The City of Morro Bay is planning something special for the upcoming 4th of July Holiday; after all you only turn 250 once, right?
Recreation Services Manager, Kirk Carmichael, and Youth Services Manager, Angelica Jepsen, ran down the 2-day event the City is planning to celebrate the USA’s Semiquincentennial Anniversary of the founding of the nation, and they’re planning a new-fangled high tech show stopper.
The celebration is set for Friday-Saturday, July 3-4, they explained.
Carmichael said they received a $25,000 donation from Visit Morro Bay, the town’s tourism agency, and have booked an elaborate “drone” lightshow, that will be performed up to 400-feet in the air over the harbor, opposite Tidelands Park.
The company doing the show is Sky Elements, Jepsen explained. They were on the TV show America’s Got Talent and took third place.
According to the company’s website, “Sky Elements is the largest drone light show provider in the United States. Our experienced team has brought the art of drone light shows all across the country for community events, sports teams, businesses, artists, and major brands.”
Never seen a drone light show, you’re probably not alone (this reporter hasn’t either), but it basically consists of hundreds, even thousands of drones, synchronized by computer, flying in formation and using a sequence of lights, different colors and movement, to bring the sky to life.
“Drone light shows,” the company said, “are redefining the future of entertainment on an immense scale. If you have seen a drone show, there’s a good chance it is the Sky Elements team behind the successful activation. Whether you’re hosting an event, promoting a launch, or building brand awareness, our US-based team is here to take your moment to the sky and beyond (see: skyelementsdrones.com for examples).”
Jepsen said the company has performed at ballparks, arenas and even Disneyland and Disney World. Now they’ll animate the sky over Morro Bay, too.
The drone show would seem a natural evolution. The Chamber of Commerce originally put on a fireworks show at Morro Bay High School, until around the mid-1990s, when development at the Cloisters (adjacent to the high school) meant the fireworks no longer had a safe landing zone.
So after a year’s hiatus, the show was moved to the harbor and was put on there for about 17 years and turned into an outdoors, live music and dance party that saw great success.
But the nemesis of fireworks in Morro Bay is fog, and after three-straight years of not being able to see the fireworks due to dense marine layers, the Chamber tried a laser light show instead.
But that night too fizzled when darkness fell under clear skies — perfect for fireworks but terrible for lasers. Fourth of July in Morro Bay was canceled again.
That disappointment gave rise to a citizen’s committee forming to bring back the fireworks and music festival.
That worked for several years, and added a new fun event to the day’s festivities — a Bike Parade from Morro Rock to Tidelands Park kicking off the day’s celebration. People of all ages turned out with their decorated bicycles bedazzled in red, white & blue.
Eventually that too fizzled out and was replaced by an afternoon “Family Fun Day,” held at Tidelands Park, with live bands, games, food, but no fireworks.
Fireworks shows are frowned upon by many folks who don’t like the loud noise particularly in how it affects their animals — especially dogs — that cower from the overhead explosions that echo down the waterfront.
They are also frowned upon by the Coastal Commission, which has sought to end them when they are held over coastal waters.
But the City didn’t want to let this particular 4th of July pass by without a celebration, which is happening all across the nation to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of what would become the United States of America.
Friday, July 3 will start at 6 p.m. at Tidelands Park with ‘80s tribute band, The Molly Ringwald Project, taking the stage.
The drone show will begin at about 9 p.m., shortly after nightfall. (See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxIc969qtYo)
Carmichael advised that there would not be parking available at Tidelands Park and the launch ramp. So if you have to drive down there, try and find someplace to park close enough to walk.
As for the drone show, Jepsen said their team has picked out elements — different displays, different phrases, that will be programmed into the control computer for the unique show.
They kept the elements under wraps, not wanting to spoil the surprise, but did say it will have a patriotic theme and properly celebrate Morro Bay. At $25,000 that’s about what a professional 20-minute fireworks show costs, too.
Of note, this drone show is entirely done with lights, there are no fireworks involved and they do not make any noise, either. The company also has drones that let off fireworks as they fly.
There will be food trucks and a beer garden, and the harbor cruising boat, Chablis, will be at the side-tie dock with its bar open. The drone show is set for about 9 p.m.
How’d they come up with a drone show? Carmichael said when they attended the California Parks and Recreation Conference they were treated to a drone show, which gave them the idea to have one here for this special 4th of July.
And if the old nemesis fog rears its ugly head once again?
If it’s foggy they said, the company will cancel the show and it won’t be rescheduled.
Assuming the skies are clear, Carmichael said you should be able to see the display from a good distance away, so long as you are facing the drones and not behind them.
On July 4, the City’s normal Family Fun Day will return with the Annual Bike Parade at 10:40 a.m. If you’d like to participate, meet at Morro Rock parking lot starting about 10 a.m. The parade starts at 10:30 and peddles slowly up the Embarcadero to Tidelands Park with a police escort.
Carmichael said they will not have a skateboard push this year, but skateboards, scooters and even electric carts are welcome to join the Bike Parade. Entry is free, just like all the festivities later in the day.
The band Rosewood & Honey will perform at 11 a.m. and they will have their flag ceremony at noon with the Coast Guard Station Morro Bay Color Guard doing the honors.
At 12:15 p.m. another 4th of July tradition — albeit a new one to Morro Bay — will be held. That’s when the Hot Dog Eating Contest happens, Carmichael said.
Gilligan’s Sandwich Shop is sponsoring the Hot Dog Eating Contest. That’s the big change this year, he added.
Odes to gluttony, hot dog eating contests started at Coney Island, NY and sponsored by Nathan’s Hot Dogs. Though the legendary story is that the contest started in 1916, the first recorded Nathan’s Contest was in 1972. Last year, 17-time “Mustard Belt” Champion Joey Chestnut scarfed down 70.5 hotdogs — with buns — in 10 minutes. He also holds the official record at 76 set in 2021.
The music starts up again at 1 p.m. with Sound Investment, which will play until the Family Fun Day ends at 4 p.m.
That will give everyone time to grab some dinner, Carmichael said, before they head off to see fireworks shows. On the Coast, fireworks will be set off in Cayucos and Pismo Beach, both of which draw tens of thousands of people to sit on the sand and watch the displays.
They will also have some fun kids’ activities, Jepsen said, like face painting, games and a bounce house. The Bay-Osos Kiwanis Club will also have a fundraiser barbecue that day.
Once again there will be no parking at Tidelands Park, except for folks that paddle in on kayaks and paddle boards, and liveaboards will also be able to park down there. The City Trolley will be running that day, making it possible to park at The Rock and catch the trolley to Tidelands.
Also new for Morro Bay is a business decorating contest. Carmichael said they partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to have local businesses decorate the fronts of their stores for the holiday. The winners will be announced at the Family Fun Day on the Fourth of July.
