National holiday: how drones are revolutionizing July 14th
Tours celebrates July 14th with a show featuring 400 drones.
On July 14, 2025, the City of Tours, in partnership with La Riche, has once again chosen to offer its residents a special event. The company Allumee has been selected to orchestrate this magical moment.
More than 25,000 people gathered at the Gloriette park to discover Symphony of Lights, an aerial show conceived and produced by Allumee.
A reimagined national celebration
For years, Tours celebrated July 14th with fireworks displays, initially held on an island in the Loire River, then later on the banks of the Cher River. However, city officials discovered that these pyrotechnic displays disrupted the nesting of terns, a migratory species in the region.
Faced with this environmental problem, elected officials made the responsible choice to suspend these festivities, temporarily depriving residents of their traditional summer celebrations.
The emergence of drone shows has offered an innovative alternative. In 2024, Tours partnered with the neighboring town of La Riche to launch a call for tenders, which was won by Allumee, a company specializing in drone shows.
Last year, the show was a resounding success, attracting 15,000 spectators. This success led the two municipalities to immediately renew their collaboration with Allumee for the 2025 edition. That year was a true triumph, with 25,000 people gathering at the Parc de la Gloriette.
The Symphony of Lights to make Tours and La Riche dance
At 10:45 p.m., 400 drones took to the skies for a performance of the Symphony of Lights, a show created by Allumee.
A true journey through musical time: from classical to electro, via rock and disco…to cult music that has made more than one person dance!
In the sky, different paintings pay homage to these musical styles:
● Opera singer
● Dancing couple
● Trumpet
● Guitarist
● Saxophonist
● Silhouette of Freddy Mercury and his legendary “We Will Rock You”
● Music Box
● DJ
And of course, as is customary on July 14th, patriotic displays paid tribute to the national holiday. A festive and lively show designed to delight young and old alike.
More musical drone shows to celebrate the national holiday all over France
The towns of La Machine, Trèbes, Gréoux-les-Bains and Les Clayes-sous-Bois also treated themselves to Allumee's Symphony of Lights in a 200 drone version on the occasion of July 14th.
In total, nearly 50,000 people danced to the rhythm of classic hits!
Why are there more and more drone shows for the 14th?
July ?
While still relatively uncommon in France a few years ago, sound and light shows using drones are now attracting many local authorities. This emerging technology is positioning itself as a credible alternative to traditional fireworks.
Customized drone shows: maximum creativity and flexibility
Drone shows stand out for their immense creative potential. Where fireworks remain constrained by pre-established effects, this technology makes it possible to meticulously design the identity symbols of territories: municipal emblems, coats of arms, slogans and personalized texts.
This ability to design fully customized animations gives communities the opportunity to create a distinctive visual impact, in perfect harmony with their territorial identity and strategic orientations.
Community events: drone shows all year round
Versatility is one of the major advantages of drone shows. With an average duration of 15 minutes, they are perfectly suited to Bastille Day celebrations, end-of-year festivities, inauguration ceremonies, or cultural events.
This technological innovation has the added advantage of being unaffected by weather conditions, offering consistent performance regardless of the season, even in the presence of moderate winds.
Immersive air show: emotion and a memorable experience
The precise choreography of drones allows for the creation of genuine narratives, evoking a strong emotional resonance with the audience. Enhanced by narrative or musical soundscapes, these luminous aerial tableaux generate great fascination among the general public.
Eco-friendly drone shows: a sustainable alternative
Environmental impact is a decisive factor for communities committed to sustainable development. Drone shows stand out for their ecosystem-friendly approach.
Indeed, these aerial displays produce no polluting waste or harmful particle emissions, thus eliminating the need for post-event cleanup and protecting both soil and aquatic environments from contamination. Their completely silent operation maintains the tranquility of the surrounding area and protects local biodiversity, which is particularly vulnerable to pyrotechnic explosions.
Furthermore, they eliminate any risk of ignition, a major advantage during periods of drought restrictions. The possibility of reusing the equipment at multiple events drastically reduces the environmental impact compared to the production and transport of single-use pyrotechnic materials.
A combined drone and fireworks show: the best of both worlds
Rather than permanently replacing traditional fireworks, drone shows fit perfectly into a hybrid program. This technological combination allows for the merging of two approaches: intimate and tailor-made sequences on the one hand, and the visual and sonic power of pyrotechnics on the other.
Drones can serve as an opening to the pyrotechnic show, creating a narrative context that amplifies the final effect, or be inserted between the bursts of fireworks to orchestrate a controlled alternation of the two performances.
For events that prioritize immersion while respecting the environment, combining drones with architectural projections (video mapping) or laser displays is a particularly relevant approach. This synergy paves the way for cutting-edge nighttime presentations that are ecologically sound while captivating audiences.
Allumee: Your partner for tailor-made drone shows
An international company specializing in drone shows and entertainment solutions, Allumee is committed to working alongside local authorities to realize this vision of events that combine responsibility, innovation and emotion.
Through our technical expertise, a personalized creative approach and knowledge of territorial issues, we support cities in this transformation, and consider each project in its artistic, logistical and environmental dimensions.
Do you want to make a lasting impression at your next event?
Offer your constituents a spectacular and unique experience that reflects the identity of your territory while respecting your environmental values.
Contact us now to discover how our drone shows can transform your celebrations into unforgettable, exceptional moments.
Our team will support you from conception to execution for an event that lives up to your ambitions.
