Rose Bowl’s Fourth of July drone show was break from tradition, sparking mixed reviews

By Benjamin Hanson, Correspondent

For 10 minutes, 750 Pyro Spectaculars’ drones lit up the Fourth of July Friday night sky above the Rose Bowl stadium, wowing attendees by forming traditional American motifs and symbols.

The annual Fourth of July show this year at the beloved venue was a high-tech departure from decades of old-school tradition, when fireworks crackled and popped in the Pasadena night sky — one of scores of celebrations that filled the evening.

And that change did not get past onlookers, who took it all in Friday night — including the connected FoodieLand food festival event — mindful of this year’s change, amid environmental and fire concerns.

Reactions to the show were mixed, ranging from awe to disappointment. But even in the disappointment, onlookers saw potential for future shows.

The show was part of an array of Fourth of July events across the region celebrating the nation’s 249th birthday. And for many, traditional fireworks were still part of the celebration. And crowds still flocked to the events, despite many cancellations in the region this year.

Drones spark awe with patriotic displays

The show kicked off with the drones forming the Rose Bowl logo and the iconic Pasadena City Hall tower. The drones then displayed the Foodieland logo before transitioning into a flashing red, white and blue football helmet.

Attendees cheered when the music picked up and the football helmet morphed into a bald eagle that rocked back and forth.

The drones then recreated the iconic “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” photograph that sparked awe among onlookers. The drones formed a “thank you” to first responders by flashing a firefighter badge, police badge and EMT logo before changing into a giant American flag.

The Statue of Liberty and the Liberty bell drew applause as well before it quietly ended with the drones displaying “Dena Strong” with a rose in front of a mountain and flashing drones to mimic stars.

‘Something innovative’

Pasadena resident Mark Mardirossian said he thinks drone shows replacing fireworks are the future.

“It’s something innovative, something new,” Mardirossian said. “But we are used to seeing a firework show. I think it’s a bit exciting and they’re playing it on a safe side because of the fires that have been happening.”

Mardirossian said his son’s family had been living with him since they lost their apartment in the Eaton fire. He attended Foodieland with them to stay closer to home.

Pasadena resident Drew Li said he was disappointed in the drone show, but was hopeful for what future shows can be.

“I think the music was a little too soft, we couldn’t really hear anything,” Li said. “I think it kind of missed that ‘wow’ factor of fireworks, but I think with the drone technology, they can make it something really cool.”

A few miles away, Burbank also opted for drones to light up the sky.

Hundreds turn out at McCambridge Park during the July 4th Concert and Drone Light Show in Burbank on Friday. The event also featured music by Bruno and the Hooligans.

The was celebration, according to the city, one of several events featured in Starlight on Tour. With the Starlight Bowl undergoing repairs, this year’s concerts have been relocated to various other sites. The next show will be an “Encanto” sing-along at Johnny Carson Park on July 19.

FoodieLand brings the foodies

The drone show was accompanied by FoodieLand, a food festival with more than 200 vendors, instead of the soccer matches between LAFC and LA Galaxy held in 2023 and 2024.

The festival features carnival games, live entertainment, shops and hundreds of unique foods that you can only find at night markets and county fairs. Attendees could dabble in giant deep-fried squid, Japanese soufflé pancakes, sushi pizza, potato spirals, smoothies, ice cream and much more.

The most popular items seen were the Hawaiian Honey Cones, a J-shaped honey cone stuffed with vanilla ice cream, and large animal-shaped lemonade bottles.

Pasadena resident Hector Rosas and his girlfriend couldn’t decide between the cow or the pig and settled on a cat-shaped bottle. They said the festival was a good way to spend their holiday.

“It was something different for us, more than what we’re regularly used to,” Rosas said. “It’s better than just staying at home. We liked hanging out with all these people and all the different things they had here.”

Umami Cheesy Bomb owner Jonathan Quenga said he was happy to participate and meet hundreds of new people at the festival. He started the food stand as a way to promote different culture’s cuisine and gives some of his profits back to a charity in the Philippines.

“We started it just to show diversity,” Quenga said. “And to bring peace and love to the world and help people grow.”

Foodieland runs from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Fireworks still part of L.A. County action

The Fourth of July festivities at the Rose Bowl were part of an array of events — many with traditional fireworks — all over Southern California celebrating the Fourth.

Earth Wind and Fire capped off their three-day run at the Hollywood Bowl on July 4, marking the holiday with a grand fireworks show and a groove-filled performance.

Decked out in red-white-and-blue, celebrants packed into the Hollywood Bowl with their coolers and picnic food of choice before enjoying a sold-out, 90-minute performance by the chart-topping soul stalwarts, founded way back in 1969.

Before the ‘70s band took the stage, Conductor Thomas Wilkins led the L.A. Philharmonic in a performance of traditional patriotic standards.

“There’s a lot of noise going on right now,” said Wilkins, referring to the current divisive political landscape.  “Rehearse the truth that we must never, ever give up on the endeavor to find ways to belong to each other.”

Right on cue, the orchestra then ripped into a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

The philharmonic continued with a dedicated “Armed Forces Salute,” recognizing both veterans and active-duty members in their respective branches, inspiring wild cheers from the jam-packed bowl.

Earth Wind and Fire then took center stage, performing such familiar tunes as  “Sing a Song,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “After the Love is Gone” and “Let’s Groove”  before giving way for the fireworks spectacular.

They returned to the stage for an encore to close the night, their iconic hit “September.”

All hail the Queen

Long Beach’s iconic Queen Mary celebrated Fourth of July in style — with events themed through the decades spanning the entire ship.

Each part of the ship got its own special theme on Friday, July 4, from the early 20th century all the way up to the 2020s.

Once attendees tried their hand at classic carnival games at the 1910s Old Time Fair, for example, they could hop on over the 1960s Beach Bash featuring contests, a World War II aircraft flyover, and more — then make their way to a 1970s disco at the Observation Bar, or even a 2000s-themed hip hop party.

And there was plenty of food, drink, and live entertainment for guests to enjoy as they made their way through the eras.

The Queen Mary, of course, rounded out its Fourth of July celebration in style, with a fireworks spectacular lighting up the Long Beach waterfront to close out the evening.

That show was one of multiple fireworks spectaculars to take place in the Long Beach and South Bay areas this week, with Big Bang on the Bay taking place in the city on Thursday, and Redondo Beach, Torrance and El Segundo among the events on Friday. San Pedro will have its fireworks show on Saturday.

But likely the most captivating fireworks show was likely the one on Long Beach’s waterfront on Friday — at least for those in downtown and not on the Queen Mary — with the pyrotechnics lighting up the sky over the iconic ship.

South Bay celebrates

Blasts of color once again erupted over Redondo Beach’s King Harbor — and elsewhere in the South Bay — on the Fourth of July.

Redondo Beach hosted its annual Independence Day fireworks show on Friday, July 4, the second-consecutive year the town has done so after having to use drones in 2023. Redondo Beach brought back the July 4 fireworks show in 2024 after laws regarding pyrotechnics over the water forced the city — and others around Los Angeles County — to use drones.

Spectators gathered at Seaside Lagoon on Friday night to watch the fireworks light up the evening sky.

But Redondo wasn’t alone in celebrating the Fourth of July — with cities across the South Bay also hosting events.

Carson, for example, held a fireworks show after the LA Galaxy soccer game at Dignity Health Sports Park. A free shuttle took attendees from the Carson Event Center to the stadium.

Carson residents were encouraged to attend the city-sponsored display, since officials there recently banned personal use of all fireworks — including “safe and sane” ones — and ntroduced fines of up to $5,000 for violators.

El Segundo, meanwhile, also celebrated Independence Day, with residents converging on Recreation Park for various daytime activities, including a water balloon toss, pie-eating contest and sack races. An evening event included live music, food booths — and, of course, a fireworks show.

Torrance also held a fireworks show at the LA Galaxy Sports Complex, where visitors could also enjoy food truck offerings through the night.

On the high-fire risk Palos Verdes Peninsula, meanwhile, Rancho Palos Verdes held a drone show for the third year in a row — whith 150 tiny, lighted planes creating patriotic images in the air.

Correspondent Julianna Lozada and staff writers Kristy Hutchings and Tyler Evains contributed to this report. Hanson is also a correspondent.