It’s the drones for Baltimore’s arts council

The past year brought many changes for Baltimore.

From the ringing of the bell at the newly opened Lexington Market to plans to renovate Harborplace and new tenants making their way in, the city and its economic leaders’ plans to reinvigorate its core have persisted. And that’s not all.

The public-private Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts (BOPA) recently revealed some tech-forward plans for its upcoming New Year’s Eve program.

Much like the drone show seen at Artscape this summer, this year’s annual NYE celebration will also feature a drone display. The organization has been considering this since earlier this year.

The announcement comes as BOPA asks for additional funds from Baltimore City Council to produce Artscape between Aug. 2 and 4.

According to an announcement, Curtis Bay-based Image Engineering is taking charge of the technical aspects of the event. The company previously helped usher in the holiday season with Baltimore’s annual Washington Monument lighting.

The show will integrate with the tradition of fireworks at midnight. Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott will lead the countdown.

BOPA is thrilled to announce New Year’s Eve festivities at #Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. At midnight, the skies will dazzle with a custom drone display alongside fireworks, led by @MayorBMScott .
Join us at the #InnerHarbor Amphitheater from 8pm-12:30am pic.twitter.com/LyeLPIJgvm

— BOPA (@promoandarts) December 13, 2023

BOPA’s event won’t be the only one at the Inner Harbor that evening. Harborplace tenant Amanda Mack will cohost an NYE-related event, which she described as a “full-circle moment” for her to celebrate with Baltimoreans on her 2,000-square-foot deck.

“We used to watch it from the World Trade Center’s 21st floor. So now we get to be outside and, of course, up close and personal,” Mack said. “We don’t necessarily celebrate Fourth of July, so we’re not, like, big on fireworks or going downtown and being part of the festivities. But NYE, it’s always a big celebration. And just bringing in the fireworks, the champagne toasts, the affirmations and — especially, like, for me as a business owner now who has a business at the harbor — I feel is, like, a super big deal because this is an opportunity that traditionally, you know, people of color women of color weren’t necessarily afforded.

“I think it’s important that we embrace the change and accept it because it’s going to happen regardless,” said Jamal McCord, general manager for Lexington Market, about the changes hitting downtown. “But with change comes new things. And new things can also be scary, [but they can] also be very exciting. So I think we have to lean on that side of more excitement, and just allow the change to happen in progress with it as it happens.”

McCord said that maybe in the future, BOPA might replace the fireworks altogether to make the celebration “environmentally sustainable.”

Otherwise, attendees can explore the Made In Baltimore pop-up holiday store and take in performances by local talents like Soul Cannon.