The Northeast San Fernando Valley celebrated the Fourth of July a few days early on Sunday, June 30, and in lieu of a typical fireworks display, hundreds of residents were treated to a drone light show that featured both the local community and pop culture.
“The Third Annual Drone Light Show Festival celebrating Independence Day,” was held in the soccer fields at Hansen Dam hosted by Los Angeles Councilmember Monica Rodriguez. The main show began after 9 p.m., as many festival-goers took up spots around the field to watch.
Rodriguez said each festival had a theme, and this year’s was about Council District 7. One drone display depicted the mural “Rushing Waters” located near the intersection of San Fernando Road and Paxton Street. Another was of a lowrider – which received one of the biggest applauses from the audience – referencing the strong cruising culture that has been recently revived in the valley with the passage of state legislation.
But it wasn’t just about local iconography. One display was of the movie “E.T.” and two others were given to influential artist Prince – one of the musician himself and the other of the unpronounceable symbol he would later change his stage name to, known to fans as the “Love Symbol.”
The show ended with the message “We Are One” – the Earth taking the place of the letter “O” – and the classic LA insignia.
Sylmar resident Sandra Sanchez came to watch the show with her infant son, Mark. She’s been to all three drone light show festivals at Hansen Dam, preferring them over traditional fireworks.
“My son has problems with his hearing and he’s very sensitive. He doesn’t like the fireworks,” Sanchez said, adding that last year’s show was her favorite. “Honestly, although it was different than what they had last year, whatever they have, to me, it’s better [than fireworks].”
Although the show didn’t start until the evening, many people started arriving around 5 p.m. to see what else the event had in store.
In the center of the area were two large tents: one where dozens of resource booths were handing out information to community members – including Vida Mobile Clinic, Serra Medical Group, Central American Resource Center and Making it Happen, Inc. – and other vendors took up shop to sell clothing, accessories, bottle cap openers with various sports teams and toy cars.
One end of the field, next to a petting zoo, was a science area for kids, where they could “dig” for dinosaur bones and send small cylinders flying into the air by mixing water and Alka-Seltzer. On the opposite side was a small mural, overseen by muralist Juan Pablo Reyes, on which kids and adults could paint red and blue stars. Also painted on were the messages “Happy Independence Day” and “We are one.”
At the very far end of the field was another tent with a music stage, where festival-goers could take a break in the shade or dance to the beat. The main musical act of the night was a performance by St. Paul and the Minneapolis Funk All Stars, whose members achieved recognition from playing alongside Prince.
For Segda Maldonado, of Pacoima, it was her second time coming to the drone light show festival, arriving early with her son and sister.
“There’s lots of food and music. You can dance, drink and walk around. Everything here is so good,” Maldonado said. “I love fireworks, but you don’t see any difference [compared to drone shows].”
Fireworks have been a point of contention within the city of LA. They have been known to negatively impact children, pets and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, fireworks increase the risk of wildfires, which have severely impacted California numerous times. Nonetheless, there are plenty of Angelenos who light up fireworks into the night sky on Independence Day.
The dangers associated with fireworks are why Rodriguez began holding drone light shows instead.
“I was really proud … to create an environment where we can get together and celebrate in a different way with all of our families for a free event,” Rodriguez said. “So often, the caliber of the production that you’re seeing tonight is something that you’d have to go to Disneyland or Dodger games to see.”
Local resident Debra, who declined to provide her last name, was happy to see the city cut down on the number of illegal fireworks.
“I would watch the Fourth of July from my front lawn, and I swear my neighbors would compete with the Hansen Dam celebrations,” she said. “I think this [drone light show] is great for the community. I’m very impressed with Monica Rodriguez and what she was able to do.”