Sn the theme of “the party”, the Lyon company Allumee will light up the sky of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, this Wednesday August 16th. Not with tricks, but with a squadron of 200 drones. Through skilful computer programming, these 200 devices will draw and dance above the Grande Plage. A first in Charente-Maritime. “We know that our August 16 fireworks display usually draws 20,000 people. This year is the unknown,” confesses Danièle Coudert.
Elected Saint-Georgeaise in charge of coordinating events in the town, Danièle Coudert is waiting for zero hour, this Wednesday evening, to measure the degree of attractiveness of drones, newcomers to the animation landscape, alone or supplementing a firework. Fires, the town of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne offered two each summer, until now. At least when she was allowed to shoot them, on July 15 and August 16.
“Many municipalities organize fireworks. People get used to…”
“Last summer, because of the drought, we had to cancel our two fires. The Suzac forest is nearby. It is our lung, it gives our seaside resort its character, it wouldn’t make sense to take the risk of destroying it by fire. And we didn’t even have the possibility of shifting the fireworks to the port side, where the risk this time would have been to see fireworks possibly falling on boats. »
First idea, water jets
Pragmatically, first, the City of Saint-Georges-de-Didonne has done its accounts. The municipality had to pay the costs of the two events, nearly 40,000 euros. Danièle Coudert also weighs a more emotional element in Saint-Georges-de-Didonne’s decision to change his philosophy. “When we offer entertainment, we want to offer people something wonderful. Fireworks are one way to do it, but many municipalities organize them. People get used to…”
A drone show did not come spontaneously to the minds of Saint-George’s elected officials. During a stay in Barcelona, Danièle Coudert had fallen under the spell of the play of lights and waters that illuminate the Catalan city. “We studied the possibility of a show of water jets, with lights, lasers, but it was technically impossible to use salt water from the estuary, or even water from Lake Enlias. . And filling huge basins with fresh water was obviously not conceivable, ”slices the elected official.
A 120° zone
This Wednesday evening, thousands of people will gather on the Grande Plage and on the Boulevard de la Côte de Beauté. The space to fully apprehend the magic of the drone show is limited. “Spectators must bear in mind that they will have to stand in a field of 120° offering optimal conditions for listening and seeing, between the Relais de la Côte de Beauté and Place Michelet. I insist, because I don’t want people outside this angle to be disappointed. In the same spirit of not causing disappointment or frustration, Danièle Coudert insists on the brevity of the show, “about ten minutes”, and the exact time of its start, “at 10:30 p.m. sharp”. Places will be expensive and taken by storm very early.
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