Goleta will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with 250 drones lighting up the sky for the City’s Fourth of July Drone Light Show Saturday at Dos Pueblos High School (DPHS) football stadium, 7266 Alameda Ave.
To preview the event, watch the video promo in English and Spanish to learn more. New this year, there is limited reserved seating that can be purchased here.
Following is an event timeline and other information:
5 p.m. — DPHS parking lot opens. Parking available at DPHS on first-come basis; carpooling encouraged. No parking is allowed along Cathedral Oaks Road.
Limited handicapped parking is available in the DPHS staff parking lot on Alameda Avenue, and there is a roundabout drop-off location. Note, it is still a bit of a walk to the event
5:30-8:45 p.m. — Santa Barbara Airbus will provide free shuttle service from the Costco Parking lot at the Camino Real Marketplace to the front of DPHS.
Note, there will be no service during the Drone Light Show with the last departing shuttle from Costco leaving at 8:50 p.m. The shuttles will take people back to Camino Real Marketplace from about 9:30-10:15 p.m.
6 p.m. — Stadium gates open. Find a seat on the bleachers or bring a blanket and low beach chairs for the turf and track area. No camping chairs or pets allowed. Attendees can also pre-purchase reserved seating. That area will be a fenced off and will include light snacks and beverages and the best view of the show on the field. Purchase reserved seat in advance here.
6 p.m. — Food trucks inside the stadium open. You can bring food inside the stadium, but not large coolers or ice chests. Food trucks at the event include Santa Barbara Food Connection, Don Pepes, Sassafras, SB Hives, Lobo Butcher Shop, and Kona Ice.
6-9 p.m. — Music, dancing and activities, including games, photo booth, face painting, and bubbles. DJ Darla Bea, accompanied by saxophonist Gerry Smith Jr., will provide entertainment.
7 p.m. — Line dancing lessons with local dance legend Tin, who will call out dances throughout the night.
9:10 p.m. — 2026 Santa Barbara Teen Star Brynn Wood will sing the National Anthem.
9:15 p.m. — Drone Light Show to begin at nightfall, lasting about 12 minutes.
The show is supported by the following sponsors:
• Platinum: Yardi
• Gold: Ergomotion, Inc., Santa Barbara Airbus, Santa Barbara Airport, Santa Barbara Honda, Acura & Toyota, Santa Barbara Unified School District
• Silver: Camino Real Marketplace, Deckers Brands, MarBorg Industries, Teledyne FLIR, UCSB Athletics
• Bronze: Air Pollution Control District, Community West Bank, Eng-Denbaars Family, Fuel Depot & Point Market, Goleta Valley Historical Society, True North Wealth Management
• Community Partner: American Riviera Bank, Best, Best & Krieger, Cederlof Family, Central Coast Community Energy, Cottage Health, Dos Pueblos High School, Greater Santa Barbara Lions Club, KeyPoint Credit Union, Leonardo DRS, Santa Barbara News-Press, SEE International, Southern California Edison, Sun Coast Rentals, Visit Santa Barbara, The Water Store.
Additional event information is available on the city’s website.