Last year, Rancho Palos Verdes celebrated its 50th birthday with numerous events including the city’s first Fourth of July drone light show.
The drone show will return on Independence Day this year, bigger and better, according to city officials.
“Most cities last year weren’t doing something like that,” said City Manager Ara Mihranian in a recent interview. “It exceeded my expectations and everyone’s expectations. We had thousands of people come to the (Ken Dyda) Civic Center in an afternoon and evening event. It was a huge success.”
The 12-to 13-minute patriotic show will feature around 150 drones, up from 100 last year.
“We are working with the vendor to change and enhance the choreography to the music, so I think we’re going to end up having a better production for this year,” Mihranian said.
The family-friendly day of activities, from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Civic Center, will feature live music, family games, rides and inflatables, beer and wine booths, craft vendors, and food trucks.
“It’s free to the public, so it’s the city’s way of giving back to the community,” Mihranian said.
Fireworks are illegal in RPV year around, including those tagged “safe and sane,” and the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula as well, due to the threat of wildfires.
Fines for illegal fireworks range from $1,000 to $7,500 in the city.
Mihranian said, for years, the city hosted a day-long Fourth of July celebration.
“There have been times that the city has said, ‘Why don’t we try to bring fireworks to the city and make it part of our annual event?,’” Mihranian said. “However, knowing that we’re a very high fire severity zone and the sensitivity with the marine ecology and so forth, it was never feasible.”
But drone shows are “safe and much more sensitive to the environment.”
Redondo Beach, for example, last year hosted a drone show, as they were unable to meet the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s stricter over-the-water regulations. But this year, the city has gone back to traditional pyrotechnics.
In San Pedro, meanwhile, organizers announced earlier this month, they are switching to a drone show over Cabrillo Beach after their traditional fireworks producer backed out. The Cabrillo Beach celebration will be on Saturday, July 6.
RPV’s Fourth of July Celebration is Thursday, July 4, with the drone show beginning around 8:45 p.m. at the Ken Dyda Civic Center, located at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Parking is limited so Mihranian said when more than 4,000 showed up for last year’s event, it was a challenge for late attendees.
“(The) Last half hour right before the show started, we just saw this influx of cars coming to the Civic Center,” he said. “So if anything, my message to the community is, come early, find a comfortable spot, and just enjoy the day so that you’re not rushing and scrambling to find a parking space.”
For more information, email parks@rpvca.gov, call (310) 544-5260, or visit rpvca.gov.
