Skies Above Scarborough to Light Up for Five Nights of Drone Spectacle

Tuesday, 18 November 2025 18:30

By Matthew Pells

This week, the historic ramparts of Scarborough Castle are serving as the backdrop for a spectacular new drone display, forming a key part of the annual Scarborough Lights event.

The display runs for five consecutive evenings, from Wednesday 19 November 2025 until Sunday 23 November 2025.

The brand new display was specially commissioned for Scarborough Lights, promising "an unforgettable evening that merges artistry and cutting-edge technology".

Produced by Flight Shows, one of the UK’s leading drone display companies, the show takes attendees on a journey around the town with Thomasin Farrer and local schoolchildren. The narrative is particularly poignant as it approaches Scarborough’s 400th anniversary as the UK’s first seaside resort.

Festival Director Julian Caddy provided insight into the event and the commitment to making it accessible to local communities:

"We've got five nights of drone displays from Wednesday to Sunday the 23rd.

You go to ScarboroughFair.uk and there's local resident discounts as well which I think is really important. There's 15% off cost of living, bearing that in mind, it's already not expensive but to have that extra discount is it just helps make the difference.

We also have discounts for people from Whitby and Filey as well, so it's not just the Scarborians, so the residents are beyond Scarborough as well."

The 2023 display can be seen below.

A Collaboration of Creativity

The show is described as more than just a light display; it is a collaborative theatrical experience. The text for the performance was written by Nick Lane of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, while the soundscape, sound design, and recording were crafted by Ernie Acquah. Voices are provided by Georgie Samuels and members of The Stephen Joseph Theatre's Young Company.

Attendees will also have the unique opportunity to see the Scarborough Castle illuminations up close.

The evening begins at 5:00 PM when the Castle opens, offering a full programme of performances leading up to the aerial finale.

The confirmed schedule for the evening highlights is as follows:

5:00 PM – Live music with Nathan Badger
5:30 PM – Fire performance
5:45 PM – More music from Nathan Badger
6:00 PM – LED performance
6:15 PM – Fire performance
6:30 PM – Drone Show finale

The drone display is scheduled to run for approximately 12 minutes. The overall event is set to conclude by 7:30 PM.

Producers Address Reliability and Sustainability

Flight Shows, who are producing the display, have previously been involved in the Scarborough Lights 2023 event. They are the UK's only Carbon-Neutral drone show company, taking their responsibility to protect the environment seriously and say they rely on a strong background in live entertainment to ensure that they craft an engaging and unforgettable experience.

English Heritage, who support the event, has acknowledged the professionalism of the team, noting that they “worked hard to ensure an unforgettable show” despite managing a “tricky site and Scheduled Ancient Monument,” according to Mark Williamson.

The producers have invested heavily in technology suited to the UK's unpredictable weather, enabling the drones to safely operate in winds of up to 45 km/h and light rain. However, the event organiser reminds visitors that the display is subject to suitable weather conditions and shows may be cancelled at short notice. Should an evening be cancelled, attendees may be able to transfer their tickets to another evening or to provisional dates scheduled for the 24th and 25th November, subject to availability.

Organisers say that that the full drone display is only viewable from Scarborough Castle. Visitors are advised to wear suitable footwear as the ground may be wet.

There are more details at https://scarboroughfair.uk/events/drone-display-at-scarborough-castle-2/

Did you find this article useful?

This is the Coast is committed to providing a daily local news service for the Yorkshire Coast. We are a small locally owned and operated business which employs professional journalists and reporters. We do not receive any public funding or grants and we are entirely funded by our local commercial operations. We enjoy fabulous support from local businesses who work with us on their advertising and marketing campaigns, but the cost of providing high quality, well researched, fact checked local news coverage is significant.

If you appreciate what This is the Coast does, and would like to help support our journalism, please consider supporting us on a monthly basis today.

A small contribution from all our readers would really help support independent journalism for the Yorkshire Coast.

More from Yorkshire Coast News

East Riding Councillors Condemn ‘Punitive’ Government Funding Review as Council Faces £100 Million Shortfall

Councillors in the East Riding have expressed a mixture of shock and outrage following the government's "fairer funding review," a provisional settlement that local leaders claim will leave the authority as one of the most financially vulnerable in the country.
Scarborough Athletic Chair Eyeing Playoffs

Boro chair Trevor Bull says finishing in the playoffs would be a great result after a season of turmoil.
East Riding Council Facing "Tough Decisions" as New Operating Model Signals Looming Redundancies

East Riding Council is embarking on a significant organisational overhaul that will include workforce reductions as the local authority grapples with what leaders describe as a "structural" funding crisis.
Flood Warnings Issued For Scarborough's Sandside & Foreshore Road

The Flood Warnings come into force this evening and affect South Bay between Aquarium Top and the Toll House.
Location for Scarborough's 400th Anniversary Sculpture Confirmed

Plans are gathering pace for a historic milestone on the Yorkshire Coast as Scarborough prepares to celebrate 400 years since its official designation as a spa town.
New Chief Exec for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity has announced the appointment of Kathryn Marsden OBE as its new Chief Executive Officer. Kathryn will take up the position from 9th March 2026.
Scarborough and Whitby MP Presses for Burniston Fracking Decision to be Delayed

Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, is pressing North Yorkshire Council to delay a decision on whether to give a proposed gas exploration in Burniston the green light.
Pickering and Filey MP Criticises Government for ‘Unfair’ Rural Funding Settlement

The Member of Parliament for Pickering and Filey, Kevin Hollinrake, has launched a sharp critique of the government's latest local council funding settlement, claiming it fundamentally disadvantages rural communities such as North Yorkshire.
East Riding to Introduce Weekly Food Waste Collections Amid Long-Term Funding Fears

Residents across the East Riding, including those in Bridlington and Driffield, are preparing for a significant change to their household routines as the local authority transitions to weekly food waste collections.
Eastfield Boxing Club Film to Get Scarborough Premiere

A new documentary about Eastfield’s Westway Boxing Club will be screened at Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre next week.
Scarborough Athletic Stunned By Minnows in Senior Cup

A reshuffled Seadogs line-up were beaten on penalties by Yarm & Eaglescliffe, from four divisions below, on Tuesday night.
Whitby Town Again Hit By Second Half Slaughter

The Blues again led at half-time, on Tuesday night, but suffered more second-half agony.

Comments

Add a comment

Display Name *

Location *

Email Address *

Comment *

I have read and agreed to the privacy policy and terms & conditions *

Get Our Apps

Our Apps are now available for iOS, Android and Smart Speakers.

Today's Weather

Scarborough
Light rain

High: 7°C | Low: 5°C
Filey
Light rain

High: 7°C | Low: 5°C
Whitby
Light rain

High: 7°C | Low: 5°C
Bridlington
Light rain

High: 8°C | Low: 5°C
Hornsea
Light rain

High: 8°C | Low: 5°C
Driffield
Light rain

High: 7°C | Low: 5°C

News

East Riding Councillors Condemn ‘Punitive’ Government Funding Review as Council Faces £100 Million Shortfall
Councillors in the East Riding have expressed a mixture of shock and outrage following the government's "fairer funding review," a provisional settlement that local leaders claim will leave the authority as one of the most financially vulnerable in the country.
Scarborough Athletic Chair Eyeing Playoffs
Boro chair Trevor Bull says finishing in the playoffs would be a great result after a season of turmoil.
East Riding Council Facing "Tough Decisions" as New Operating Model Signals Looming Redundancies
East Riding Council is embarking on a significant organisational overhaul that will include workforce reductions as the local authority grapples with what leaders describe as a "structural" funding crisis.

On Air Now

Now Playing