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 unforgettable experience. The festival offers breathtaking views of 400 synchronized drones, fully choreographed to music.
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? October 3, 4 & 5, 2025.
Drone Light Festival at Exploration Place
- This Festival is on 3 separate days
- Friday, October 3, 2025
- Saturday, October 4, 2025
- Sunday, October 5, 2025
- The doors open at 6 p.m., and the Drone show begins at 9 p.m.
- The Drone Show will be directly above the Keeper of the Plains
- When they started this event, they had 200 drones; last year, there were 300, and this year, they will have 400 drones!
- New custom drone formations for the show this year.
- The drones will fly to a LIVE concert from a string quartet. They will be playing film scores by John Williams. The Movies include: Harry Potter, Superman, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and more new formations.
- They have many other unique activities at this festival, so plan on spending the evening at Exploration Place this September.
- Projections on the Exploration Place Buildings
- Food Trucks
- Come Hungry. They have over 20 food trucks scheduled to come. See the complete list below.
- Activity Booths
Pro Tip: Get your tickets early, as they sold out in the last two years.
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 Wichita Foundation Amphitheater.
- Your ticket includes admission to the museum, exhibits, and dome theater.
- Regular admission price is $20 per adult.
- Activity stations inside are FREE with your ticket price.
- One of the stations is a Bubble Zone. How fun!
As you can see, the carload tickets are an incredible deal. Paying general admission to the museum alone would cost $180 for a group of 9, as adult tickets are $20 each. With the carload option, you get so much more for a fraction of that price. Not only does it include museum admission, but you also get to experience a spectacular 400-drone show, enjoy a variety of extra activities, and take advantage of access to the dome theater and other special features.
When you add it all up, the value is huge. You’re getting entertainment, education, and a unique family-friendly experience all bundled into one affordable ticket. For families or groups, it’s a way to stretch your budget while still creating a full evening of memories.
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, includes parking and up to 9 guests
- $65 for a carload (max 9) for members, includes parking and up to 9 guests
- $20 for an individual ticket, no parking
- $15 for individual tickets if you are a member, no parking
- $2 per reserved chair
- $125 for VIP tickets
What is NOT included in your ticket price:
- Food trucks will be serving food & beverages for purchase. This was last year’s list.
- 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 Show Music
A World-Class Quartet Live on Stage
Meet the musicians bringing John Williams’ legendary scores to life:
- Dr. Susan Mayo (cello) – Composer, community arts leader, and Wichita Symphony Orchestra member bringing innovation to the stage.
- John Harrison (violin) – Internationally acclaimed soloist, recording artist and longtime Concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.
- Ian Jessee (viola) – Award-winning educator and chamber musician, performing throughout the U.S. and Europe.
- Chelley Graves (violin) – Wichita-born talent, soloist at Carnegie Hall and collaborator with stars like Rod Stewart and Mannheim Steamroller.
Live Music by The Nailbiters
Before the drones take flight, The Nailbiters, Derby’s most exciting up-and-coming band, will bring their eclectic mix of rock to the amphitheater!
Featuring Blayne Albright (rhythm guitar, vocals), Landon Francis (drums), Karter Holinde (bass, vocals), Ellis May (lead guitar, vocals), and Johnny Pernice (keys, guitar), The Nailbiters are sure to guarantee a set that will have you singing along and feeling the energy.
Drone Light Festival Schedule of Events:
Join the party starting at 6 pm for food, fun, music, and more as we await the sunset and the drones take to the sky.
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
- Free laser shows in the Dome
- Free Live Science Show
- 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!
Exploration Place Fun Fact: New this year, regular admission is now all-inclusive! One price covers everything: exhibits, live science shows, dome movies, and even laser shows. You can spend the whole day experiencing it all without paying extra, and that’s a deal worth checking out. This is for daily general admission.
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 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 |
