SAN FRANCISCO — Oracle Park will trade baseballs for broomsticks Saturday night when more than 1,200 drones take to the sky for a one-night Harry Potter-themed show.
The outdoor DroneArt performance is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. and the show starting at 8:15 p.m. The organizer says the performance lasts about 60 minutes, including an intermission.
The drones are programmed to create images inspired by the Harry Potter films while flying in sync with music from the original soundtracks. A live electric violinist is also part of the production.
For anyone going, the practical details matter because this is not a Giants game with a familiar first pitch and stadium routine. Tickets are digital, tickets are not sold at the stadium, late entry may be refused and the performance happens outdoors after dark.
What time does the Harry Potter drone show start?
Show: 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5
Doors: 6:15 p.m.
Length: about 60 minutes, including an intermission
Venue: Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza
The organizer recommends arriving at least 30 minutes to an hour before showtime and warns that late entry may not be permitted.
Because doors open two hours before the performance, people arriving early can buy food and drinks inside the park before taking their places.
How many drones are there?
The organizer says 1,200 drones will be used in the San Francisco performance.
They are synchronized to music from the Harry Potter films and form large aerial images and shapes over the venue. The event also includes a live electric violinist performing during parts of the show.
This is an outdoor production, so visibility and weather matter in a way they do not for an indoor arena show.
What does the weather look like Saturday night?
The current National Weather Service San Francisco forecast calls for a mostly sunny Saturday followed by a mostly clear Saturday night, with an overnight low around the upper 50s.
That forecast can still change before the event. The organizer says that if weather prevents the show from being held, ticket holders will be notified by email through the address associated with their Fever account.
Even with clear skies, Oracle Park can cool quickly after sunset. The organizer recommends layers and says high heels are not permitted on the field; comfortable shoes are required.
Can you buy tickets at Oracle Park?
No. The organizer says tickets will not be sold on site.
Tickets are sold through Fever’s website and app. The QR code is also included in the purchase confirmation email, so an attendee does not necessarily need to rely on mobile data at the gate if the confirmation is already accessible.
Children under 3 may attend free, and the event is listed as all ages.
What bags and outside food are allowed?
The event organizer says outside food is permitted if it is carried in a clear bag smaller than 16 by 16 by 8 inches.
Glass bottles, cans, coolers, glass containers and thermoses are not allowed. Unbroken factory-sealed plastic bottles containing non-alcoholic drinks of one liter or less are permitted.
Backpacks are prohibited under the event’s stated policy, and bags larger than the stated dimensions should not be brought to the stadium.
Because event rules can be stricter than an ordinary visit, attendees should check the organizer FAQ before leaving home rather than assume the exact Giants game-day policy applies.
Is parking available?
The organizer says paid parking will be available on site.
For a one-night event in South Beach, transit may be simpler than trying to leave a stadium garage with the entire crowd at once.
BART’s current Oracle Park rider guide gives two common options:
- Take BART to Powell Street, follow signs to the Central Subway at Union Square and ride a southbound T Third train to Fourth & King, then walk to Oracle Park.
- Take BART to Embarcadero and transfer to the N Judah toward Caltrain/Ballpark, getting off near Second & King.
From Embarcadero or Montgomery, walking to Oracle Park is also an option.
Anyone using transit should check real-time service before the trip, particularly because Labor Day weekend has several major events and road restrictions around San Francisco.
Can you bring a camera?
Personal photography is allowed, according to the organizer, but professional equipment and tripods are not.
That distinction matters for a drone show because plenty of attendees will want to record the sky. A phone or ordinary personal camera is safer than arriving with equipment that could be treated as professional gear at the entrance.
Are pets allowed?
No pets are permitted, though service animals are allowed.
The event is ADA accessible, according to the organizer.
What happens if the show is cancelled?
The organizer says weather-related cancellation information will be sent to the email associated with the ticket holder’s Fever account. Attendees should check both the inbox and spam folder if conditions become questionable.
The event page says ordinary ticket refunds are not permitted, though date changes may be available up to 48 hours before an eligible session. Because Sept. 5 is the confirmed San Francisco date, buyers should read the current ticket terms before purchasing.
The short version
If you are going Saturday: aim to arrive well before 8:15 p.m., have your ticket QR code ready before reaching Oracle Park, do not count on buying a ticket at the gate, keep bags within the published rules and bring layers for an outdoor night by the bay.
The show itself is scheduled for one hour, but the biggest bottlenecks will likely be the same ones as any large Oracle Park event — getting in, parking or transferring from transit, and leaving with thousands of other people afterward.
How we reported this
SF News Today reviewed the official DroneArt Show: Harry Potter San Francisco event page and FAQ, the National Weather Service San Francisco weekend forecast and BART’s current Oracle Park rider guide. Event times and entry policies can be changed by the organizer, so ticket holders should recheck their Fever confirmation before traveling.