Saturday, July 18 at 9:30 p.m., 700 drones will light up the sky over downtown Boothbay Harbor, creating a spectacular 17-minute aerial light show for residents and visitors to enjoy. Those lucky enough to find a viewpoint along the inner harbor will have a front-row seat to an event made possible through the vision of Mark Gimbel and the support of numerous community sponsors.

“We wanted to put on a drone show that was large and epic in nature,” Gimbel said.

The event will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S.'s independence while also highlighting the history, traditions and connections that make the Boothbay region unique.

The drone show, put on by Northern Lights Drone Shows based in Milwaukee, will feature a variety of “certain formations” that celebrate the local community and its identity, according to Gimbel.

Viewers can expect to see familiar landmarks, symbols representing Boothbay Harbor’s nautical roots, and appearances inspired by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

The community connection will extend beyond the visuals in the sky. The show will also feature recorded music from local performers, including a song by Douglas Gimbel and his band, HDR&B, as well as a live performance of the national anthem by local Suzie Edwards. Both performances will be broadcast live over the harbor.

The drone show has support from businesses and organizations including Carousel Marina, Friends of Windjammer Days, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop, Gimbel & Sons Country Store, Whale’s Tale Restaurant, and Maine Department of Marine Resources.