Chesterfield's Central Park will turn red, white and blue on Friday night as a Toby Keith tribute band takes the Chesterfield Amphitheater stage, followed immediately by a synchronized drone light show overhead. The free concert is the latest entry in the city's Sounds of Summer series, and it doubles as a nod to America's 250th anniversary.
According to the City of Chesterfield, MO, the drone show will follow directly after the performance by The American Ride: Toby Keith Tribute, with the aerial display visible throughout Central Park. Vendor Glyphix Drone Shows is presenting the display, which the company describes on its promotional materials as a custom-choreographed light show synchronized to a music soundtrack, part of its broader work across the St. Louis metro region, per Glyphix Drone Shows.
A Concert Timed to America's 250th
The city's official website indicates the event is part of a year-long celebration of America's Semiquincentennial, with both the concert's setlist and the drone display leaning into patriotic red, white and blue themes, according to the City of Chesterfield's official site. The American Ride is a national touring tribute act built around the catalog of country star Toby Keith, and Tour Dates lists signature songs fans can expect, including “Should've Been a Cowboy,” “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” “I Love This Bar” and “Red Solo Cup.”
Gates at the Chesterfield Amphitheater open at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with opener Max Michael set for 6:30 p.m. and The American Ride taking the stage at 7:30 p.m., immediately ahead of the drone show, per the venue's official event schedule. The amphitheater sits at 631 Veterans Place Drive inside Central Park and holds roughly 3,210 guests across 304 fixed lower-level seats and a terraced lawn, according to real estate reporting from Kim Jones Realtor.
What to Know Before You Go
Admission to the Sounds of Summer series is completely free and un-ticketed, though the city's official guidelines note that every guest must pass through physical security checkpoints before entering. Attendees may bring outside snacks and non-glass beverages, but full meals are prohibited; food trucks including Theo's Gyros, Grace Chicken + Fish and Doughboys Wood Fired Pizza will be on site selling food, per the same city rules.
Running a synchronized aerial display over a public park isn't as simple as launching fireworks. Commercial drone light show operators like Glyphix must secure specialized Federal Aviation Administration waivers under Part 107.35 to let a single pilot fly multiple drones at once, along with Part 107.29 clearance for nighttime operations, according to legal analysis from Rupprecht Law.
More Free Shows on the Way
Friday's concert is not the last big draw scheduled for the amphitheater this month. Eight days later, on August 22, the venue will host the annual Backstoppalooza benefit concert, another free Sounds of Summer event featuring Doobie Brothers tribute band Mississippi Moon, raising money for the families of fallen first responders.
Central Park itself has become something of a civic centerpiece for Chesterfield, sitting directly beside the 70-acre former Chesterfield Mall site, which is undergoing a multi-year redevelopment into a mixed-use park and commercial district. Initial site grading there is expected to wrap by fall, according to local infrastructure reporting by Colleen Lawler.
