July 3, 2025, Story by Hilary Jenison, Photos by Joshua Ross Photography
Last night, thousands of residents gathered at Hingham Harbor to kick off the Fourth of July with an unforgettable community celebration. The waterfront came alive with festive energy, incredible live music by the beloved band Booty Vortex, and the shared joy of neighbors coming together for a night of food, music, and camaraderie.
The evening culminated in Hingham’s first-ever drone light show, a dazzling display made possible by the generosity of the Reilly Family and the collaboration of the Mike Reilly Classic, the Harbor Development Committee, the Town of Hingham, the Hingham Lions Club, and the Hingham Historical Society. Over 300 synchronized drones lit up the sky with breathtaking precision, choreographed to music and featuring patriotic and Hingham-inspired imagery celebrating the town’s role in the American Revolution.
The Reilly Family — whose deep Hingham roots and commitment to community are well known — underwrote the show in loving memory of their son, Mike Reilly. Through the Mike Reilly Classic, an annual youth sports tournament created to honor Mike’s spirit and legacy, the family continues to make a difference in the lives of children across Massachusetts. Mike’s infectious energy, love of sports, and generosity left a lasting mark on those who knew him. Prior to the drone show, members of the Hingham Select Board gathered to thank the Reilly family for their generosity.
Highlights of the drone show included familiar landmarks such as Old Ship Church, St. Paul’s, and the Hingham Heritage Museum at Old Derby. It also featured symbolic elements like: amap of Hingham with a heart, Paul Revere and a drum, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, a Hingham bucket, recognizing the town’s colonial coopers who crafted woodenware, and a Destroyer Escort, paying tribute to the record number of ships built at the Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard during WWII.
Adding a heartfelt touch, the show included three student-drawn images brought to life in the sky: the Statue of Liberty, Thomas Edison, and an American Eagle. The winning submissions came from James and Matthew Canavan, twin fourth-graders, and Lily Shamberger, a first-grader — all students at Foster School. The spectacular display was produced by Hire UAV Pro, a national leader in drone light show entertainment. The company provided an upclose look at the drone show coordination to the winning students!
A huge thank you to everyone who made this magical night possible — and a special shout-out to event coordinators Marco Boer and Allie Koskinas from the Harbor Development Committee for their leadership and dedication!
