Every December, cities and counties across South Florida look for one event that brings the whole community out. A holiday laser light show for a city or county event has become one of the most reliable ways to do it. Lasers are visible from almost anywhere in a crowd, they work for every age group, and they turn a regular park, plaza or fairground into a place people want to be.
Electric Holiday Miami started with exactly this kind of public event. In 2020, Homestead Mayor Steven D. Losner and Miami-Dade County Commissioners Kionne McGee and Jose “Pepe” Diaz presented the first Electric Holiday Experience at Homestead-Miami Speedway. You can read how that season worked in our Electric Holiday 2020 recap.
Why municipalities choose a laser show
Public holiday events have a few jobs to do at once. They have to feel special, serve a big and mixed crowd, and run safely on a public budget. A laser show checks those boxes in ways a stage act alone usually can’t.
- Everyone gets a view. Laser beams are projected into the air above the audience, so the people in the back row see the same show as the people in front.
- It scales. The same show design can be sized for a neighborhood park or a large fairground by changing the number of projectors and where they sit.
- It pairs well with other programming. Tree lightings, toy drives, food trucks, a visit from Santa and local performers all fit around a scheduled laser show.
- It can be drive-in. For very large crowds or locations with limited walk-up space, a drive-in format keeps guests in their cars and makes parking and traffic easier to manage.
Formats that work for public events
Walk-up lawn show
Guests bring blankets and chairs and gather on a lawn or plaza facing the projectors. This is the most social format and works well with vendors and kids’ activities. It needs a clear area for the audience and a separate, secured area for the equipment.
Drive-in show
Cars park in rows facing the show, and audio plays through an FM broadcast on each car’s radio. Our drive-in FM radio guide explains how the audio works and what you need on site.
Scheduled showtimes
Many cities run short shows several times a night, for example every hour after sunset. This spreads the crowd out and gives families flexibility on when to come.
What your planning team should line up
Public events involve more departments than private ones. The earlier these pieces are in motion, the smoother the night goes.
- Date and backup date. December weekends book quickly across South Florida. Pick a rain date at the same time.
- Venue map. Mark where the audience goes, where equipment can sit, where power is available and how emergency vehicles get in and out.
- Permits and notifications. Outdoor laser shows have federal requirements, including FAA notification for beams projected into the sky. Our guide to outdoor laser show rules covers the basics. Your own special events office will tell you what local permits apply.
- Safety plan. Crowd flow, lighting for walkways, first aid and a clear plan for weather.
- Promotion. Showtimes, parking information and accessibility details should be on your city website and social media at least a few weeks out.
For a week-by-week version of this list, see our holiday event planning timeline.
Budget questions to ask early
The biggest cost drivers are the size of the show, how many nights it runs, and how much extra production you need, such as staging, a sound system for a large lawn, video screens or a livestream. When you request a quote, it helps to share your expected attendance, the number of nights, and whether you already have a stage or sound system at the venue.
Making the event count for the community
Some of the best municipal events tie the show to a cause. In 2020, guests who brought a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots received free popcorn. A donation drive like that gives residents a way to give back and gives the event a story local news will want to cover.
Bring Electric Holiday to your city
If your city or county is planning a holiday event, send us your date, venue and expected crowd size. Our production team at Nation Wide Sound DJ’s has worked South Florida events since 1989, and we’re used to working with event coordinators, park staff and public safety teams. You can also see the full Electric Holiday show on our homepage.