The event has the collaboration of the GCPHE and will put the finishing touch to the programme of events for the Day of Families.
The surroundings of the Francisco Peraza ‘la Manzanilla’ municipal stadium will be the take-off runway for one of the most striking events in the programme with which La Laguna is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its declaration as a World Heritage City by Unesco, a visual show of drones which, this Saturday, will put the finishing touch to the activities of the Day of Families.
The event, organised by the City Council, in collaboration with the company UMILES and the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain (GCPHE), will offer a unique lighting experience, combining cutting-edge technology and cultural heritage, which can be seen from different points of the historic centre.
The Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, explained that this 25th anniversary ‘is not limited to the celebration of a quarter of a century of international recognition, as this anniversary has become an opportunity to analyse the work done, reaffirm our commitment and move forward in the protection and dissemination of the Outstanding Universal Value of the city. Steps that we are already taking with the drafting of the first Management Plan, the creation of the Office for the Integral Management of the Historic City and the forthcoming update of the Special Protection Plan for the complex’.
And with this drone show, the mayor stressed, ‘we are incorporating innovation and technology as values for the promotion and preservation of a city that is a symbol of the cultural and historical richness of the Canary Islands. This activity is an opportunity to show, in a different way, the importance of our heritage and to educate future generations about the need to preserve it’.
The Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, pointed out that, ‘after being forced to cancel the show in December due to weather conditions, it was clear to us that the best time for it to take place was on Family Day, a day that has great roots and tradition in La Laguna and which, together with the Department of Social Welfare, will bring together a full programme of activities in the historic city’.
An environmentally friendly show
‘As a special closing, the choreographies of the drones will fill the skies of La Laguna with their powerful RGB LED lights and a proposal in which we also highlight the union and the work that we maintain with the 15 cities of the GCPHE’, said Cordobés, who highlighted “the consideration of this show towards people and animals sensitive to noise, as well as its commitment and respect for the environment and the natural environment, producing zero CO2 emissions and waste”.
He also recalled that the celebration may be affected by weather conditions, since, for safety reasons, drones will not be able to fly if there is light rain, winds above 11 km/h or fog. In the event of adverse conditions that could jeopardise the smooth running of the show, the operator will be able to delay or cancel the launch if deemed necessary.
Where and when to watch
This customised show will deploy 220 drones in a visual story, which will intermingle allegorical images of the city, Unesco and the GCPHE, in which La Laguna participates as the only representative of the Canary Islands. The show, which has all the necessary permits and authorisations, will begin at 21:30 hours and the recommended places to watch it are the Plaza de la Junta Suprema and surrounding areas, as well as the Camino Largo or the Camino de Las Peras.
The event will be run by UMILES, a Spanish company that has already organised more than 500 drone shows all over the world, both for public entities and internationally prestigious companies.