By Martin Lenkowsky | New Pelican Writer
Pompano Beach – Look up in the sky! It’s a bird; it’s a plane; nope, sorry Superman; it’s a drone show.
The skies above Fisher Family Pier, 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., will be awash with myriad shapes, designs, colors and words on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
The event had originally been scheduled back in April to coincide with the opening festivities of the pier. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had plans of her own, replete with lightning bolts and torrential downpours galore, so the show had to be rescheduled, said Sandra King, city spokesperson, who’s planning and coordinating the show.
King said rescheduling to November offered other advantages as well. “It’s not turtle nesting season,” she said, adding special permitting is required for that. “And it’s not during the least tern [bird] nesting season.”
By not holding it during the summer months, King said, Florida’s frequent heavy storms and oppressive heat can be avoided.
King also sees promise in having it coincide with the Veteran’s Day celebration. “It can kind of kick off the holiday season,” she said. She hopes the drone show might even transform beyond a one-time event. “We’re thinking of making this a city annual event. There are so many opportunities. How unique is it to do a drone show? It’s family friendly. It’s forward thinking. We could be a destination. On July 4 everyone does fireworks, but tell me where you can see a drone show? This could be a wonderful signature event for our city.”
More than 200 brightly lit drones will fly choreographed patterns, controlled by “world class” pilots, artists and engineers. The show is free and open to the public. The pier will be closed, and people are advised to gather on the south side of the pier. With an unobstructed view, the show can be seen up to five miles away.
“They’re all computerized to move in formation with 3D,” King said. “It’s in different colors and it’s all choreographed to futuristic music.” She said the city came up with the idea about a year ago. “It’s so futuristic. We traveled to go look at one.”
Drone shows have already lit up the sky at huge global events such as the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Local restaurants and hotels are enthusiastic about it and will be offering specials.
The public response has been tremendous, King said, noting how the city’s Facebook Page has already had 5,000 reactions. “That’s unheard of,” she said. “People are calling and businesses are taking part in it.”
How wonderful that you talk about how this drone light show was put together. I am in charge of a work event where we want some kind of cool show. I will find a great drone light show for this.