They zoomed, twinkled, blinked and flashed. The Renton River Days drone show on July 21 was the first of its kind for the city.

“That was incredible, that was the first drone show I’ve seen in person,” said Melissa Lavalleur, a drone show attendee. “I definitely think that drones are the way of the future in terms of shows. What you can do—the potential is so much greater than any firework could ever be.”

“The rubber ducky was the coolest part,” said Matthew Lavalleur, fellow attendee to Melissa.

“It just makes more sense, economically and environmentally.”

Lindbergh High School track stars and sweethearts Gina and Terry Williams have been coming to Renton River Days since 1988.

“It was the inaugural show, so we had to be there for that,” says Gina. “Favorite part was when they spelled all the words up there…‘Renton River Days,’ and ‘Where Community Grows.’”

This year, the City of Renton did not host its annual Gene Coulon fireworks show on July 4 because of construction on the North Water Walk and North Trestle Bridge. The drones made some fireworks, but it still wasn’t quite what Gina wanted.

“The fireworks are better, real-live fireworks,” she says. “This was a nice compliment to the fireworks show, though we would like the real firework show next year.”

“It just doesn’t have the same effect,” Terry Williams said. The old traditional whistle, pull, and you feel the vibration of the boom—it was still cool to see this though. …I was open-minded about it, just to see what it was going to be like, I was curious at first.”

“Great show, it was a lot of fun. Renton is back on the move again,” Terry said. Gina interjected—“movin’ and groovin’! It’s nice to see people out here, having a great time. We’ll definitely come if they have it again.”