New Year’s Eve drone shows planned in NYC parks as public still seeks answers about mysterious aircrafts

A fleet of 500 drones will take over the night sky in the Big Apple’s Central and Prospect Parks on New Year’s Eve — but there won’t be any mystery around these aircraft. The massive display will be part of the New York Road Runner Club’s annual midnight run to ring in 2025. The organization opted for the drone show after months of severe drought conditions in the tristate area forced local authorities to temporarily halt fireworks displays.

“This year, responsive to New York City’s recent drought, New York Road Runners has pivoted and is working to finalize plans to pilot a runner-facing drone show, in lieu of fireworks,” the organization said in a statement to The Post. Runners will be able to watch the display put on by 500 drones at Central Park on the 72nd Street traverse, just south of the Bethesda Fountain. However, the planned show is not meant for a massive public audience but is geared towards those partaking in the midnight run.



Organizers do not believe the show will be visible beyond the event. The Prospect Park Alliance also opted to eschew the explosives this year and will organize a drone show instead. The PPA did not respond to The Post’s request for comment by the time of publication.

Drought conditions, which plagued the region in the fall, caused numerous brush fires within the five boroughs, have waned in the month of December. City rainfall is more than three-quarters of an inch above the norm, according to the New York Times . These planned drone performances come as the state of New Jersey remains in a state of pandemonium after weeks of mysterious sightings of the devices.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst confirmed Wednesday that it has taken down several drone incursions in the past year. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are now deploying detection technology to try and identify some of the mysterious craft reported by New Jerseyans. However, both agencies have said many of the alleged drone sightings are operating legally, and many are simply misidentified manned aircraft.

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