Patriotic drone shows return to Salt Lake City for July 4 celebrations

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — For the third straight year, Salt Lake City will be celebrating the Fourth of July and Pioneer Day by lighting up the night with free-for-all ages drone shows.

The Independence Day celebration will take place on Saturday, July 5, at Jordan Park, located at 1060 South 900 West. The event begins at 8 p.m. with performances from Salt Lake City-based New Orleans-style brass band, Full Blown Horns, and local country musicians, Andrea Sharp & Timeless Country. The drone show is scheduled to end the night starting at 10 p.m.

A second drone show will take place on Thursday, July 24, at Liberty Park, located at 600 Harvey Milk Boulevard, to celebrate Pioneer Day. Like the July 4 celebration, the Pioneer Day event will include several pre-show events such as the Days of 47 Parade, the Deseret News Marathon, and a Uniting Communities Powwow. The events are set to begin at 8 p.m., with the drone show scheduled to start at 10 p.m.

(Drones seen flying over Jordan Park in celebration of July 4. Courtesy: Salt Lake City Department of Public Lands)

The Salt Lake City Department of Public Lands promises spectators will be enchanted with a mesmerizing display of lights, choreographed formations of iconic imagery and aerial acrobatics performed by a fleet of drones.

Both events are open and welcome to all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, chairs, food and non-alcoholic drinks. Food trucks are also scheduled to be at each celebration.

Salt Lake City first replaced its traditional fireworks shows with drone shows in 2023 as a “fun, safe, and sustainable way” to celebrate the July holidays. At the time, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the decision was influenced in part to combat the city’s high fire danger and to alleviate air quality concerns caused by the fireworks.