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Committee weighs First Day drone show and a full-day New Year kickoff with daytime programming
Summary
Members endorsed planning a 'First Day' New Year's Day event that would pair daytime activities (yoga, family programming at Woodward and the Senior Center) with an evening drone show launching from St. Mark's Field; budget items include drone fees (tens of thousands), custodial and police detail, and potential Woodward custodial minimums.
Travis and other committee members proposed a First Day-style New Year kickoff that would run daytime activities (yoga sessions at the Senior Center, kids’ activities at Woodward) and culminate in an evening drone show launched from St. Mark’s Field. The committee discussed logistics, sightlines, launch safety zones and custodial/park-hour minimums for Woodward.
Why it matters: A drone show would be a distinctive kickoff to the sesquicentennial year and could attract broad town interest, but the cost is the committee’s principal concern and would require detailed budgeting and decisions on police/fire detail and viewing-site management.
Details discussed: Travis said the drone show contractor quoted figures in the tens of thousands and that the fireworks vendor confirmed they also now offer drone shows. The committee discussed launch-site sightlines (St. Mark’s Field identified as the launch point) and ensuring viewing areas like Woodward or the town common would be safe and accessible. Woodward custodial coverage was cited as roughly $55 per hour with a multi-hour minimum; police detail and custodial costs should be factored into any proposal.
Programming: Suggested daytime events include yoga sessions (three sessions targeted at kids, adults and seniors) at the Senior Center, indoor family activities at Woodward (crafts, inflatables), a small road race and food trucks near the entrance. The committee favored offering activities across multiple sites so attendees could migrate to the evening drone show.
Next steps: Travis will produce a more detailed budget and program outline that includes estimated drone pricing, police and custodial costs, and a suggested schedule for daytime anchors; committee members asked for a follow-up with more detail at the next meeting.
Ending: Committee members asked that the working group include intergenerational programming to draw adults without children and explore low-cost photo-op elements such as ice sculptures.
