Dozens of cities across the U.S. will host drone shows on the Fourth of July this year, seeing them as preferable to fireworks. Here's why.

Now in its third year, the La Jolla Fourth of July drone show will feature 500 drones creating a 15-minute patriotic display starting at 9 p.m. on Friday.

Even without fireworks, a spectacle of lights appeared over Goleta on Friday night as the city held its first-ever drone show to celebrate the Fourth of