City debates bringing back July Fourth drone show

A large American flag displayed by drones waves in the sky during Patriotic Skies: A Fourth of July Drone Experience at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Thousands of people gathered to watch 300 drones flown in the patriotic tribute by Sky Elements, who were recently seen in the current season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. The inugural Fourth of July event replaced traditional fireworks with the silent drone light show and was accompanied by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra who performed inside the Reilly Arts Center and was broadcast outside. Patriotic Skies was delayed several hours due to inclement weather and lightning nearby. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2024.

The Ocala City Council has delayed deciding on whether to bring back the lighted drone show for the Fourth of July—with the mayor saying he “personally didn’t enjoy it.”

On Tuesday, the council was set to approve a two-year contract renewal with Sky Elements LLC, the company that was contracted to put on the show this past Independence Day but decided to postpone a decision until Nov. 5 out of concerns for Marion County’s contribution to the cost and any potential to instead host a fireworks show.

The agreement for the two drone shows would be for $300,000, $150,000 for each show. The past year’s contract only cost Ocala $71,415, but the city hopes to make the show longer and more dimensional if approved for the years to come—increasing the price.

On July 4, 2024, the city put on its first drone show in Tuscawilla Park. The show included 300 drones, lasted about 10 minutes of time in the air and displayed a variety of patriotic arrangements as a quieter, pollution-free alternative to fireworks.

The show drew a crowd of thousands and was accompanied by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, whose performance from inside the Reilly Arts Center was broadcast outside throughout the park.

“Last year, we had about 12,000 people attend the drone show event,” said City Manager Pete Lee. “We will continue to bring in corporate and community sponsorships for this in the future.”

Council President Barry Mansfield asked city staff for a comparison between the price of the drone show versus the price of the fireworks show, for a definite amount of financial contribution from the county, and an assurance of the show location before approving.

“Fireworks are less expensive,” said Lee. “But it’d be really difficult to have a fireworks display downtown, if not impossible.”

Councilmembers discussed the potential hazards for putting on a fireworks show downtown, saying that the only place open enough to host one would be outside of the city’s jurisdiction. A drone show would be the most plausible option, and one that the city hopes to improve if brought back.

“The thing we heard back was that the show was short,” Lee said. “We looked at a longer show and a three-dimensional show, and this is where we landed at about $150,000.”

If the council approves the contract, the show will last 18 minutes and include 600 drones.

The city has sent a request to Marion County that it contribute $75,000 each year to help offset the cost of the drone shows. The item will be placed on the County Commission agenda for Nov. 5. Last year, the county contributed to the cost of the show after the city approved the contract.

Lee said the response from the public to the drone show was “overwhelmingly positive” and the city planned to address critiques on length of time and more visual impact.

Of the critics was Mayor Ben Marciano, who implored staff to do more research on whether fireworks at Tuscawilla Park would be feasible.

“We’re a hamburger, hot dog and firework community,” said Marciano. “I think we owe it to see if there’s an option to do fireworks there and look at the cost analysis.”

The drone show featured formations including an American Flag, a bald eagle, the Statue of Liberty and a military salute—and to commemorate Ocala, a galloping horse and the city’s logo.

“To me, I personally didn’t enjoy (the drones),” Marciano said. “What I enjoyed was being out there with people. I thought it was a great setting, but the drone show personally didn’t do it for me. I like fireworks and I think our community is looking for that, too.”