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Lights of Liberty is a patriotic celebration set against the striking backdrop of the Atheneum. This special evening honors both the bicentennial of New Harmony's Community of Equality and the nation's semiquincentennial, blending history, culture and celebration. Guests can enjoy a relaxed summer evening with food trucks and picnic dining on the Atheneum lawn, along with live entertainment from Third Thursday Bluegrass, The Liberty Belles featuring Molly Felder, Liz Mumford and Cecilia Paradise, and the Rodenberg Blue House Band. The evening culminates in a spectacular custom drone light show beginning at 9:05 p.m., illuminating the sky in a modern and memorable tribute to liberty and community.
Free and open to everyone.
Details:
Saturday, September 5, 2026
5–9:30 p.m. CDT
Atheneum Visitor Center
401 North Arthur Street, New Harmony, Indiana
Drone flights are weather dependent and can only be conducted under safe flying conditions.
To accommodate requirements with our contractor, we may need to make a postponement decision several days before the event. We will review the forecast on August 31 and announce any postponement to Sunday, September 6 at that time. If the event is rescheduled, we will make a final weather determination for September 6 on September 1.
Please note that changing conditions can also require a last-minute decision on the day of the event. Updates will be posted on this page and through our social media channels at Facebook and Instagram.
Current conditions in New Harmony are displayed below to help you plan your visit.
New Harmony, Indiana is located in the Central Time Zone.
Plan your evening using the schedule below. Food vendors will be added as they are finalized in the weeks before the event. Please check back for updates.
| Time | Event | Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. | Food vendors open for business | Various prices | Atheneum lawn |
| 6 p.m. | Opening remarks and the National Anthem | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 6:10–7 p.m. | Performance by Third Thursday Bluegrass | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 7–7:20 p.m. | Stage change and program remarks | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 7:30–9 p.m. | Performance by The Liberty Belles and the Rodenberg Blue House Band | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 9:05 p.m. | Drone Show | Free | Atheneum lawn |
| 9:30 p.m. | Atheneum closes to the public |
Come hungry. Food vendors open at 5 p.m. on the Atheneum grounds, with plenty of options for dinner, snacks and sweet treats throughout the evening.
Bring cash and a card; not every vendor may take both.
If you'd rather pack your own meal, you're welcome to do that, too. Coolers are welcome, but please leave alcohol, grills and camp stoves at home.
The music starts at 6 p.m. on the patio outside the Atheneum's main entrance and continues until 9 p.m., just before the drone show begins.
Pull up a chair on the patio or spread out on the lawn and enjoy an evening of live music. When the final performance ends at 9 p.m., the Lights of Liberty drone show takes over the sky at 9:05.
New Harmony sits in southwestern Indiana along the Wabash River in Posey County. The Atheneum Visitor Center, the site of Lights of Liberty, is located at 401 North Arthur Street on the north end of town.
From I-64: Take Exit 4 (Indiana 69), then follow Indiana 69 south about four miles into New Harmony. The highway becomes Church Street. Turn right onto Arthur Street and continue north toward North Street. The Atheneum and its parking lot will be on your left.
From Evansville: Approximately 40 minutes via I-64 West to Exit 4 (Indiana 69).
Approximate drive times: Evansville (40 min) • Owensboro (1 hr 15 min) • Mount Vernon, IL (1 hr 15 min) • St. Louis (2 hr 15 min) • Louisville (2 hr 30 min) • Indianapolis (3 hr)
Parking: The Atheneum parking lot is the primary parking area and includes accessible spaces near the entrance. Additional parking is available on streets throughout the historic district, generally within a 10-minute walk of the venue. Golf carts should be parked in the designated area near the rear of the lower lawn, furthest from the Atheneum.
Plan ahead: New Harmony is a small town, and several hundred visitors are expected for the event. Please allow extra time for arrival and parking, and expect heavier-than-usual traffic when leaving after the drone show. If you're traveling home after dark, keep in mind that many roads outside town are rural and have limited lighting.
Planning to make a weekend of it? New Harmony offers several lodging options, from the New Harmony Inn to bed-and-breakfasts, guest houses and vacation rentals.
The drone show wraps up around 9:30 p.m. on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. Staying overnight gives you the chance to enjoy the evening without rushing off and leaves Sunday free to explore New Harmony before heading home.
Visit New Harmony maintains a current list of accommodations on its lodging page at visitnewharmony.com. Labor Day Weekend and September are both busy times in New Harmony, so book early if you plan to stay overnight.
Lights of Liberty takes place on the lawn at the Atheneum Visitor Center, 401 North Arthur Street, New Harmony, Indiana. Live music will be presented on the patio outside the Atheneum's main entrance. Food vendors will be located on the lower lawn near the Wabash River and around the Atheneum grounds. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, and choose a spot that suits you. The drone show will take place above the Healing Palindrome, just north of the Atheneum. Guests seeking the clearest view of the show are encouraged to gather on the north side of the grounds. Designated parking for golf carts will be at the rear of the lower lawn.
Lights of Liberty will happen on Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Grounds open at 5 p.m., and you're welcome to claim a spot then. Please don't leave blankets or chairs unattended to hold space earlier in the day—we clear anything set out before 5 p.m.
Yes. No tickets, no registration, no admission. Just show up, and enjoy the show!
You may arrive any time after 5 p.m. If you want a good spot on the lawn, come early and settle in while the food vendors are opening. The drone show itself starts at 9:05 p.m.
Lights of Liberty will feature two hundred small aircraft flying in formation, lit and choreographed to form images in the night sky. The show will last about 10 minutes, is nearly silent, and there's no smoke or fallout you might have with fireworks.
About 10 minutes. It's the finale, so plan to stay through 9:30 p.m.
Yes, and we'd encourage it. Historic New Harmony's guided tours run during the day on September 5, so you can see the town before settling in on the lawn.
New Harmony Orientation Film—free, on demand (12 minutes)
Atheneum Tour—free, on demand (20 minutes)
New Harmony Tram Tour—10 and 11:15 a.m. (45-minutes)
New Harmony History Tour—1 p.m. (2 hours)
Our historic properties and gardens are worth the walk on their own, and the Atheneum Visitor Center is the place to start if you're new to town.
New Harmony's shops, restaurants and other attractions will be open as well. For the full picture of what's happening that day, check the Visit New Harmony calendar at visitnewharmony.com.
Parking is available in the Atheneum parking lot and on the streets throughout town.
This is a very New Harmony question! Yes. Designated golf cart parking is available toward the rear of the lower lawn (furthest from the Atheneum). Please use it rather than parking along the edges of the seating area. Carts sit high enough to block the view for people behind them, and we want the sightlines open for everyone.
No. The drone show is directly overhead, and canopies may block the view for everyone behind them.
Yes. Bring a picnic. Coolers are welcome, but please do not bring alcohol, grills or camp stoves. Food vendors will also be on site starting at 5 p.m.
You’ll want a blanket or folding chair and something warm for after dark; September evenings on the lawn may cool off faster than you'd expect. Bug spray and a flashlight aren’t bad ideas either.
Some food vendors may accept cash, while others accept cards or digital payments. Bringing a small amount of cash is recommended. Note that the Atheneum does not have an ATM.
The Atheneum and its grounds are University of Southern Indiana property, which means a few things are off limits: weapons or firearms, alcohol, smoking and vaping of any kind, and open flames, including grills, camp stoves, candles, citronella candles and bug coils. Security will ask anyone with these items to leave.
Personal drones are also prohibited.
Yes. There are kid-friendly hands-on activities planned from 6 to 8:30 p.m. inside the Atheneum. Also worth knowing: a drone show is far quieter than fireworks, which makes it easier for small children and for anyone who'd rather skip the noise.
Yes, provided your dog is leashed and well-behaved. The Atheneum lawn is a great place for a mellow dog, and a drone show is much quieter than a traditional fireworks display. Be sure to bring water and a bowl for your pet, as there won’t be a water station on site. Animals, except for service animals, are not permitted inside the Atheneum. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, pets that become disruptive, aggressive, or otherwise pose a safety concern may be asked to leave with their owners.
Drone flights are weather dependent and can only be conducted under safe flying conditions. To accommodate requirements with our contractor, we may need to make a postponement decision several days before the event. We will review the forecast on August 31 and announce any postponement to Sunday, September 6 at that time. If the event is rescheduled, we will make a final weather determination for September 6 on September 1.
Please note that changing conditions can also require a last-minute decision on the day of the event. Updates will be posted on this page and through our social media channels: Facebook and Instagram.
No. The show operates under controlled airspace, and any unauthorized aircraft will ground the entire flight. Please leave personal drones at home.
Yes. There are restrooms available inside the Atheneum Visitor Center, which stays open until 9:30 p.m., and portable restrooms outside near the parking lot.
Yes. Accessible parking is available in the Atheneum lot, and reserved seating areas will be set aside on the patio for guests who use wheelchairs or have mobility needs. The drone show is fully visible from the reserved seating, so you won't need to move to see it. If you need anything specific to enjoy the evening, contact us ahead of time at 812-682-4488 or harmony@usi.edu and we'll make arrangements.
For any emergencies, contact 911 immediately.
Please contact event staff as soon as possible by going to the Information Desk of the Atheneum, located on the first floor. We will assist and direct you to appropriate support.
Immediately notify a staff member at the Atheneum Information Desk, located on the first floor, to report a missing child. We will need a description and personal information on the child, so that event staff can assist in locating them. We will also contact the appropriate law enforcement agency if the circumstances are suspicious or foul play is suspected.
A child that is found or reported to have been separated from their group or responsible adult should be brought to the Information Desk, which is designated as a safe area for children or individuals to go in case of an emergency. We will then attempt to reunite the child with their group or adult. If we can't find the child's group or adult in a timely manner, we will contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Yes. Historic New Harmony staff and photographers will be taking photos and video throughout the evening. By attending you're giving us permission to use images that include you—on our website, on social media, and in news coverage and advertising, without a time limit and without payment or prior approval. If you have concerns, please talk to staff at the Atheneum Information Desk.
Where children are concerned, we make an effort not to publish close-up or clearly identifiable images without a parent's or guardian's permission. In a crowd of several hundred people on an open lawn, we can't promise that a child won't appear in a wide shot. If you spot an image of your child that you'd rather we didn't use, contact us at 812-682-4488 or harmony@usi.edu, and we'll take it down.
Call Historic New Harmony at 812-682-4488 or email harmony@usi.edu.
Lights of Liberty: A Drone Show in New Harmony is presented by Historic New Harmony, an Outreach and Engagement program of the University of Southern Indiana in partnership with the Owen-Maclure 200 Committee.
Our thanks to the Town of New Harmony, and to Elizabeth and Bish Mumford, for their help in planning this evening. Thanks as well to Visit New Harmony and Visit Posey County, whose promotion is the reason many of you heard about it.
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