The city canceled Saturday's 500-drone show hours before it was due to fly. A presidential flight restriction around Palm Beach banned drones. No new date has been set.

Pompano Beach canceled its Drone Show Extravaganza on Saturday, hours before 500 drones were due to fly over the ocean south of the Fisher Family Pier. A presidential flight restriction issued for the Palm Beach area banned drones in the airspace, the city said.

The city announced the cancellation in a release on Saturday, Nov. 7. The free show was set for 7 p.m. and would have been its fifth year. Its event listing now marks the show as canceled.

Why the drones could not fly

The city said the Federal Aviation Administration issued a presidential Temporary Flight Restriction. “The federally mandated airspace restriction prohibits drone operations within the designated area,” the city said.

The FAA’s own notice, NOTAM 6/6281, sets out the rules. It covers:

  • Area: everywhere within 30 nautical miles of Palm Beach International Airport
  • Height: from the ground up to 17,999 feet
  • What is banned: all aircraft flights, “including remote controlled aircraft”
  • When: 7:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8

The beach by the pier sits about 27 nautical miles, or about 31 miles, south of the point the FAA used as the center. That puts it inside the circle. The FAA lists the restriction as a VIP type and says it replaced an earlier notice “due to change in schedule.”

What the city said

“We understand how disappointing this news is for the thousands of residents and visitors who were looking forward to this spectacular event,” the city said. “Unfortunately, federal aviation restrictions are beyond the City’s control, and compliance with these important security measures is mandatory.”

The city thanked Firefly Drone Shows, the Fishing Village businesses and the show’s sponsors. The city had left the show out of its 2026 budget, and those businesses and Firefly paid for it this year, according to the city’s Sept. 29 announcement.

The release did not set a new date. It said updates will be posted on the city’s website.

What it means for you

  • There is no drone show this weekend, and no makeup date has been announced.
  • The flight ban ends at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. It applied to every drone in the circle, not just the show’s, so leave a personal drone grounded until then.
  • The city’s Beach Parking Lot at A1A closes for good Monday, Nov. 9. See where to park after it closes.
  • For other free things to do this month, see things to do in Pompano Beach and our drone show page, which we will update if the city sets a new date.
  • Questions go to city communications at 954-786-4527.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the Pompano Beach drone show canceled?

The city said a presidential Temporary Flight Restriction issued by the Federal Aviation Administration banned drone flights in the area. The FAA’s notice barred all aircraft, including remote-controlled ones, within 30 nautical miles of Palm Beach International Airport from Friday evening to Sunday evening, Nov. 6-8.

Has the Pompano Beach drone show been rescheduled?

Not yet. The city’s Nov. 7 release did not give a new date, and its event listing now marks the show as canceled. The city said updates will be posted at pompanobeachfl.gov.