systems, alongside a revolutionary high-speed, radar-invisible MWT (Medi Wing Tactical) delivery drone. The SQA2 […]

DARPA Program Sets Distance Record for Power Beaming

In a series of recent tests in New Mexico, the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program achieved several new records for transmitting power over distance. The team recorded more than 800 watts of power delivered during a 30-second transmission from a laser 8.6 kilometers (5.3 miles) away. Over the course of the test campaign, […]

Mitsubishi and Yamaha to Research Hybrid-Powered UAVs

– Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (Yamaha Motor) are conducting joint research to develop a medium-sized multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying a payload of 200 kilograms. The two companies have conducted a flight test of a hybrid-type medium-sized UAV equipped with a compact, lightweight power generating unit developed […]

Epic drones, Epic Universe: How Dronisos lit up Universal’s best new theme park

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.

Epic Universe drone show Dronisos. (Photo by Sally French)

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

Epic Universe drone show Dronisos. (Photo by Sally French)

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?

Related read: I Visited the New Epic Universe. Here’s What to Do and Skip.

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!

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