Crowds at the 2024 Flight! drone show. Photo: ACT Government.
More than 100,000 Canberrans are expected to turn out for the ‘Flight!’ drone show when it takes off this Australia Day long weekend for the third year running.
For food and drink vendors who set up shop along the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, however, they’re busily prepping for one of their biggest weekends of the year.
“I come here every night [of Flight!], and I speak to the vendors about how they’re going,” says Hamid Heydarian, CEO of the National Capital Authority (NCA).
“My favourite figures are that Fricken goes through about 200 to 300 kg of chicken per night, the juice vendor juices about 10,000 oranges a night, and there’s a Cannoli Brothers here and they sell about 3000 cannolis.”
What to expect
Up to 600 drones will take off from a barge moored off Rond Terrance and perform two perfectly choreographed shows on each of the three nights between Saturday, 24 January, and Monday, 26 January.
Put on by the NCA, it succeeded the ‘Lights on the Lake’ show in 2023, and now draws a crowd of about 100,000 to various viewpoints along the lake’s shore.
“It’s very important for the ACT,” Mr Heydarian says.
“For our size, Canberra can put on some amazing shows, and we’re always looking to bring bigger and better events to Canberra.
“People often ask me if this is in place of fireworks. And no, what we’re trying to do is bring a different experience – not to replace something, but to add.”
There will be two 15-minute shows on each of the three nights, with the first starting at 9 pm and the second at 10 pm.
The theme of the inaugural drone show in 2024 was Australian democracy, picturing stages from Federation to today, while 2025’s show focused on the ‘Australian way of life’ and various Aussie inventions.
Each of this year’s shows takes a different focus: the first, ‘Dream Big’, and the second, ‘Aussie Icons’.
National Capital Authority CEO Hamid Heydarian. Photo: James Coleman.
“This year, we’re focusing on Australia being the land of opportunities … Really playing off the old expression: ‘When I grow up, I want to be … ‘ The dream of a little child imagining things. You’ll see elements of sports stardom, becoming a doctor, becoming an astronaut,” Mr Heydarian says.
For the second show, the drones will assume the shapes of various iconic landscapes and events in Australia – including, Mr Heydarian hints, a car in honour of the Bathurst 1000.
“You might experience a car in there; it might have something to do with Bathurst.”
For the first time, the drones will take off from a large floating barge, rather than the gravel at Rond Terrace. It will not only bring the take-off point closer to the viewers, but also allow the drones to stay in the air for longer.
“It takes a bit of time for the drones to get into formation, so it reduced the actual show by about a minute, or a minute and a half,” Mr Heydarian says.
“It really comes down to how long the batteries in these things last, so this year, changing the location … has allowed us to extend the show by at least a couple of minutes.”
All the drones are lined up and ready to go. Photo: James Coleman.
Over the three nights, the NCA expects more than 100,000 people to turn up.
“We really hope people don’t just come for the drone show, but really take advantage of the whole setup.”
Unlike previous iterations, this year’s show will also be brighter than ever before – due to the inclusion of “several elements” from the previous Lights on the Lake show. Think, more spotlights …
Where to watch
In the past, Regatta Point has been used as a viewpoint, but Kings Park is a more likely contender this year.
But the best spot to watch the show remains Commonwealth Place (down near the Queen Elizabeth Terrace flags) – and not just for the visibility- that’s where you’ll find the Fricken chicken.
Visit the NCA website for more information.
