While some cities and towns have replaced Fourth of July fireworks with lighted drone displays, it seems Wyomingites still want to watch things explode in spectacular fashion.
“A lot of people still like the sound, the concussion and the brighter flashes of light that come with the ignition of powder,” Caleb Sanders told Cowboy State Daily.
Drones Are Cool, But …
Sanders and his brother Josh Sanders put on fireworks displays in a few Wyoming towns, including for Byron Days in Byron and Mustang Days in Lovell.
There’s no doubt that drone shows are cool, he said. But drones are expensive and programing elaborate sky shows with them is time consuming.
It’s the same situation in Casper. Besides Wyoming’s love for traditional fireworks, cost would definitely factor into switching to drones, said Kendra Ziler, director for the Wyoming Ford Center.
The facility has put on Casper’s Fourth of July fireworks display for decades, and there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon, she told Cowboy State Daily.
“Drone displays are something I’ve been hearing about in other parts of the county, but honestly, it’s not something I’ve considered,” she said.
“I think it would really come down to the cost of doing something different. Would it be fiscally responsible?” she added.
Of course, there’s another thing Wyoming is known for – wind.
“I’m not sure how well drones would work in 25 mph winds,” Campbell County Parks and Recreation office manager Darla Cotton told Cowboy State Daily.
Growing Sentiment Against Fireworks
There has been growing push against including fireworks in Independence Day celebrations.
Detractors say the noise from fireworks frightens pets, disturbs wildlife and comes with a risk of starting wildfires.
Some point out that the explosions and flashes also can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans.
As a result, some towns and cities have switched to synchronized lighted drone displays, Boulder, Colorado, and Salt Lake City among them.
Fire Hazard
Sanders said he understands those concerns, but don’t think they warrant ditching fireworks altogether.
“We always post notices several days before a firework display to caution veterans who might be stressed, or people who have pets that might get scared,” he said.
Besides, many come with their positive and negatives, but that doesn’t warrant banning them, Sanders added.
“I’ve had to put up with my fair share of dogs barking at me in the middle of the night,” he said. “I would say fireworks are the same way, there’s a negative side to them. But if we bad something because of the negative side of it, would we ban dogs?”
The possibility of starting fires is an abiding concern that comes with fireworks, Sanders added, so local fire departments should retain the authority to call a display off.
Cotton agreed.
“It seems that every other year we’re considering not having fireworks because of the dry weather,” she said.
It was a dry June in Gillette, but the fireworks display this year doesn’t seem to be in doubt, Campbell County Parks and Recreation Supervisor Adam Gibson told Cowboy State Daily.
“As far as I know, we’re still a go for the Fourth,” he said.
Meanwhile, switching to drones isn’t on the county’s radar, Gibson added.
“We haven’t priced that option, or even thought about it,” he said.
Ditto for Cheyenne Frontier Days, chief marketing officer Nichole Gamst stated in an email to Cowboy State Daily. Drones aren’t an option CSD is even considering.
Sky Element Drone Shows uses computer choreographed drones to create patriotic Fourth of July shows. (Sky Element Drone Shows via YouTube) 
Sky Element Drone Shows uses computer choreographed drones to create patriotic Fourth of July shows. (Sky Element Drone Shows via YouTube)
Shorter Shows
Drone shows have their place, Sanders said.
“They can be really pretty. I’ve seen some great shows where they combined drones with fireworks,” he said.
He was particularly impressed by a recent drone display by a Dallas company called Sky Elements on the “America’s Got Talent” television show.
The team got the show’s “Golden Buzzer” award for its sky display, and it was well-earned, Sanders said.
It was also lasted about only three minutes, added, and it’s typical for drone shows to be shorter.
“Drones move slower, so when you change shapes with them, it’s not as dynamic as pyrotechnics,” Sanders said.
“With fireworks shows, you can typically go about 20 minutes,” he said. “With drones, after about five or 10 minutes, they’re going to lose their ability to entertain.”
Drone shows are also labor-intense, he said, pointing out that the Sky Elements Team took weeks to program the three-minute display for “America’s Got Talent.”
And drone displays might not be completely free of hazards, he added.
“Drone displays can involve 1,000 or more drones,” Sanders said. “If the battery runs out in even one of them, it’s going to come falling out of the sky.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
