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Diwali Festival Drone Show and Fireworks

At a glance

Based on speech-to-text of the meeting video; names and details may be misheard.

  • What: whether to add a sponsor-funded drone show to the town's Diwali event, which will not have fireworks this year, and how council members and staff should divide the work.
  • Where it stands: consensus on September 8, 2026 to hold the event as planned with no drone show or fireworks this year. One member proposed having staff study drones or fireworks for next year's budget.
  • Background: public comment on November 25, 2025 about citations after an unsanctioned 2025 Diwali event (approved minutes).

Log

  • 2026-09-08 - Town Council Regular Session - Two sponsors had offered to help fund quotes of $15,000 to $20,000. Council members said an elected official should not solicit vendors or sponsors on their own, and the town attorney advised that doing so is inconsistent with the council-manager form of government. Staff said fireworks were dropped after last year's after-action review and the special events budget cut, nothing was signed, and it is too late to change the event.
  • 2025-11-25 - Town Council Regular Meeting - Background from the prior year: two residents told Council that an unsanctioned Diwali gathering had involved legally purchased fireworks and that the Town had called the event illegal on social media; they asked for reconsideration of citations and guidance for future celebrations, one citing possible immigration effects. Johnson and Garimella said they were unaware of the citations and asked staff for information; Garimella also raised immigration concerns. No action was taken.

From the video (October 27, 2026)

Council members thanked staff for the event; one suggested shuttles because the walk from the overflow lot to the park was too far. See 2026-10-27 - Town Council Regular Session.

Sources