"Drones Beach" - Memorial Day weekend drone show to take over the skies at Jones Beach on May 24 @ 6:00PM - 10:00PM - with free parking! May 23 will also have historical reenactments, live performances.
Memorial Day weekend will look a bit different this year at Jones Beach State Park.
A drone show is scheduled to take take the place of the traditional Air Show, which is being moved to July 5-6 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Instead of a daytime event, the show is scheduled to be held on the evening of May 24 starting at 6:00PM with live military entertainment first.. The 20-minute program will utilize 1,000 drones launched up to 400 feet in the air over the Atlantic Ocean starting at 9 p.m. These drones form familiar illustrations that get illuminated at night under a collective theme.. "We wanted to do something really special for Memorial Day weekend that the public would thoroughly enjoy," said Chip Gorman, Long Island regional director of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. "We heard about these drone shows and thought it would be a nice way to kick off the summer."
This Major Memorial Day weekend celebration at Jones Beach State Park is marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
The two-day event will take place May 23-24 and feature historical reenactments, live performances and a large-scale drone light show. State officials also said parking will be free at Jones Beach throughout the holiday weekend to improve access for visitors.
Reenactments, exhibits planned for weekend program
The celebration will include a “living history” village of reenactors stationed between parking fields 3 and 4 from noon to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Programming will feature:
* Costumed historians portraying the 5th New York Regiment and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment
* Dramatic readings and performances highlighting signers of the Declaration of Independence
* A reading of the Declaration of Independence
* Colonial-era cooking demonstrations on Sunday
* A Shinnecock cultural exhibit focused on Indigenous traditions and history
* Historical figures portrayed on horseback, including George Washington, Benjamin Tallmadge and Stephen Moylan
* Flyovers and displays from historic aircraft representing more than 80 years of aviation history
Reenactments and exhibits are part of New York’s broader effort to mark the semiquincentennial of the American Revolution across the state.
Drone show to close Sunday night festivities
The weekend will conclude Sunday evening with a patriotic musical tribute at the Central Mall Bandshell from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
At 9 p.m., a 20-minute drone light show produced by Grizzly Entertainment will begin, featuring up to 1,000 drones forming animated patriotic imagery in the sky. Organizers said the display will honor military service members and celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.. Primary viewing will be at the Central Mall, with music simulcast along the boardwalk.
Free parking, summer kickoff at Jones Beach is designed to welcome large crowds over Memorial Day weekend while highlighting the state’s Revolutionary War history.
Jones Beach swimming season also begins Memorial Day weekend... Officials said free parking will be offered throughout the memorial day holiday weekend to encourage attendance.
The drone show, which is presented by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the New York State Legislature and the NYS 250th Commemoration Commission, is being designed by Grizzly Entertainment. This is the same company that created Nassau County's 9/11 drone show last year in Bethpage honoring the fallen.
"This is a red, white and blue show celebrating USA's 250th anniversary," Grizzly CEO/owner Themis Violaris said. Spectators can expect to see symbols recreated in the sky representing the country, such as an American eagle, an Uncle Sam hat and an American flag, using 3D imaging.. "Storyboards have been prepared in accordance with New York State Parks," said Violaris. "This is all being synchronized to patriotic music."
The best viewing of the drone show will be along the shoreline of the Jones Beach Central Mall boardwalk with parking at Fields 4 and 5. People can bring their own chairs and blankets for seating. The Boardwalk Cafe and other concessions are set to remain open during the event. The festivities begin with live military entertainment at 6 p.m.
"Jones Beach can hold a very large amount of people," Gorman said. "We are hoping to see 50,000. However, we can go higher." Backup parking will be at Fields 2, 3 and 6 in order to accommodate large crowds.
Although the Air Show is slated to return to its regular Memorial Day weekend slot next year, the question is, will the drone show become a new Long Island tradition? "We are going to gauge the public's reaction to it. But, we think it will be a big hit," Gorman said. "We may have to consider having it on another weekend in the summer."
more info: https://DRONESBEACH.com
DRONE SHOW
DRONE SHOW - May 24th, Military Entertainment starts @ 6PM