The first public drone show in Vancouver will be at the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival this Saturday, featuring artwork celebrating Chinatown, Indigenous communities, and dragon boat racing.
First Public Drone Show in Vancouver
- Dates: Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 9:30pm
- Location: False Creek near Science World
- If you can see Science World from your spot (Seawall, Plaza of Nations, Cambie Bridge, Yaletown, Olympic Village) you should be able to see the drone show. Of course the best viewpoint will be from the Dragon Boat Festival ground although capacity limits may apply.
Viewers who stake out a spot along False Creek will enjoy a multisensory celebration of imagery linked to dragon boat racing tradition, Chinatown, Vancouver, and artwork from renowned Squamish artists Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Willard Joseph.
Saturday’s drone show is expected to start around 9:30pm and will include traditional Chinese elements celebrating Chinatown, the dragon boat festival, and modern Vancouver culture. The show will be synchronized to a 100% local music soundtrack featuring local artists Lights, Felix Cartal, SABAI, and Sekawnee.
Jumbotrons broadcasting the show will be placed near Creekside Community Centre, the Concord Pacific Presentation Centre, and by the TD Main Stage. The broadcast will also be carried online.
Preceding the drone show will be dragon boat races until 8:00pm, and Hey Ocean! and Blonde Diamond on the TD Main Stage until 9:15pm.
The event is the first public drone show in Vancouver, and the festival has worked closely with the City of Vancouver, Vancouver Park Board, Vancouver Police Department, and other partners to ensure the show runs successfully. Through this event, new guidelines have been developed to support future presentations of eco-friendly aerial entertainment across the region.
About the Festival
In addition to the city’s first public drone show, the Festival will feature the biggest dragon boat race in North America; a larger-than-ever cultural programming lineup anchored by the TD Main Stage; expansions to the Pavilion program with the Pride Pavilion joining the Chinatown and Indigenous Pavilions; a new Concord Community Zone for families; and the city’s biggest outdoor patio, featuring waterfront views of downtown and the races.
Visitors are encouraged to take public transit down to the site, with the closest SkyTrain stops being Main Street Science World and Stadium-Chinatown stations.