Verge Aero

Move Over, Fireworks!

Why some towns are swapping out their Fourth of July fireworks for high-tech drone light shows

By Sona Charaipotra

From the May 2026 Issue

Learning Objective: to understand how a writer uses colons, then compose a paragraph using colons

Featured Skills: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics,

Standards

Directions

Read the article.
Click on the phrases in blue to learn about one of the writer’s pro moves: using colons.
Take the Write Like a Pro Challenge below.

When you think of the Fourth of July, what comes to mind? Your list might include the following: hot dogs, hamburgers, sun, sand, and family. And for many of us, dazzling fireworks are also a given.

In a number of cities and towns across the U.S., however, fireworks are becoming a thing of the past. As more information is revealed about the environmental risks that these pyrotechnic displays can pose, like wildfires and pollution, some places are banning them. But that doesn’t mean an end to the celebrations. Instead, many places are turning to a new, high-tech way to light up the sky: drone shows.

Environmental Risks

A drone show is a display of colored lights made up of hundreds (or even thousands!) of small flying robots called drones. The drones all move in sync and fly in specific patterns to create images that flash and twinkle in the sky, much like fireworks do. Together, the drones can create all kinds of patterns and pictures, from rocket ships and planets to whales and bald eagles.

But the best part about drone shows is that they’re more environmentally friendly: They don’t cause the type of damage to landscapes that fireworks can.

In 2023 alone, fireworks reportedly caused more than 27,000 outside fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association. This is particularly a problem in western parts of the country, where heat waves and droughts—which can lead to dry, fire-prone conditions—are common. Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle have all banned the sale and use of personal fireworks for this reason. The smoke from fireworks can also pollute the air and water.

Terry Gordon, a scientist who studies air pollution, explains why drones don’t carry these risks for the environment: "Drones all run on batteries, so they’d have little to no impact."

Small Changes

Experts say drone shows are one small way humans can start reducing our impact on the environment.

“There are things that we can do that can have good effects,” says Dian Seidel, a climate scientist. “And it’s very encouraging.”

Write Like a Pro Challenge

Now take what you’ve learned about colons and apply it to your own writing. Describe a summer vacation you would like to take. Use colons to introduce 1) your dream destination, 2) a list of items you’d pack, and 3) a quote about the place. (You can find a quote online or talk to someone who’s been there.)