On July 3rd, at 9:30 pm you’ll be able to watch an incredible aerial drone light show on the Benicia, CA waterfront as part of the Torchlight Parade. The show will feature hundreds of illuminated, synchronized, and choreographed groups of drones that will arrange themselves into aerial formations over the Carquinez Strait.
The show will be performed by Verge Aero, a Philadelphia-based company that has performed extraordinary drone shows across the world. One of their high-profile performances was on the hit show America’s Got Talent: Extreme, where they even impressed the famously critical judge, Simon Cowell. “I think drones are some of the most annoying things on the planet … until now,” said Cowell. “That was just sensational.”
This free show is sponsored by Pedrotti Ace Hardware, in honor of their 100th anniversary. Pedrotti partnered with the City of Benicia to include the event in this special event after the city’s annual Torchlight Parade. The festivities start at 6:30 pm and include a parade down First St and live entertainment, culminating with the drone show along the waterfront at 9:30 pm.
Verge Aero was founded in 2016 and has performed shows across the globe. They’ve performed high profile events like America’s Got Talent: Extreme, the Electric Daisy Carnival and President-Elect Biden’s victory celebration. To produce these shows, Verge Aero created custom design software to choreograph the drones complex aerial maneuvers. This software makes the task of designing a drone show as easy as video editing software.
Pedrotti Ace Hardware partnered with the City of Benicia to include this special event in the city’s annual Torchlight Parade. The parade dates back to the turn of the century, traditionally starting after sunset. The parade was first led by the Benicia’s volunteer fire department and illuminated solely by torchlight. The modern parade starts well before sundown and no longer relies on open-flames, but remains a celebration of American independence and community. Learn more about the parade here.
Featured image: Courtesy of Verge Aero