Drone show replaces Fourth of July fireworks in Ocean Beach in 2023

A drone show featuring at least 200 unmanned aircraft, and possibly even more, will take the place of the traditional fireworks display that takes place on the Fourth of July in Ocean Beach, San Diego.

The nonprofit group Luminosity, which was started last year to find an alternative to fireworks, has said that it is in the final stages of talks with a drone company to hold a different kind of party in 2023.

“We sent out a request for proposals and received four or five back. We found a company we really liked, and we’re really happy with their proposal,” explained Mike James, Luminosity’s spokesperson. “So we’ve started negotiating, and we’re expecting the contract to be signed in the next couple of weeks.”

The Ocean Beach Pier is in a state of disrepair, and experts say that it can no longer support the heavy trucks that are required to set up the fireworks for Independence Day.

Drone show is an alternative to fireworks

James suggested that an alternative fireworks show should make its debut this year.

“We’re expecting the first one to be a 200-drone show, and we’re expecting to increase the number of drones as more financing comes in,” he said. “Of course, there are a lot of obstacles: permits and permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (for drones to operate in airspace), as well as working with the city to find a suitable launching point. But we’re on our way now that we have the company that is going to do the show lined up.”

Beginning this spring, Luminosity will be holding a series of community meetings with the goal of eliciting feedback from locals regarding the subsequent stages of planning for the fireworks-alternative show.

You can participate in a survey about an alternative fireworks display by going to obluminosity.com and filling out the form there.

Photo courtesy of OB Luminosity.