The drone light show over downtown happens this weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
Six-year-old Melody Senecal will be watching the skies with a lot of anticipation when 300 synchronized drones create lighted, music-choreographed formations above downtown Wichita this weekend.
In fact, she’s “too excited,” Senecal said.
That’s because she was one of four Wichitans — two adults and two children — who won a contest to have their artful designs transformed into drone formations as part of Exploration Place’s 3rd Annual Drone Festival, which has been a sold-out event in its previous two years.
Senecal’s design features one of her favorite things, a dragon. On paper, her dragon has an orange body, a green and blue head and is breathing fire.
The festival, which takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22, will also mark the grand opening of the science museum’s Wichita Foundation Amphitheater.
Candlelight concerts with more than 2,000 candles will be held each night in the amphitheater, where local musicians Alan Craddock, Trevor Stewart with Music Theatre Wichita, McKayla Stacey and ICT Independent Winterguard will perform.
Festivalgoers can also decorate and launch Chinese water lanterns on Exploration Place’s reflecting pond.
Admission is $15 per person, with a $3 discount for museum members. There’s also a carload option for up to nine people; those tickets are $75, with a $10 discount for members and allow pass holders to park on the Exploration Place grounds. Carload packages must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the gate.
Limited VIP packages, which are $125 per person and include indoor seating with a buffet and bar, are available for the Sunday show; the Friday and Saturday VIP tickets have sold out.
All admission packages include access to the science museum’s exhibits and laser shows.
Each night at 9 p.m., the drones will launch from the grounds of the Mid-American All-Indian Museum, creating aerial formations above the Keeper of the Plains sculpture.
Last year, the drone show included “a really creative sort of interpretation of the Keeper of the Plains,” said museum president Adam Smith. “And when we did that last year, there were just real gasps of happiness when they saw such an iconic part of Wichita. That’s staying in the show this year.”
Another returning formation is that of a T-Rex, which Senecal said was her favorite design in last year’s show. The Wichita flag formation, another fan favorite, is also back.
“About 85% of the show is new content … since we want to have a few surprises,” Smith said.
The show is produced by Detroit-based Firefly Drone Shows, which has a catalog of various designs.
Comprehensive show information, along with advance ticketing, is available at exploration.org/event/drone-light-show
3rd Annual Drone Light Festival
What: A light show featuring a swarm of 300 lighted drones creating aerial designs above the Keeper of the Plains and downtown Wichita
When: 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22
Where: Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd.
Admission: $15 per person, with a $3 discount for museum members; $75, with a $10 discount for members, for a carload option for up to nine people; limited $125 VIP packages remain for the Sunday show. Museum staff recommend buying tickets in advance since the event has sold out previously.
More information: 316-660-0600 or exploration.org/event/drone-light-show
