The night sky on July 4 in Chapel Hill is set to be filled with lights and action — just with a different source of entertainment than before.
The Town of Chapel Hill’s Community Arts and Culture Department announced its summer programming schedule on Thursday, which included the Fourth of July plans to hold a drone show instead of the traditional fireworks display.
The local government said the event will feature “a collection of 300 synchronized drones” by the company Skyworx, which has put on shows in cities across the U.S. — including Charlotte, N.C. — and worked with customers like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, several professional sports teams, and some of the top entertainment companies (Netflix, Apple Studios, and NBC’s Peacock). The switch is in part due to community feedback shared in a 2024 survey about the town’s annual Fourth of July celebration and to better support Chapel Hill’s sustainability and inclusivity initiatives.
“Fireworks, as we all know, are not incredibly environmentally friendly,” Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson told 97.9 The Hill. “They also can be scary for those who don’t enjoy explosions, including plenty of humans and lots of animals. It’s going to be a way to reduce air pollution and chemical runoff that occur, and maybe create a more inclusive experience.
“It’ll be cool to hear from people once they see it, [to learn] what they think,” she added. “I’m sure it’ll evolve over time — but I think it’s a good idea and I hope that people really enjoy it and it becomes something that even more people can take part in.”
The changes for the annual event also include a change of location. After holding its fireworks display in Southern Village since 2019, the town is moving the display to Chapel Hill High School off Seawell School Road. The Community Arts and Culture Department shared its gratitude to the Southern Village community for hosting five shows, but said the new location should provide some necessary safety improvements.
“The Southern Village location presented some serious safety challenges, particularly around vehicle traffic,” read the town’s event page. “Safety is always going to be our top priority, and Chapel Hill High School provides large facilities and a more central location for attendees.”
An example of Skyworx’s drone formations during Fourth of July shows. (Photo via Skyworx Drone Shows.)
Few details about the viewing location on the school campus or parking and shuttle options are available as of Thursday, with the Fourth of July event page saying more will be shared closer to the event.
Before July, the Chapel Hill Community Arts and Culture Department will oversee several other community-wide events — like the return of its Movies Under the Stars series, which will begin with screening of “The Sandlot” on Friday, Apr. 10. The department has also set the date and times for its annual Chapel Hill-Carrboro Pride Promenade downtown: Saturday, June 6 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Featured photo via Skyworx Drone Shows.
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