The Drone Light Festival at Exploration Place will take place this Fall. The Drone Show in Wichita is a family favorite, but tickets to the Drone Festival tend to sell out every year.
This event combines three incredible experiences into one. The festival offers breathtaking views of 300 synchronized drones, fully choreographed to music. You’ll also have the chance to decorate and launch your own floating water lantern and enjoy a candlelight concert—all within the Drone Light Festival.
Exploration Place hosted its first drone festival a couple of years ago, and it was a huge success. We love attending this event and can’t wait to go again this year. I highly recommend it—it offers so much for the price! You get to see the show, explore the museum, listen to live music, and enjoy the entire kids’ area.
When is the Drone Show at Exploration Place? September 20 – 22, 2024.
As a special bonus for 2024, this event marks the grand opening of the new Wichita Foundation Amphitheater and an all-new event plaza at Exploration Place.
Drone Light Fest Dates and Activities:
- This Festival is on 3 separate days
- Thursday, September 20, 2024
- Friday, September 21, 2024
- Saturday, September 22, 2024
- The doors open at 6 p.m., and the Drone show begins at 10 p.m.
- The Drone Show will be directly above the Keeper of the Plains
- In 2022, they had 200 drones and this year they will have 300.
- New custom drone formations for the show in 2024.
- They have many other unique activities at this festival, so plan on spending the evening at Exploration Place this September.
- Floating Water Lanterns.
- Each guest will receive a floating water lantern to decorate and set adrift on the museum’s reflection pond, creating a stunning display of light and reflection.
- Projections on the Exploration Place Buildings
- A Candlelight Concert
- Experience an atmospheric and captivating live event where talented local musicians perform with the soft light of more than 2,000 candles.
- Food Trucks
- Come Hungry. They have over 15 food trucks coming. See the complete list below.
- Activity Booths
Pro Tip: Get your tickets early because the last two years’ tickets sold out!
Wichita Drone Show Tickets
What is Included with Your Drone Show Ticket:
What is Included with your Ticket Price for a Carload of 9 People:
- Parking space in the Exploration Place lot
- Access to watch the drone show from the all-new Wichita Foundation Amphitheater
- Your ticket includes admission to the museum exhibits
- Museum exhibits typically cost $12 for adults
- Your ticket includes a live Science show
- Live Science Shows typically cost $5 for adults
- Catch a show in the Dome Theater
- At the Drone Light Festival, they will be playing “The Dark Side of the Moon,” which is typically an $18 ticket and $15 for members.
- You can color on a floating lantern with your ticket and launch it yourself.
- You get to enjoy a candlelight concert along the pond.
- Activity stations inside are FREE with your ticket price.
- One of the stations is a Bubble Zone. How fun!
If you paid for each of these experiences individually, it would cost:
- 9 adults X $12 for the Museum Exhibit = $108
- 9 adults X $5 for the live Science Show = $45
- 9 adults X $18 for some shows in the Dome = $162
- Total on the very high end would cost you $315, but you can get ALL of this plus the Drone show, concert, floating water lanterns, some activities, and fire show for ONLY $75 for a carload up to 9 people.
Ticket Prices for the Drone Show at Exploration Place:
All ticket levels include admission to the museum’s exhibits, drone shows, live science show, and activities. Great Deal!
We think the Carload passes are great because they include access for up to 9 people. That is roughly $8.33 per person.
- $75 for a carload (max 9) for non-members
- $65 for a carload (max 9) for members
- $15 for individual ticket
- $12 for individual tickets if you are a member
- $125 for VIP tickets
What is NOT included in your ticket price:
- Food trucks will be serving food & beverages for purchase.
- Batter Em Up
- Burger Depot Food Truck
- Busy B’s
- Chunky Chet’s Cookies
- El Gusto Mexican Eatery
- Funky Monkey Munchies
- Jive Turkey
- Life Gave Me Lemons
- Marineros Tacos Y Mas
- Mook’s Food Truck
- Noble 9 Bakery
- Rice n Tings
- Schwarma UR
- The Popcorner
- Tickled Pink Drinks
- Waffle n Stuff
- Watt’s Cooking and Catering
- Xclusive Event Services, mobile bar
- Some outdoor activities, concessions, and merchandise are available at an additional fee.
Drone Light Festival Tickets
Drone Light Festival Schedule of Events 2024:
Join us starting at 6 pm for food, fun, music and more as we wait for the sun to go down and the drones to fire up.
6:00 pm
- Gates Open
6:00 – 8:30 pm
- Explore the museum and exhibits
- Food trucks and activities on Entry and Amphitheater Plazas
- Explore Store and Snack Lab open in the museum
- Decorate your water lantern in WaterWay Hall and launch at 7 p.m.
- Free laser shows in the Dome at 6:30, 7:15 and 8:00 pm
- Free Live Science Show at 6:30, 7:15 and 8:00 pm
- Candlelight Concert by the Reflection Pond
- STEM Station fire bubbles 6:00 – 8:30 pm
- and more!
9:00 pm
- The main event starts! Fire show and drone light show
10:00 pm
- Museum closes
- Gates close
Subject to change – check back for updates!
Deadline Has Passed for the 2024 Drone Light Festival Contest.
| Deadline Has Passed: Design a Formation for the Drone Light Festival |
Do you have a great idea that you would like to see come to life in the lights of 300 drones? Exploration Place has an opportunity to add two new formations to the 2024 show. Draw a picture you would like to be included in the Drone Light Festival and submit it. The winning design from each category, kid and adult, will be turned into a 300 drone formation at the 2024 Drone Light Festival on September 20 – 22 and will receive a Carload Pass to attend the Drone Light Festival on the night of their choice, as well as four (4) VIP tickets for the show. What formation do you want to see in the Wichita sky? Download Your Entry Form HERE |
