Tell us what you think about Milwaukee dropping fourth fireworks for drone show
Is a Fourth of July celebration the same without fireworks?
Milwaukeeans will find out next month as the county announced it is bringing back its Independence Day event on July 3 at McKinley Beach as a drone show complete with a synchronized soundtrack. The annual fireworks show was cancelled last year due to the lack of sponsor funding to cover the costs.
'Milwaukee County is at its best when we come together to create memorable, inclusive experiences for everyone," Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a news release. "We're proud to bring the community together for this first-of-its-kind drone show, highlighting not just our beautiful lakefront but the creativity and collaboration that make Milwaukee County so special."
Milwaukee joins other communities (including Wauwatosa) in switching to a high-tech spectacle without the noise, debris and risk that can come with conventional fireworks. What do you think of that decision? We want to hear from you:
Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at jfitzhen@gannett.com or 920-993-7154.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee fireworks replaced with drone show. Is this good? | Opinion
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Longwood Gardens will plant a kiss on you in summer 2025 with lush lineup
Longwood Gardens isn't just a flowery name; it's a floral paradise. When guests sneak a peek behind Longwood's veil of rose petals, they'll find a world-class horticulture destination decorated with over 1,000 acres of vibrant foliage, fountains and more. While Longwood is open year-round, the summer is naturally an attractive time for many visitors around the globe to tour the gardens. Here's a preview of what you should know before making a stop at Longwood this summer. One of the top attractions at Longwood is its annual Festival of Fountains where the Main Fountain Garden charms with daily performances. These shows offer dancing jets that can rise up to 175 feet. At night, the fountain shows intensify with Illuminated Fountain Performances that dazzle with colorful lights that groove audiences to a lineup of tunes that include music from Taylor Swift (May 23-25), Madonna and Lady Gaga (June 6 and July 11), The Beatles (Aug. 22-24) and others. These popular shows have 30-minute performances held on select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26. Taylor Swift fever hits Delaware: Tribute shows for Swifties in summer 2025 Longwood is set to bring to life its magical Fireworks & Fountains Shows – six enchanting summer and fall events that will likely sell out fast. Tickets for the first three shows (July through August) went on sale to the public May 14. The second half of shows (August through September) go on sale to the public June 25. The Fireworks & Fountains Shows offer a symphony of sights and sounds with a diverse range of music backed by dancing fountains, accompanied by bursting fireworks. It opens with a patriotic theme on July 3, the day before Independence Day. All six performances are on July 3, July 19, Aug. 9, Aug. 31, Sept. 13 and Sept. 27. All seats for the Fireworks & Fountains Shows are reserved. Reserved seating allows guests to select their seat and then arrive without needing to bring their own chair. Ticket prices are sold under the two categories below, according to Longwood's website: Reserved Seating: $59 to $79. Gardens Preferred, Gardens Premium Members, and Innovators: $50 to 67. Tickets include all-day gardens admission. Fireworks & Fountains Shows require a special ticket; Illuminated Fountain Performances are included gardens admission, per Longwood's website. After a three-year pause, the wondrous Waterlily Court is on display through Sept. 28. The new and improved Waterlily Court comes after the completion of Longwood Gardens' ambitious "Longwood Reimagined" project. Visitors will witness over 100 varieties of tropical and tough waterlilies. Delaware Symphony Orchestra: New director is first female in DSO history There's an emphasis on the arts at Longwood Gardens and one example is their summer performance series that offers theatrical performances, national-touring musicians, comedy and more. The summer lineup includes The Savoy Company's performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera "The Mikado" (May 30 and 31). Other highlights include Ballet X (June 5), Philadelphia's premiere ballet company, Eileen Ivers (June 12), Cody Fry from "American Idol" (June 18), comedian Preacher Lawson from "America's Got Talent" (June 20), Snarky Puppy (Aug. 20), Britain's Finest: The Beatles Experience (Aug. 22-24) and The String Queens (Sept. 4). Music lovers can sit under the stars in the Beer Garden and enjoy a cold one (or two) while live tunes serenade you in the lush scenery. The concerts feature a variety of genres like bluegrass, folk, funk meets jazz, Caribbean steel pan, Latin fusion and more. Performances are held Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 26. Show times are typically from 6 to 8:45 p.m. (unless noted otherwise on Longwood's website) through Aug. 17; and hours are 5 to 7:45 p.m. from Aug. 29 to Oct. 26 (unless noted otherwise). offers fine dining during lunch and dinner with menu items such as Maine lobster, ocean trout, beef carpaccio, Rabbit porchetta and 1906 cheeseburger. Dessert items include ice cream, sorbet, beignet pastries and more. The drink menu has cocktails, beer, wine, garden-themed tonics and more. The 1906 hours through Aug. 31 are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; last reservation in the dining room is 3:30 p.m.) and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; last reservation in the dining room is 7:30 p.m.). has grab-and-go items for the whole family. There are chicken tenders, fries, hotdogs, mac and cheese, sandwiches, salad, fruit cups, beverages (from soda, bottled water, etc.) and more, including vegan dishes and dessert. The Café hours through Aug. 31 are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). has Bratwurst, pizza, street tacos, Bavarian pretzels, hotdogs and a mix of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The Beer Garden hours through Aug. 31 are the same as The Café except the Beer Garden opens from noon to 9 p.m. on the weekends. Of course, a big chunk of Longwood Gardens' charm comes from its sea of colorful plants. Longwood is renowned as one of the top gardens in the world and offers premier horticultural displays across 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, meadows, iconic fountains and grand conservatories. The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards named Longwood Gardens the Best Botanical Garden in the U.S., which was announced in March. In late 2024, Longwood debuted its $250 million revitalization project named "Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience." The project transformed 17 acres of Longwood's renowned Conservatory and grounds. The famous botanical garden dominated in 2024, setting record-breaking attendance. In January, Delaware Online/The News Journal reported that Longwood attracted a record 1.63 million guests in 2024. Longwood Gardens (1001 Longwood Road, near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania) is open year-round, but its hours vary. Through Aug. 31, its garden hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. From Sept. 1 to Oct. 26, hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For admission and more info, visit or call (610) 388-1000. If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@ Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Longwood Gardens fills summer 2025 with music, theater, fountains, more
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Owensboro to host 2025 All-American Fourth of July celebration
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The city of Owensboro says it is gearing up for its annual All-American Fourth of July celebration, which is set for July 4. City officials say festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. at Smothers Park on the downtown riverfront. Live music will begin with Flat Stanley at 5 p.m., followed by The Downtown Band at 7 p.m. At 9:15 p.m., a fireworks show will light up the sky, launched from barges on the Ohio River for everyone to enjoy along the riverfront. The Salvation Army to celebrate National Donut Day According to Owensboro officials, in addition to the downtown festivities, three other fireworks displays will be launched simultaneously across the city at: Southern Little League Fields Owensboro Sportscenter/Moreland Park Owensboro Warehouse Leasing, also known as the former GE plant Officials say for safety reasons, these fireworks launch sites are closed to the public. Any attempts to access them will result in that show being canceled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Annual Salvadoran festival in Montgomery County canceled over ICE raid concerns
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in a file photo from 2019. (Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement) By Jose Umaña The D.C. region's largest Salvadoran festival — and one of the area's largest Latino heritage events — has been canceled due to fears surrounding immigration policies put on by the Trump administration. Organizers for Salvadoreñisimo Festival told WTOP the annual event, which was set to take place at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, has been canceled for this year. It normally takes place in September around the time of Independence Day in El Salvador, Sept. 15, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Organizers told WTOP they did not want to put those in the audience in danger of possible raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The event welcomes thousands of people for musical performances, comedic skits and food. The festival was set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The D.C. region is home to one of the largest Salvadoran populations in the country. The U.S. Census reports Salvadorans represents more than a quarter of the Latino population in Maryland and D.C. Local outlet Telemundo 44 was the first to report the event's cancellation. Concerts and events around the country have been affected because of immigration policies being pushed by the Trump administration. In April, Michelada Fest — a two-day music festival in Chicago — was canceled after performers experienced issues with visas. – As part of Maryland Matters' content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Jose Umaña. Click here for the WTOP News website.