Chapel Hill July 4th Drone Show
Event Details
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2026 | 7 PM – 9:45 PM
Chapel Hill High School
This July 4th marks the nation’s 250th anniversary! Chapel Hill is celebrating with a new type of show that reimagines our long-standing community gathering.
Technology meets creativity in this year’s drone show at Chapel Hill High School, presented by Skyworx. A collection of 300 synchronized drones will lift off and arrange themselves into shapes and images, using light and color to paint designs across the Chapel Hill sky.
A new show and location bring exciting changes to this year’s event. Scroll down to our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about these decisions.
We know annual traditions carry great meaning for many people. We hope you and your loved ones will join us for what could become a fun new tradition. Thank you to everyone who provided input in our July 4th survey in 2024.
no event parking at Chapel Hill High School and the neighboring schools. Shuttles will be picking people up from certain park & ride locations around town and will be dropped off at the high school.Â
What to Bring
We encourage you to bring picnic supplies and plenty of water. Coolers, blankets, and chairs are allowed on the shuttles.
Not allowed:Â Tents, tailgates, pets, alcohol, and glass
Frequently Asked Questions
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Switching to a drone show meets a few key interests:Â
- It supports the Town of Chapel Hill’s sustainability initiatives, as fireworks aren’t environmentally friendly.Â
- It creates a quieter, more accessible viewing experience for our community members.Â
- It is responsive to community feedback we received in a 2024 survey about the event.Â
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The Southern Village location presented some serious safety challenges, particularly around vehicle traffic. Safety is always going to be our top priority, and Chapel Hill High School provides large facilities and a more central location for attendees.
We appreciate our Southern Village community. A decision like this one is never easy, and we’ve enjoyed support from Southern Village and its residents over the years.
Attendance & Viewing
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Drone shows must be viewed from a certain angle to see text and images properly.
There will be three viewing areas on site at Chapel Hill High School.
Details and map coming soon!
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Bring some cash to cool down with a sweet treat from Mike’s Icys! They’ll be onsite starting at 6pm and through the entire drone show.
Parking & Shuttles
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Free event parking is available at Rosemary Parking Deck and UNC’s RR Lot. Frequent shuttles will run between these parking options and the event at Chapel Hill High School at the following times:
- Before the show:Â 6pm-8:45pm
- After the show:Â 9:35pm-10:05pm
There will be no shuttles running during the show. We encourage everyone to park early so there’s plenty of time to hop on the shuttle and pick a viewing spot before the show starts.
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No, all parking at Chapel Hill High School, Smith Middle School, and Seawell Elementary School will be closed to the public on July 4.
Onsite parking at Chapel Hill High School will only be available for event staff and ADA-accessible spots.
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Frequent shuttles will run from Rosemary Parking Deck and UNC’s RR Lot to the event at Chapel Hill High School at the following times:
- Before the show:Â 6pm-8:45pm
- After the show:Â 9:35pm-10:05pm
Chapel Hill Transit will not operate regular service in observance of the July 4 holiday. Only the shuttle service will be available.
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Smith Middle School and Seawell Elementary will be closed for this event. There is no parking or viewing from either school. These schools are closed to the public for safety reasons.
Viewing is only permitted within designated viewing areas at Chapel Hill High School.
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ADA-accessible parking will be available onsite at Chapel Hill High School starting at 6pm. Spaces are first come, first serve.
Map coming soon!
