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/
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