iStockphoto
July 4th has historically given Americans an excuse to show off their patriotic side with the help of the many traditions associated with a holiday that usually revolves around hot dogs, burgers, beer, and the various pyrotechnic displays that tend to cap off Independence Day.
One of my favorite parts of the 4th of July actually comes the morning after it wraps up, as I eagerly look forward to getting to take a look at the yearly deluge of videos featuring fireworks dominating the skies of Los Angeles thanks to the many residents who could not care less about violating the city’s ban on them.
Those impromptu displays may not be legal, but the same can’t be said for the countless shows that are organized by municipalities around the country in order to provide some government-sanctioned entertainment to the masses.
However, those events also come with their fair share of downsides.
Many military veterans ironically dread Independence Day due to the chance of having their PTSD triggered by the sight, smell, and sound of fireworks, and there’s plenty of evidence that suggests the shows could be bad for the environment and may pose a health risk to spectators.
According to CNN, those environmental pitfalls have served as the onus for a pivot a number of cities have decided to make in 2023, as plenty of people around the country will be treated to the drone shows that are replacing fireworks in some well-populated areas this year.
That includes Salt Lake City and Boulder, which each cited the risk of wildfires while justifying the decision to swap out fireworks for drones.
A handful of communities in California have also embraced that particular change, and the owner of the drone company behind the show that will take place over the town of La Jolla said the lack of noise and debris played a role in the decision to adopt a new tradition that’s now in its fifth year.
It seems hard to imagine this will become the norm at any point in the immediate future, but it’ll be very interesting to see if it turns into A Thing.