Drones added to popular fireworks show at Otsego Lake on July 6

GAYLORD — A mainstay since the 1960s, the popular fireworks show on Otsego Lake returns this year with an interesting twist featuring a combination of drones and fireworks.

Tim Beattie of the Otsego Lake Association said this year's show will occur at 10:30 p.m. on July 6 at Otsego Lake County Park.

Beattie said the skies above Otsego Lake will be set aglow with a display of cutting-edge aerial artistry, featuring 100 high-flying drones and fireworks. Starlight Aerial Productions will be responsible for the drones and Wolverine Fireworks will provide the pyrotechnics.

The drones take flight to create intricate patterns and dazzling formations in the night sky all synchronized to an immersive musical score. Beattie said Starlight has done over 200 drone-themed shows nationally, including one in Cadillac.

"Children may especially like the drone show because they present shapes in the form of animals and dinosaurs," he added.

Last year's fireworks display had to be canceled after a platform carrying fireworks sank in the lake.

"We used to have an old platform that was set up every year to launch the fireworks. That platform failed last year. This time we are letting the fireworks company handle everything and they will be using their own barges," Beattie said.

The annual fireworks display has proven to be very popular.

"People are in their boats that they can launch into the lake. The people who live along the lake also get out in their boats to view everything. The lake will probably be filled with over 100 boats," said Beattie.

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Some of the early events in the 1960s also featured a water skiing show in the afternoon and then the fireworks at night.

The cost of the show is covered by donations from local businesses. Sponsors this year include Albie's, Alpine Animal Hospital, Big Buck Brewery, Builders FirstSource, Hogan's Jewelers, Huntington Bank, Hutson, M&M Excavating, Mega Power Sports and a memorial to Neil Martel.

The music that will accompany the drone display will be broadcast on 104.3 FM.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Drones added to popular fireworks show at Otsego Lake on July 6