Latest news with #droneShow
RNZ News
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Mercia Dawn-Yates on Rotorua Matariki drone show
Thousands headed to the Rotorua lakefront to watch the Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival matariki drone show on 27 June 2024. Photo: LDR/ Laura Smith Kara and Mark have a kōrero with Mercia Dawn-Yates about Rotorua's Matariki drone show. As part of Matariki celebrations the aronui arts festival is putting on a drone light, the show in Rotorua it blends cutting-edge technology with te ao Māori storytelling, lighting up the night sky with a uniquely Rotorua vision of the Māori New Year. A respected figure associated with Māori performing arts and cultural advocacy, Dawn-Yates is renowned for her mahi in the spheres of community empowerment and indigenous storytelling.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Big-budget projects getting set to open
The winter loop at LaSalle Landing is seen in this image from November 2024. (Source: Town of LaSalle) The Loop at LaSalle Landing is almost complete. 'It is nice to have it coming together,' said LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche. The fencing is down, and citizens can now see what has been going on since late last year. 'Residents are getting really excited, and they're excited to come walk in and see what it's all about,' Meloche said. People should be able to enjoy the park and trail, estimated at around $9 million dollars, at the end of the month. The Loop will be ready for its first official event on June 28th when the Rotary Club of LaSalle has a grand opening for the Rotary Circle. 'And then we have our first big event here on Canada Day,' Meloche told CTV News. The Canada Day celebration at the Loop will include food trucks, buskers and entertainment followed by a different kind of show in the sky at night. 'We're going to do a drone show at night,' Meloche said. 'Something a little bit different than all of our neighbors who are going with fireworks this year (to celebrate Canada Day). We've decided we wanted to do something unique and get people down to the LaSalle Landing to come check it out.' Another project to check out soon takes place July 13, when the City of Windsor celebrates its 133rd birthday. Along with the festivities will be the grand opening of the long-anticipated new City Hall Square. 'Growing up in downtown Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square, we have our own now,' said Ward 3 City Councillor Renaldo Agostino. The project cost just over $15 million dollars and like LaSalle, caught heat from some members of the public. 'I know what everyone says, 'Well, we could have spent it on more supports. You spent $25 million on supports last year,' Agostino noted. 'You got to have fun things for people to do in your city. You got to make people want to come downtown. You got to breathe life because life adds life.' Both Windsor and LaSalle look forward to opening each facility for skating in November. There is a side bet between Meloche and Agostino with the loser having to skate on the winner's ice, but both agree the amenities are important to the region for personal well-being and economic growth.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
From festivals to weddings: Why drone shows are booming
The wedding ceremony was almost over when newlywed Bobby Underwood stepped on a napkin-covered glass to break it, as is Jewish tradition, and everyone shouted "Mazel Tov!". But as he and his new wife Siobhan turned to walk back down the aisle, their wedding officiants said, "Wait." There was a surprise. "All of these drones started rising up," recalls Mrs Underwood. "It was honestly remarkable, very overwhelming – and incredibly emotional for us." She estimates that between 100 and 150 drones appeared in the night sky, displaying lights of various colours, and forming images chosen to represent the bride and groom. These included a baseball player hitting a ball – as Mr Underwood is a big baseball fan – and a diamond ring being placed on a finger. The couple were married on New Year's Eve 2024, in New York State. Mrs Underwood's mother had arranged the surprise drone show with help from the couple's wedding planner – who had suggested it as a "wow factor" component of the day. It seemed to have the desired effect. "It was kind of just shock – 'Is this really happening right now?'," says Mrs Underwood. "I can't believe my mom did this for us." Chris J Evans Drone shows are becoming ever more popular. Once rarities, they are now appearing at occasions ranging from birthday parties and weddings, to major sporting events. Some theme parks even have resident drone shows that take place multiple nights in a row. Glastonbury music festival had its first drone show in 2024. And record-breaking displays are pushing the technology to its limits – the biggest drone show in history took place in China last October. It featured a total of 10,200 drones and broke a record set only the previous month. So, does all this spell the end for fireworks? "They are really beautiful – they are art," says Sally French, a US-based drone industry commentator known as The Drone Girl. She says that drone shows have appeared at baseball games, corporate conferences, and even at ports, to celebrate the launch of cruises. Drone displays are becoming highly sophisticated, she explains, with some drone shows featuring thousands of flying devices, allowing them to animate figures or patterns in incredible detail. "I saw a Star Wars-themed drone show where there was a full-on lightsabre battle," adds Ms French. One barrier might be the price tag, however, with the cost per drone at around $300 (£220) in the UK, says Ms French, citing industry data from market research firm SPH Engineering: "A 500 drone show would be over $150,000." Mrs Underwood does not have an exact figure, but estimates that her wedding drone show cost tens of thousands of dollars. The sky's the limit, actually. Skymagic, one of the world's largest drone show companies, has put on major displays that cost north of $1m says Patrick O'Mahony, co-founder and creative director. Skymagic's shows have taken place in various countries – including the 2023 Coachella music festival in California. The company has also performed drone shows in the UK, including as part of the King's Coronation concert, which was broadcast by the BBC. Mr O'Mahony has experience in designing fireworks displays and other, similar events. But drones have revolutionised outdoor public displays, he says. His company has a fleet of 6,000 custom-designed drones. Each one can reach speeds of up to 10 meters per second. The drones sport LED lights and have batteries that allow for 25 minutes of flight time. To make them easier to transport, the drones are stored in flight cases and unpacked at venues in a giant marquee before they are laid out in the take-off area, half a metre apart, in a grid pattern. "Once the drones have received their 'go' command [they] fly the entire show," adds Mr O'Mahony, explaining that a single human pilot on the ground controls thousands of the devices at once. The drones are geo-fenced, based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data, which prevents them from straying beyond the allotted flight area. In windy conditions, though, they can get blown off course. In such cases, they automatically return to a landing spot on the ground, says Mr O'Mahony. Fireworks have a "boom" factor that drones generally don't, notes Ms French. However, Bill Ray, an analyst at market research firm Gartner, says that some drones can now launch pyrotechnics, for a firework-like effect. For instance, a stream of sparks raining down from the lower portion of an image created by a group of drones. Plus, Mr Ray says it is much easier to accurately synchronise drone movements with music during a show, which could be another reason behind their appeal. But the cost of shows remains prohibitive to some, and in part comes down to the fact that laying out the devices and gathering them all up again after the performance is still a relatively slow, manual process, adds Mr Ray. Pedro Rosário is chief executive of Drone Show Animations, a company that designs drone show performances for other companies that supply the drones themselves. Mr Rosário says that one challenging aspect of his work is in coming up with displays that adhere to various regulations applying to drone flights, since these rules differ from country to country. England has stricter regulations than countries in the Middle East, for example, he says. Mr Rosário adds that drone shows, which might be paired with pyrotechnics, traditional fireworks or even lasers, allow for a huge degree of creative freedom: "You can really build something that has emotional value, it can tell a story." In Mrs Underwood's case, that seems to have worked. Her guests enjoyed the spectacle too, she adds: "We've heard compliments about our wedding in general – but, consistently, the drone show is something people bring up as something they never expected to see."
Khaleej Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Wow' factor: Why more UAE couples are opting for wedding drone shows
Last week in Dubai, wedding guests were treated to a dazzling spectacle as 200 drones lit up the night sky, forming scenes from the couple's love story — including a giant sparkling heart with their initials at the centre. Once considered a futuristic novelty, drone shows are now becoming a sought-after feature for couples looking to make their wedding celebrations unforgettable, according to industry experts. 'When we started, the idea of a drone show at a wedding was almost unheard of — it was considered a novelty for ultra-luxury events,' said Sarita Ahlawat, co-founder and MD of BotLab Dynamics, an Indian company that organises drone shows. 'But now, there's a rapidly growing trend of couples wanting to include drone shows in their celebrations.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The company, which has done over a hundred wedding drone shows across different cities in India, is seeing the demand surging in the region as well. 'Indian destination weddings in the UAE, especially Dubai, have really embraced drone entertainment,' she said. 'We've noticed a spike in requests from Indian families planning weddings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other destination locales — they want the same kind of magical show under the open sky. Similarly, we've seen interest in other countries in the Middle East and even Southeast Asia from where couples have reached out after seeing videos of our shows.' The 'wow' factor According to Sarita, it is the 'wow' factor of a drone show that makes it so attractive to couples. 'At the wedding party in Dubai, as the show started there was this collective gasp from the guests,' she said. 'The bride and groom were holding hands and the whole crowd was just spellbound. It's incredibly heartwarming to see an audience of all ages, from tech-savvy kids to elderly relatives, be equally mesmerised.' She added that demand for wedding drone shows rocketed after her company organised one for the pre-wedding show of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in 2024. The wedding of the son of Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani was one of the most expensive ones ever in the world, estimated to have cost approximately $600 million. 'We flew 5,500 drones — which was the largest drone light show ever done in India at the time,' she said. 'That spectacle made headlines around the world. In terms of public awareness, that event was like flipping a switch. Suddenly everyone was talking about drone shows.' She said that pulling off a flawless drone show required a lot of work. 'It is a bit like orchestrating a symphony in the sky,' she said. 'It requires a lot of preparation, coordination, and precision. We usually prefer to start planning as early as possible, ideally a couple of months before the wedding.' Challenges Meanwhile, a local wedding industry expert noted that it will be a while before drone shows become 'a mainstream trend', primarily due to the prices. 'The cost remains a significant factor, making them accessible mainly to higher-end celebrations,' said Rhiannon Downie-Hurst, Founder of BrideClubME. 'Drone displays are definitely rising in popularity at luxury weddings for couples seeking that 'wow' factor and a truly unforgettable moment. It's important to remember that in the UAE, permits, venue restrictions, safety protocols, and choosing an approved operator are all key considerations when planning a drone show for the big day.' M.K.H., a Dubai resident who did not wish to be identified, said that he explored the idea of having a drone show for his daughter's wedding recently. 'The cost was eye-popping,' he said. 'It would have almost doubled my budget for the wedding. So we decided to stick to fireworks.' However, Sarita said that drone shows come in all scales and budgets. 'Drone entertainment has become far more accessible now,' she said. 'You can have a pretty magical show with a few hundred drones at a cost that is comparable to an elaborate wedding fireworks display or a high-end performance."
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Drone shows: Will they overtake firework displays?
The wedding ceremony was almost over when newlywed Bobby Underwood stepped on a napkin-covered glass to break it, as is Jewish tradition, and everyone shouted "Mazel Tov!".But as he and his new wife Siobhan turned to walk back down the aisle, their wedding officiants said, "Wait." There was a surprise."All of these drones started rising up," recalls Mrs Underwood. "It was honestly remarkable, very overwhelming – and incredibly emotional for us."She estimates that between 100 and 150 drones appeared in the night sky, displaying lights of various colours, and forming images chosen to represent the bridge and included a baseball player hitting a ball – as Mr Underwood is a big baseball fan – and a diamond ring being placed on a couple were married on New Year's Eve 2024, in New York State. Mrs Underwood's mother had arranged the surprise drone show with help from the couple's wedding planner – who had suggested it as a "wow factor" component of the day. It seemed to have the desired effect."It was kind of just shock – 'Is this really happening right now?'," says Mrs Underwood. "I can't believe my mom did this for us." Drone shows are becoming ever more popular. Once rarities, they are now appearing at occasions ranging from birthday parties and weddings, to major sporting events. Some theme parks even have resident drone shows that take place multiple nights in a music festival had its first drone show in record-breaking displays are pushing the technology to its limits – the biggest drone show in history took place in China last October. It featured a total of 10,200 drones and broke a record set only the previous month. So, does all this spell the end for fireworks?"They are really beautiful – they are art," says Sally French, a US-based drone industry commentator known as The Drone Girl. She says that drone shows have appeared at baseball games, corporate conferences, and even at ports, to celebrate the launch of displays are becoming highly sophisticated, she explains, with some drone shows featuring thousands of flying devices, allowing them to animate figures or patterns in incredible detail."I saw a Star Wars-themed drone show where there was a full-on lightsabre battle," adds Ms barrier might be the price tag, however, with the cost per drone at around $300 (£220) in the UK, says Ms French, citing industry data from market research firm SPH Engineering: "A 500 drone show would be over $150,000."Mrs Underwood does not have an exact figure, but estimates that her wedding drone show cost tens of thousands of dollars. The sky's the limit, actually. Skymagic, one of the world's largest drone show companies, has put on major displays that cost north of $1m says Patrick O'Mahony, co-founder and creative shows have taken place in various countries – including the 2023 Coachella music festival in company has also performed drone shows in the UK, including as part of the King's Coronation concert, which was broadcast by the O'Mahony has experience in designing fireworks displays and other, similar events. But drones have revolutionised outdoor public displays, he company has a fleet of 6,000 custom-designed drones. Each one can reach speeds of up to 10 meters per second. The drones sport LED lights and have batteries that allow for 25 minutes of flight make them easier to transport, the drones are stored in flight cases and unpacked at venues in a giant marquee before they are laid out in the take-off area, half a metre apart, in a grid pattern."Once the drones have received their 'go' command [they] fly the entire show," adds Mr O'Mahony, explaining that a single human pilot on the ground controls thousands of the devices at drones are geo-fenced, based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data, which prevents them from straying beyond the allotted flight area. In windy conditions, though, they can get blown off course. In such cases, they automatically return to a landing spot on the ground, says Mr O'Mahony. Fireworks have a "boom" factor that drones generally don't, notes Ms French. However, Bill Ray, an analyst at market research firm Gartner, says that some drones can now launch pyrotechnics, for a firework-like effect. For instance, a stream of sparks raining down from the lower portion of an image created by a group of Mr Ray says it is much easier to accurately synchronise drone movements with music during a show, which could be another reason behind their appeal. But the cost of shows remains prohibitive to some, and in part comes down to the fact that laying out the devices and gathering them all up again after the performance is still a relatively slow, manual process, adds Mr Rosário is chief executive of Drone Show Animations, a company that designs drone show performances for other companies that supply the drones themselves. Mr Rosário says that one challenging aspect of his work is in coming up with displays that adhere to various regulations applying to drone flights, since these rules differ from country to country. England has stricter regulations than countries in the Middle East, for example, he Rosário adds that drone shows, which might be paired with pyrotechnics, traditional fireworks or even lasers, allow for a huge degree of creative freedom: "You can really build something that has emotional value, it can tell a story."In Mrs Underwood's case, that seems to have worked. Her guests enjoyed the spectacle too, she adds: "We've heard compliments about our wedding in general – but, consistently, the drone show is something people bring up as something they never expected to see."
