No fireworks? No problem: Bay Area cities host Fourth of July drone shows

What’s that in the July night sky? It’s a bird … it’s a plane … no, it’s a drone.

Fireworks won’t be the only thing lighting up the Bay Area this Independence Day. Several cities and events are hosting their own Americana-themed drone shows — using hundreds of mini unmanned aircraft fitted with LED lights to create a variety of patterns, shapes and animations in the sky. It’s all part of an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and offer community-friendly — and safer — festivities.

In the South Bay...