Summerfest committee previews drone show, urges 300-foot safety zone and names sponsors

A Summerfest committee representative told the Windham Town Council during public comment that the town—will hold a professional drone show and fireworks at the high school in just over a week as part of the town—and the nation——s 250th celebration. The speaker said three major sponsors have committed to the event and that the drone performance will be provided by a company called Sky Elements.

"We're pleased to announce that we have had 3 major sponsors step forward to sponsor our 1st ever drone show here in Windham," the committee representative said, and later added that "the best viewing experience for the drone show is going to be right in the field where the main stage is located." The representative said the vendor recommended a minimum 300-foot distance from the launch area and that the area where the drones will be launched "will be closed off to the public anyway."

The speaker said the drone show will lead into the fireworks and named several sponsors, thanking Maine Community Bank, Cross Insurance, and Great Falls Construction for supporting the drone show and J Wolf Electric for offering "a full sponsorship for the fireworks." The representative also thanked the Refuge Church for paying for and supervising the inflatable playground and providing volunteers for the day's activities.

The presenter said the committee has arranged for more food booths than in previous years and that sponsors will be promoted onstage and on the town's event materials. No formal council action was taken on the announcement; the remarks were recorded during the public participation portion of the meeting.

The committee's guidance that spectators remain well back from the launch site and that the launch area will be closed to the public are safety precautions the town and event organizers are relying on for the combined drone-and-fireworks program scheduled in the coming week.