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Canada Day celebrations will look a little bit different in Kamloops and Vernon this year, but no less spectacular.

The City of Kamloops is putting on a drone light show in lieu of traditional fireworks for the first time, as confirmed by the community events coordinator Janvi Desai, and the first ever drone show in the Okanagan is scheduled to light up the night sky over Vernon for the big day. 

"We are thrilled to present the first ever drone show in the Okanagan," reads the announcement by Tourism Vernon. "Watch in awe as 250 drones light up the sky in a 15-minute performance that promises to be a highlight of the day."

Tomorrow, June 21, Tourism Kamloops and the Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation said they are putting on the first aerial light show in the province outside of the Lower Mainland, in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day. 

The aerial light shows are an innovative way to light up the skies without risking starting fires in dry conditions.

In recent years, drone shows have become a popular form of entertainment and a regular feature at celebrations worldwide, and as a replacement for traditional fireworks displays, according to Robots.net.

In drone shows, swarms of programmed drones lit up with LED lights fly in synchronized formations against the night sky, flipping, spinning and hovering.

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This summer, Kamloops Fire Rescue will not be issuing permits for consumer fireworks sale or use and any fireworks or pyrotechnical devices cannot be legally used without one.

“Despite the precipitation we’ve received this spring, vegetation in our area is drought stressed, dry, and primed to burn,” said Scott Johnson, Assistant Chief, Kamloops Fire Rescue in a media release.

“Regardless of the amount of rain we might receive, residents should understand the extreme risk of fire in our city during the summer remains due to our desert-like environment. It only takes one spark to create disastrous consequences.”

If you want to see fireworks on Canada Day, Kelowna and Penticton have got you covered.

Fireworks will go off at 10 p.m. on July 1 at Waterfront Park in Kelowna, and also at 10 p.m. from Okanagan Lake Park in Penticton.

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