Chapel Hill switching from fireworks to a drone show this July 4

Date: Sat, Jul 4, 2026

Time: 7:00 PM - 9:45 PM

Venue: Various Locations in Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill

Price: Free

Category: Community

e traditional fireworks show, Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture will be presenting a 4th of July Drone Show on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 7 to 9:45 p.m., at Chapel Hill High School, 9217 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Technology meets creativity in this year’s drone show at Chapel Hill High School, presented by Skyworx. A collection of 300 synchronized drones will lift off and arrange themselves into shapes and images, using light and color to paint designs across the Chapel Hill sky. The drone show will be free to attend. Please check back soon for information on viewing locations, parking and shuttles. Follow the Facebook event for updates. Why is Chapel Hill changing to a drone show? It supports the Town of Chapel Hill’s sustainability initiatives, as fireworks aren’t environmentally friendly. It creates a quieter, more accessible viewing experience for community members. It is responsive to community feedback the town received in a 2024 survey about the event.