2024-07-28 15:00:05
Published
Nyon (VD)On Sunday, 900 drones will illuminate Paléo
For the first time, the festival is abandoning its traditional fireworks for a flying display. Here’s how it will happen.
- by
- Laurent Flückiger
It weighs only 530 grams but promises a grand show with its fellow drones on Sunday at Paléo. At 11:15 PM, 900 drones will illuminate the sky instead of the traditional fireworks, as we announced in early July. The festival detailed the concept while refraining from disclosing its exact content. We only know that it is “a journey through a visual rendering of sound waves.”
The show has been entrusted to Groupe F, specialists in the field — on July 14, the company realized one in Paris themed on the Olympic Games, and in 2023 nearly 1400 drones performed a nocturnal ballet over Lake Geneva. It has been custom-made for and with Paléo. A work of several months. And surprise: there will still be pyrotechnics. “The drones generate a point of light and fireworks. One or several effects, it depends on the program of each device,” describes Cédric Schaller, president of Groupe F Switzerland SA.
Up to 290 meters high
The advantage of using drones is that the fireworks are launched from the sky. This generates less noise and thus disturbs wildlife less. However, according to Groupe F, they are not ready to replace the traditional pyrotechnics organized by municipalities to celebrate August 1st. The technology indeed requires flight permissions, as is the case for Paléo.
On Sunday, the 900 drones will take off from a field located north of the Asse plain, the same one from where the fireworks traditionally departed. And the view of the approximately fifteen-minute-long show will be better, with the devices rising up to 290 meters. To those without a ticket, it is advised to go to the Quartier Libre, located between the festival and the campsite. However, drones do not fly in all conditions. “It’s electronics. If it starts raining during the flight, we continue. But if it’s before, we won’t be able to keep them grounded for long. Wind, if it exceeds 36 km/h, is also problematic,” explains Cédric Schaller.
“It’s a gift for the festival-goers”
While the setup on site requires 17 people from Groupe F and 5 volunteers since Thursday, the show is fully automated. More than a billion points have been recorded. At what cost? “It’s a gift for the festival-goers, so we won’t say how much it costs,” answers Daniel Rossellat, director of Paléo, who emphasizes that it is an experiment. We will find out on Sunday if the festival-goers will find it successful.
Future Trends in Festival Entertainment: The Rise of Drone Light Shows
As festivals evolve, the integration of technology is becoming a defining feature. The recent announcement from the Paléo Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, which plans to replace traditional fireworks with a synchronized drone light show, marks a significant trend in event entertainment.
Using 900 drones to create a visual spectacle at night symbolizes the shift towards innovative, environmentally friendly entertainment. This trend highlights not only the need for reduced noise pollution—important for both attendees and local wildlife—but also offers a fresh artistry that can surpass the limitations of pyrotechnics.
Companies like Groupe F are at the forefront of this transition, demonstrating that drone light shows can offer dynamic storytelling through visual and auditory experiences. The idea of a show crafted to reflect “a journey through sound waves” indicates a growing interest in artistic collaboration between technology and traditional performance art.
Moving forward, we can expect more festivals to adopt similar strategies, focusing on fully automated experiences that rely on intricate programming and coordination. With high-precision drone maneuvers reaching heights of up to 290 meters, these shows promise new vantage points that enhance audience engagement, making the viewing experience accessible even to those without tickets.
As this trend gains traction, we anticipate further experimentation with incorporating elements of pyrotechnics alongside drone performances, allowing for a blend of old and new. The future of festival entertainment seems poised to prioritize not only visual spectacle but also the preservation of the natural environment, setting a precedent for sustainable entertainment solutions in the years to come.
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