December 18, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
In place of the traditional fireworks display next year, a special drone light show is planned as part of the town’s Fourth of July celebration, thanks to the efforts of the Harbor Development Committee, other supporters, and a generous donor.
The select board this week signed a contract with the company that will be putting on the drone show — Hire UAV Pro — in an amount not to exceed $60,000.
“There will be no cost to taxpayers, thanks to the generous donation of a Hingham family,” select board member William Ramsey said.
HDC Chair Marco Boer provided the following details to the Hingham Anchor following the signing of the contract:
“A group of volunteers has been trying for the last two years to find a way to bring fireworks back to the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, due to endangered Oyster Catcher birds nesting in the inner harbor during the summer and changing views on environmental sustainability, it is highly unlikely we’ll ever be able to have fireworks in Hingham Harbor on the Fourth of July again.
‘Drone shows have become common around the U.S.’
The good news, however, is that there is an alternative in the form of a non-polluting drone light show. Drone shows have become common around the United States, but they are even more expensive than fireworks as they are effectively cartoon images that tell a story shown through about 300 drones synchronized in the sky.
Through the amazing generosity of the Mike Reilly Classic, we’ve been able to commission a drone show for Hingham that will be hosted on July 2, 2025. There are lots of details to be worked out and more money to be raised, but the Harbor Development Committee, Hingham Historical Society, Mark Casale from the Lions Club — which hosted the 4th of July Fireworks for more than 25 years –the Hingham harbormaster, and lots of others are coming together to bring this drone show to Hingham in 2025.”
The Mike Reilly Classic was established to celebrate the legacy of Michael D. Reilly, a lifelong Hingham resident who had a thirst for life and passed away as a young adult in 2019.
The Mike Reilly Classic supports scholarships to Saint Paul School graduates who show a commitment to Catholic education, My Brother’s Keeper Christmas initiative delivering more than 13,000 presents to children and adults in Massachusetts, Play Ball — a group that supports sports for children in towns that can’t afford to play sports — and now, Hingham’s first-ever drone show.
More details will be available next Spring. In the meantime, visit www.Hireuavpro.com to learn more about drone light shows.