Fourth Annual Thunderbird Drone Festival Takes Flight In Tulsa

The 4th Annual Thunderbird Drone Festival will kick off Friday, Oct. 4 at the OSU-Tulsa Conference Center.

Leaders say Oklahoma’s first and only drone event will include something for everyone.

Festival director, Chris Castor, said the festival started in Woodward, OK and he's excited for it to be in Tulsa this year.

He said Tulsa is up and coming in the drone industry because Mayor GT Bynum established the Blue Ribbon Commission last year to make Tulsa the Drone Capital of the World.

The Blue Ribbon Commission will study ways to support the industry and make recommendations to establish Tulsa as a leader in Advanced Aerial Mobility.

Castor said the festival supports this mission and the drone industry can be used in Oklahoma to support film, agriculture, and even first responders.

"To have a city like Tulsa that says, 'OK we’re going to lean into that and we’re going to see like how can we play part in kind of setting up Oklahoma to be on the forefront of this technology that’s probably going to stay around for quite a while,'" Castor said. 

The festival is on Friday and Saturday and will have film and photo award shows, educational sessions, and a drone light show on Friday which is open to the public.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ThunderbirdDroneFestival.com.