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CBS News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
300 drones will take to the Denver sky to celebrate Indy Eve
300 drones will take to the Denver sky to celebrate Indy Eve 300 drones will take to the Denver sky to celebrate Indy Eve 300 drones will take to the Denver sky to celebrate Indy Eve In 2024, the Civic Center Conservancy reimagined its Indy Eve celebration with a Night Market, several stages of entertainment and a drone show replacing the traditional fireworks. Indy Eve will look much the same in 2025, with a drone show as the highlight of the night. "I think the best thing about drone shows is the creativity," said Tom Dolan, founder of Brightflight Drone Shows. The shows feature 3D animations with drones creating images in the night sky. During the 2024 show, there was a 400-foot Liberty Bell ringing, and an animation that showed the face of Lady Liberty transforming into the entire statue. "We're working on some really fun animations that take the animations we flew last year kind of to the next level," Dolan explained. "Has there been any pushback from people who are like, 'Fireworks are the way to go. Don't mess with my July 4th tradition?'" asked CBS News Colorado. "Absolutely," Dolan replied. "But I feel like we're winning them over, slowly. When they come and see a show in person and they see the scale, the size, the creativity of the event." Denver's Indy Eve drone show was a big draw Wednesday night at Civic Center Park with people celebrating America's independence. CBS What audiences see in the sky is the product of weeks of work at the computer. Chris Probst draws out the animations, places the drones, sets the safety parameters, and then tweaks every second to perfection. "In your mind, what's the key to a great drone show?" CBS asked Probst. "I feel like it's utilizing light in the way that you're getting your image across, but then you're surprising the viewer," Probst explained. 300 drones can create a lot of surprises. The drones are designed to dazzle. They carry a battery and a full-spectrum light, and that is it. At a cost of $800 - $1,000 a piece, there is a significant initial investment. When asked how that much of an investment up in the sky affects him, Dolan responded with a laugh, "I have an Apple Watch. I had to turn the heart rate monitor off because when we had that many drones in the sky, it would start to warn me you need to stand up and take a deep breath." A drone can be used over and over again for hundreds of shows, making them a sustainable entertainment option. The safety parameters wrap each one in a protective bubble, making sure that they don't fly too high, or too fast, or too close together. For Dolan and Probst, the payoff is the "oohs and aahs" of the audience as their hard work helps Americans celebrate the birth of a great nation. LINK: For more information about the Indy Eve Celebration The Civic Center Conservancy hosts Indy Eve at Civic Center Park from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Time Out
15 hours ago
- Time Out
These are the most popular travel destinations for July 4th weekend
Ready for some fireworks? Fourth of July falls on a Friday this year, the first time in nearly a decade. This means it's easier to plan a longer getaway for the holiday, but it also means it's going to be a busy one, as more people will take advantage of the time off. Airfare is up this year—about 3.4-percent higher than usual—according to flight discovery site Going, but plenty of savvy travelers are finding deals. Going analyzed their Flight Alert trends to reveal which spots are surging in popularity for the holiday weekend. Chicago, Illinois has emerged as the most popular destination for the patriotic festivities, according to Going. It's no surprise, as the fireworks display at Navy Pier are routinely considered one of the best in the country. Prices are averaging about $502 roundtrip to visit Chicagoland for July 4th weekend. Coming in second, Denver, Colorado is a draw for nature lovers seeking out mountain views as well as celestial fireworks. The city is also known for its free pre-Fourth bash called Indy Eve, with live music and a choreographed fireworks show Denver's Civic Center Park. Average roundtrip flights will cost ya $537. Some travelers are making the most of the holiday and heading abroad, such as with number three destination London, UK and number six locale San Juan, Puerto Rico. The former is "perfectly positioned as a gateway for exploring Western Europe, so it's likely travelers stop in the Big Smoke for a night or two then head onwards via budget flight or train," says Going (airfare is averaging $1,719 for a round trip). Meanwhile, the latter is a warm-weather island favorite made all the more seamless that Americans can travel passport-free to Puerto Rico. Elsewhere, San Diego is the spot for a coastal celebration, as the Big Bay Boom is the largest fireworks display in Southern California; New York is a favorite for the iconic Macy's Fireworks Show, and Orlando is a go-to for its iconic theme parks, which always put on a show for the Fourth. Check out the full list of popular Fourth of July holiday destinations below. The most popular travel destinations for July 4th weekend, per Going: 1. Chicago, Illinois 2. Denver, Colorado 3. London, United Kingdom 4. San Diego, California 5. New York, New York 6. San Juan, Puerto Rico 7. Seattle, Washington 8. Orlando, Florida
