Experience the Drone Light Festival Sept. 21-23 at Exploration Place

WICHITA, Kansas — WICHITA, Kansas — Three nights of electrifying wonder are planned at Exploration Place with the second annual Drone Light Festival, presented by Cox, on September 21-23.

The main event features an awe-inspiring display of 300 synchronized drones, choreographed to music in the sky above the Arkansas River. Other activities include an enthralling candlelight concert, fire dancers, floating water lanterns, food trucks, full access to the Exploration Place exhibits and dozens of other family-oriented activities.

The show features 50 percent more drones than the sold-out 2022 event, using a new kind of drone that flies longer and has twice as many LEDs. The show-stopping aerial animations include a 30-story Wichita flag, a towering T-Rex, a soaring astronaut and even Wichita’s B-29 Superfortress, “Doc.” Also featured will be the winners of a design competition for local schoolchildren and artists, including a giant rainbow and a flying tribute to the Keeper of the Plains.

While the spectacle will be visible for miles around, there’s no better seat than on the Exploration Place campus, where the light show is fully integrated with sound and fire dancers from Flow Foundry, in addition to the many additional activities on site included with admission.

Tickets are just $60 per carload, each allowing up to 9 guests. Walk-up tickets (no parking included) are available for $15 each. Saturday’s carload passes are sold out.

“Our mission is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all,” said Adam Smith, Exploration Place’s president and CEO. “This immersive experience encapsulates this perfectly, utilizing an important emerging technology in a dramatic visual display that attracts a broad spectrum of visitors.”

To get the full scoop on the event, including food truck options, FAQs and a timed event schedule, head to dronelightfest.com.

The nightly schedule, Thursday through Saturday, is:

6 – 9 p.m.

• Explore the museum and exhibits
• Food trucks and family activities on Entry and Festival Plazas
• Water lantern decorating

6:30 p.m. (repeats at 7.30 p.m.)

• The Dark Side of the Moon in the Dome
• Live Science Show in the Kemper Theater

7:30 p.m.

• Candlelight Concert featuring Trevor Stewart

8:15 p.m.

• Grand launch of thousands of water lanterns

9 p.m.

• Main event starts.  Flow Foundry Fire Dancers, followed by Wichita’s original Drone Light Show!

10 p.m.

• Museum closes

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The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and through 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings. For more information, visit exploration.org.