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Council approves Tom Sawyer 150 parade and a 500‑drone light show for 2026 events
Summary
Council granted permits for a June 9, 2026 Tom Sawyer 150th anniversary parade and a June 6 drone show; the drone show will use 500 drones, include road and parking closures, and require a police presence for the safety perimeter.
The Hannibal City Council on July 15 approved a parade to mark the 150th anniversary of Tom Sawyer’s publication and separately approved a proposed lighted drone show to accompany the city’s 2026 events calendar.
Tricia O’Sheltree, director of tourism, told the council the Tom Sawyer parade will begin at 10 a.m. June 9, 2026, with lineup near 12th and Broadway and dispersal at North Street. The council approved the parade permit with a motion and voice vote.
O’Sheltree also requested approval for a lighted drone show on June 6, 2026, to mark the anniversary and the nation’s semiquincentennial. The council approved the drone show application after staff outlined a public-safety plan: the event packet includes maps of a safety perimeter, insurance naming the city as additional insured, and a request for police coverage during the launch and landing window.
O’Sheltree said the city contracted with a company called Firefly and selected a 500‑drone package for a show that is expected to last about 15 minutes and begin between 9 and 9:15 p.m. She described planned imagery including Mark Twain/Tom Sawyer motifs and statewide tourism branding; the company and organizers have submitted insurance and plan to work with the Federal Aviation Administration rules that govern drone displays.
The drone show plan includes temporary street closures around Clemens Field and the Norfolk and Southern Multisports Complex, closures of certain parking lots from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the event day, and barricade placement and policing for the perimeter from about 8:50 p.m. to approximately 10 minutes after drones land. O’Sheltree said the Missouri Division of Tourism is assisting with event sponsorship.
Council members asked practical questions about overhead lines, business access, and preview opportunities; O’Sheltree said the drone company and the event plan address FAA rules and site clearances, and she suggested she could ask marketing messages to discourage parking on private business lots during the event. The council approved the drone show and parade permits on voice votes.
What’s next: Tourism staff will coordinate final site logistics, insurance verification, police staffing for the perimeter, and FAA approvals with the drone vendor as the city develops the event plan over the next year.
