– Japan Drone 2025 / International Advanced air Mobility (IAAM) EXPO 2025, hosted by the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA), will be held from June 4 (Wednesday) to June 6 (Friday), 2025, in the Tokyo area. This exhibition, under the theme of “Contributing to the Creation of New Industries and Strengthening International Competitiveness,” is […]
Theme park drone shows are the hot new trend, as drones are become the nighttime entertainment of choice at Disney theme parks, Branson’s Silver Dollar City, Dollywood and more. Even smaller theme parks like Indiana’s Holiday World are jumping on the drone light show train.
Branson’s beloved theme park is getting its first ever drone show this summer.
It’s all part of Silver Dollar City’s Summer Celebration, which will run from June 7 through Aug. 3, 2025. Besides drones, other new entertainment will include a Wild West Comedy Stunt Show and Silver Dollar Circus. And don’t worry, there will still be the usual fireworks.
Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée, France)
Head just outside of Paris to Marne-la-Vallée, France for the Disney Tales of Magic show at Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris has held multiple drone light shows in the past, including a Marvel drone show. Another, called Disney D-Light, flew over the theme park’s iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. And in 2024, the same theme park gave us Disney Electrical Sky Parade. That show paid homage to the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, featuring iconic characters and scenes formed by hundreds of drones.
This new one is the latest and greatest, having kicked off on Jan. 10, 2025. And besides drones, it incorporates pyrotechnics and fountain displays, all set to a new soundtrack.
Dollywood turns 40 this year, so you can bet its summer nights drone show — which is becoming an annual tradition — will be back bigger and brighter than ever this year.
The first Dollywood drone light show debuted in 2021, and it’s been going strong ever since. Each year gets bigger and better, too. In 2024, its nighttime drone featured hundreds of drones that accompany fireworks. And just ahead of the show, there was a dance party, too where a hyped DJ and energetic dancers built up anticipation in the park’s Wildwood Grove section.
If you find yourself in Pigeon Forge, don’t miss other attractions including the Anakeesta theme park and the Titanic Museum. All of those have discount tickets available through Undercover Tourist, which is The Drone Girl’s recommended travel provider.
Theme park drone shows aren’t just limited to the major players. Indiana’s Holiday World has a drone show of its own, featuring 500 drones. Other than the free Disney World drone show, this ranks among the most affordable theme park drone shows you’ll ever see.
The show is a fun one, using drones to celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and the Fourth of July. Drones fly into formations such as a rotating Christmas tree and a waving American flag. A fireworks finale closes out the show.
Tickets into the park cost less than $50 on some days. With a Holiday World ticket, you also get incredibly generous bonuses you won’t get at the other theme parks. That includes free parking, free soft drinks and free sunscreen. For context around just how valuable that is, parking alone at Universal Orlando costs $32.
The Holiday World Drone Show kicks off on Saturday, June 21. Weather-permitting, shows run nightly through Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.
Pro-tip: the best viewing spot is at the Party Plaza in the Thanksgiving Section. That’s because a DJ-led dance party kicks off the festivities.
Why are theme park drone shows so popular?
There are a few reasons why theme parks continue to display enthusiasm for drone shows.
Stunning visuals: Drone shows offer a whole new level of creativity and flexibility for nighttime entertainment. Drones can create intricate formations, dynamic animations, and vibrant colors that traditional fireworks displays simply can’t match.
Environmentally friendly: Unlike fireworks, drones don’t produce smoke or air pollution. This is a major advantage for theme parks looking to reduce their environmental impact.
Quieter experience: Fireworks can be loud and startling for some guests, especially young children. Drone shows, on the other hand, are much quieter, making them a more inclusive form of entertainment.
Scalability and flexibility: Drone shows can easily scale up or down to fit a theme park’s size and budget. They can also adapt to different themes and stories, giving park creators more creative freedom.
Long-term affordability: Unlike fireworks, which necessitate the purchase of a fresh batch of gunpowder for each show, drone shows are largely a fixed, upfront cost. Typically, light show drones cost about $1,000 each. That’s per drone, but since they’re reusable, drone light shows can cost about $15,000 for smaller shows (which means about 100 drones). The cost per theme parks can be even lower given the repeatability. Rather than one-off drone show events for festivals or sporting events, these shows can keep costs down since there’s less setup, and no travel costs involved.
– Diehl Defence exhibited its Sky Sphere drone defence system at this year’s Enforce Tac trade fair, which took place in Nuremberg from February 24 to 26. The focus was on the new eMissile CICADA, which is designed to defend against threats from class 1 and 2 drones and which was presented under this name […]
– Skyeton, a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of UAS, presented its latest payload development: Remora, a gliding munition, and a line of GLE, multi-mission gimbals. The presentation took place at XPONENTIAL Europe in Düsseldorf. In addition to its flagship product, the sUAS Raybird, Skyeton exhibited Remora, a precise, distant-impact gliding munition. Technical Specifications: Warhead: cumulative, high-explosive […]
Izhevsk-based group of companies, “Unmanned Systems,” is participating for the first time in the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where it is showcasing its flagship dual-use Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), the Supercam S350. Concurrently, the Kalashnikov Group is also in Abu Dhabi, presenting a modernised version of the Supercam S350 UAV – […]
The United Arab Emirates’ Edge Group unveiled its unmanned helicopter HT-750 at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February.The 1:1 scale model of the HT-750 displayed at IDEX 2025 featured an exoskeleton frame, a modular pod, and a tail boom that terminates in a ‘T-tail’ […]
Poland’s largest private defence technology firm, WB Group, showcased its battle-tested Warmate Tube-Launched (TL) Loitering Munition System for the first time at Aero India 2025. In a significant move, the company, through its Indian subsidiary WB Electronics India Pvt Ltd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Indian firm. Under this agreement, WB […]
– Tata Elxsi, a global supplier of design and technology services, and Garuda Aerospace, a pioneering UAV manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Aero India 2025, Asia’s biggest Airshow, being held from February 10th –14th. This partnership establishes a dedicated UAV design, engineering, and certification center to develop indigenous drone technologies specifically for […]
Looking for a way to meet other drone pilots in-person? There hasn’t been a ton in the way of large-scale meetups. But finally, the Palm Springs Drone Fest offers something this industry has desperately needed.
Sure, there are conferences focused almost entirely on the business side. There are targeted events for industries like DFR or law. But what about huge celebration around the pure joy of drones? Palm Springs Drone Fest is it.
This will be the ultimate drone fan event — bringing together hundreds of people who love all facets of drones. The Palm Springs Drone Fest is set for March 21 to 23, 2025, at Palm Springs High School — and I expected it to be the best (and most fun) drone event of 2025. Palm Springs is located in southern California’s Sonoran Desert and is famous for its resorts (and also for hosting the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival). With this, maybe it’ll become famous for its drone festival, too.
Why Palm Springs Drone Fest is a game-changer
Why is Palm Springs Drone Fest going to be so good? Because it’s a full-on celebration of all things drone. With high-speed FPV drone racing, an electrifying drone soccer tournament, an inspiring film festival and a trade show packed with the latest and greatest in drone tech, I’m betting this will be premier event for anyone who loves drones as much as you do.
As is stands today, large-scale drone festivals like this are rare. While there are scattered drone meetups, competitions and educational conferences across the country, few offer the comprehensive experience of Palm Springs Drone Fest. Whether you’re into high-adrenaline drone sports, cinematic aerial photography, or simply networking with fellow drone lovers, this event is set to be a must-attend destination for the drone community.
And it should be affordable, too. With so many resorts in Palm Springs, the plentiful lodging supply gives you options in finding a room rate that won’t bust your budget. Plus, one-day tickets to this event start at $30 plus fees.
The action-packed lineup for Palm Springs Drone Fest
Drone Fest isn’t just about watching others fly — it’s about getting involved. The event includes:
Drone Soccer World Cup Qualifiers – Witness (or compete in) fast-paced drone soccer matches.
FPV & Drone Racing – Experience the thrill of first-person drone racing.
Drone Film Festival – Show off your cinematic drone skills in a high-stakes competition.
Trade Show – Check out the latest innovations in drone technology.
Breakout Sessions – Learn from industry experts about drone business opportunities, film production, and even drone-based search and rescue.
Hands-on Learning – Fly with the Korean Drone Soccer National Team or train to be a drone soccer official.
Drone Light Show – End the festival with a spectacular display of synchronized drones lighting up the Palm Springs sky.
Make it a vacation: why Palm Springs is the perfect venue
Palm Springs isn’t just a great place to fly drones—it’s a great place to relax and explore. With its ideal flying weather, hip hotels and ultra-convenient airport location, it’s a dream destination for drone fans looking to mix business with pleasure.
Weather: Palm Springs’ sunny skies and minimal wind make it perfect for drone activities.
Location: The Palm Springs International Airport is just minutes from the event venue, making travel effortless.
Accommodations: Whether you’re into luxury resorts, boutique hotels, or stylish Airbnbs, Palm Springs has plenty of top-notch places to stay.
Beyond Drones: When you’re not flying, explore mid-century modern architecture, incredible hiking trails. and the vibrant downtown scene.
Register now for Palm Springs Drone Fest
This is the first Palm Springs Drone Fest, and you don’t want to miss being part of history. Tickets are on sale now. And since you can get a refund anytime up to seven days before the event (aside from fees), lock in yours so they don’t sell out (and you don’t sell out).
A one-day pass costs $33.85 after fees, and includes the entrance fee and access to the breakout sessions, the Drone Film Festival, the trade show, tournament viewing, all events, and free parking on one day. But since the event spans a whole weekend, you’ll likely want the three-day, all-access pass. That way you can take advantage of all the components of drones, from the drone light show to the drone soccer tournament to the film fest.
Oh, and rumor has it that I’ll be there too! If you want to meet up in person, I’m thinking this is the spot!
Whether you’re coming to compete, learn, connect or simply be amazed, this is the ultimate drone event to mark on your 2025 calendar. See you in Palm Springs!
Russian defence manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern has announced it will showcase a 7.62mm RPL-7 belt-fed light machine gun and KUB-SM guided munitions reconnaissance and strike system at the IDEX 2025 international defence exhibition next month. The new systems will be shown in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from February 17 to 21. The expo features more […]
– Japan Drone 2025 / International Advanced air Mobility (IAAM) EXPO 2025, hosted by the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA), will be held from June 4 (Wednesday) to June 6 (Friday), 2025, in the Tokyo area. This exhibition, under the theme of “Contributing to the Creation of New Industries and Strengthening International Competitiveness,” is […]
Paris like you’ve never seen it before!