Goleta is partnering with a production company that calls itself the “largest drone light show provider” in the country for the city’s second Fourth of July light show this year.

The Goleta City Council on Tuesday approved a three-year, $240,000 contract with Sky Elements, a Texas-headquartered drone show company.

The city elected for a three-year contract because it was cheaper per year than a one-year contract, according to the city staff report.

Sky Elements holds 16 Guinness World Records for putting on a record-breaking show with 5,000 drones, according to its website.

Goleta’s Fourth of July show won’t have as many drones; under plans discussed Tuesday, 200 drones will be in the air for a 12- to 15-minute light show at Dos Pueblos High School.

The show will begin at 9:15 p.m. at the high school, which is located at 7266 Alameda Ave.

Prior to the show, food trucks and musical entertainment will be at the high school campus starting at 6 p.m.

This year’s event will also have an event coordinator to help with show logistics.

According to the city staff report, Goleta “would like to make this event bigger and better than its first year.”

Last year’s drone show was put on by Droneshow.com LLC, which Santa Maria also uses for its drone show. 

The idea for a city-run light show came about when community members expressed disappointment that there was no more Fourth of July show in Goleta, according to city staff. The Rotary Club had previously put on an annual fireworks show, but that was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entire Fourth of July event is estimated to cost approximately $155,000 to $165,000.

The city of Goleta has already raised $85,000 to pay for the drone show through community sponsors. Yardi Systems has donated $50,000 to the event, which will go directly towards the light show, the city staff report said. 

The city is seeking additional community sponsors to pay for law enforcement, security, entertainment and other event-related costs. City staff estimate the other costs to be around $75,000 to $85,000.

The city may also set aside dedicated VIP seating — separate from seating on the turf field or bleachers — for $50 each.

“(VIP seating) is a work in progress that could also be used to help offset the cost of the drone show event,” city spokeswoman Kelly Hoover said. 

Hoover said the city is looking into reserved seating because staff heard from attendees from last year’s show that they would have purchased a reserved seat.

Hoover said interested businesses can learn more about donating or sponsoring at the city’s website.