'Better than fireworks.' Hall of Fame Balloon Classic scores a hit with drone show.

JACKSON TWP. ‒ It looks like Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Balloon Classic scored a touchdown with its new drone show.

The 12-minute Drone Light Show — which debuted late Friday night — above the balloon field at the Kent State University at Stark campus ended in loud cheers. It celebrated football.

Tonight's show at 9:40 p.m. before the fireworks will feature sea creatures.

Skyworx Drone Shows, the Idaho-based company behind the production, synchronized 300 illuminated small drones to create animated images in the sky. The images were two and three dimensional, and some of them rotated. All of them were set to music that matched.

Fran and Dan Kessler of Jackson Township, who attended with their three grandchildren, loved it. "It was amazing," all of them said.

"I think everyone wanted it to go longer," Fran Kessler said.

Not surprisingly, people hope the drone show returns to the Balloon Classic in 2025 — and beyond. Its sponsor, Timken Co., definitely wants it back.

Timken official: 'We were so excited to do this.'

Mike Sopczak and Aaron Grisak, who work for Timken, were involved in creating the show with the Skyworx production team. They said Timken, which is celebrating 125 years, jumped at the chance to sponsor the drone show after the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce announced its addition.

The company's anniversary tagline is "Innovating for Tomorrow," and Sopczak said drone light shows are "an application of that."

Grisak added that the drone industry continues to evolve and these shows are unique because they are "more eco-friendly and not wasted." He also said drones can handle a variety of weather conditions, almost ensuring there is a performance on nights the hot air balloons can't launch.

"The drones go up and come down. You're just not blowing things up," Grisak said. "It's like a reusable show. We were so excited to do this."

Both men said they want the show to return and make it even larger in the future. Skywork does, too.

Skyworx also hope to return annually to the Balloon Classic

Personally, Jim Christopherson, director of business development for Skyworx, said the Balloon Classic felt like home. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the largest hot air balloon festival in the world is held every October.

"I know our company very much wants to (come back). It depends on whether the people in Canton want us here," Christopherson said Friday night. "I would love to make this an annual event."

He said it seemed like people enjoyed the show, noting the grins and smiles afterward. He even got a hug from one person.

Photographers Carrie Heavlin of New Philadelphia and Libby Steer of Coshocton gave the show rave reviews.

"It was better than fireworks," Steer said.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com . On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: 'Better than fireworks.' Hall of Fame Balloon Classic scores a hit with drone show.