Aspen, Colorado swaps 4 July fireworks for drone light show

            <img class="js-image-replace" alt="A drone. File photo" src="http://www.mangobaaz.ml/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/aspen-colorado-swaps-4-july-fireworks-for-drone-light-show.jpg" width="976" height="549"/><br/>Image copyright
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                Aspen officials say 50 drones will be used during the show
            
        </figcaption></figure><p class="story-body__introduction">The US town of Aspen is swapping its annual Fourth of July fireworks display for a drone show - because of a wildfire risk in the drought-hit area.</p><p>Officials say 50 drones will light up the night sky in patriotic colours to mark Independence Day.</p><p>The 15-minute show will start at 21:15 local time (03:15 GMT Thursday).</p><p>This comes after Colorado's fire authorities introduced strict fire restrictions across huge swathes of the western state.</p><p>The Drone Light Show is being organised in the town's Wagner Park by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (Acra).</p><p>It has invited the public to <a href="https://www.aspenchamber.org/events/acra-annual-events/old-fashioned-4th-july" class="story-body__link-external">"watch the drones light up the sky choreographed to patriotic music".</a></p><p>"We had to come up with a highlight for our celebrations so we're doing a drone show. It should be fun, a bit new age," Acra's spokeswoman Melissa Wisenbaker was quoted as saying.</p><p>"If we are having these increased fire dangers and risks every year, then we would like to have alternatives so people can end the night on a good note," she added.</p><figure class="media-with-caption"><div class="player-with-placeholder">
        <img class="media-placeholder player-with-placeholder__image narrative-video-placeholder" src="http://www.mangobaaz.ml/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1530694314_371_aspen-colorado-swaps-4-july-fireworks-for-drone-light-show.jpg"/><br/><p>Media playback is unsupported on your device</p>
  
</div>    <figcaption class="media-with-caption__caption">Media captionSwarm of drones form the Olympic rings at 2018 Winter Games opening ceremony</figcaption></figure><p>Acra may have been influenced by a spectacular drone show during the Winter Olympics 2018 ceremony in Pyeongchang.</p><p>A swarm of unmanned aerial machines then formed the five Olympic rings in mid-air.</p><p>However, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-olympics/43016799" class="story-body__link">the organisers later said the spectacular sight of 1,218 drones in the sky was pre-recorded</a> because of "possible freezing weather and strong winds".</p>
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