In 1826, the people living in New Harmony signed on to something called the Community of Equality, a bet that a town could be organized around shared work, shared learning and shared property. The United States itself was only fifty years old and running an experiment of its own in self-government.
The Community of Equality lasted about two years. It splintered into rival factions, ran short of the skilled labor it needed, and by 1827 Robert Owen, who had bought the town two years earlier, had gone back to Britain. But many of the scientists, teachers, artists, reformers and others who had come here for it didn't leave. What these people built afterward outlasted the attempt at achieving utopia that brought them, and it's the reason there's still a town here to celebrate in.
That social experiment ended in 1827. The other one—the American democratic experiment—is still being worked out, and you have a part in it.
Two centuries later, we're marking both anniversaries—New Harmony's Owen-Maclure bicentennial and the nation's 250th—the way New Harmony does best: on the Atheneum lawn, with neighbors, family and friends, after dark.
Bring a blanket and a folding chair. Food vendors open at 5 p.m., so dinner is handled, or you can bring a picnic from home. Live music runs 6:30 to 9 p.m. with Third Thursday Bluegrass, The Liberty Belles—featuring Cecilia Paradise, Molly Felder, and Liz Mumford—and The Rodenberg Blue Band. At 9:05 p.m. the sky over the Atheneum fills with a custom-designed drone show, several hundred points of light drawing New Harmony's story above one of its modern architectural landmarks.
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
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 |
| 6:30 p.m. | Opening remarks and the National Anthem | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 6:45–7:30 p.m. | Performance by Third Thursday Bluegrass | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 7:30–8 p.m. | Switch bands and introduction of The Liberty Belles and Rodenberg Blue House Band | Free | Atheneum patio |
| 8–9 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 lawn on the river side of the Atheneum, around the building from the stage, and they'll be serving straight through the evening.
Bring cash and a card; not every vendor may take both. Lines are shortest at 5 and again once the music starts, so if you'd rather eat than stand in line, plan around 6:30.
If you'd rather pack your own, do that instead—the lawn is made for a picnic, and you're welcome to bring a cooler. Just no alcohol, and no grills or camp stoves.
The music starts at 6:30 p.m. on the patio outside the Atheneum's main entrance and runs until nine, which puts the last set right up against the drone show.
Pull a chair up to the patio or stay out on the lawn; the music carries either way. When the last set ends at nine, that's your cue to start looking up.
New Harmony sits at the southwestern edge of Indiana, on the Wabash River in Posey County. The Atheneum Visitor Center is at 401 North Arthur Street, at 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 on Arthur Street and continue towards North Street. The Atheneum and its parking lot are on your left.
From Evansville: About 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 lot is the main lot, with accessible spaces near the entrance. Additional parking is available on the street throughout the historic district, about a 10-minute walk. Golf carts have designated parking toward the rear of the lower lawn (furthest from the Atheneum).
A word on timing: New Harmony is a small town hosting several hundred visitors that night. Give yourself extra time arriving, and expect the lot to empty slowly after the show. If you're driving home after dark, the roads out of town are rural and unlit—worth knowing before you set out.
New Harmony has a handful of places to stay right in town, from the New Harmony Inn to bed & breakfasts to guest houses and rentals, and there are more options in Evansville, 40 minutes to the east. The show ends by 9:30 p.m. on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, and staying over means you can walk the town on Sunday instead of driving home in the dark.
Visit New Harmony keeps the current lodging list at visitnewharmony.com. It is a holiday weekend and September is a busy month here, so book early.
On the lawn at the Atheneum Visitor Center, 401 North Arthur Street, New Harmony, Indiana. The music will happen on the patio outside the Atheneum's main entrance, facing the parking lot, so you'll walk right up to the music. Most food vendors are set up on the lower lawn on the river side of the building. Bring your blanket or chair to whichever side suits you. The drone show flies overhead and is visible from anywhere on the grounds, but the best viewing area will be on 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.
Yes. No tickets, no registration, no admission. Just show up.
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.
Several hundred small aircraft flying in formation, lit and choreographed to form images in the night sky. It's about 15 minutes, nearly silent, and there's no smoke or fallout, so closer to watching an animation than fireworks.
About 15 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.
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.
We'd ask you not to. The drone show is directly overhead, and canopies block the view for everyone behind them. Tall-backed chairs are welcome toward the rear of the lower lawn (furthest away from the Atheneum) for the same reason.
Yes. Bring a picnic, a cooler, whatever you like. Food vendors will also be on site starting at 5 p.m. if you'd rather not pack.
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 isn't a bad idea 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.
Very. There are kid-friendly hands-on activities planned from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the Atheneum. Also worth knowing: a drone show is far quieter than fireworks, which makes it easier on small children and on anyone who'd rather skip the noise.
Yes, as long as your dog is leashed and comfortable in a crowd. The Atheneum lawn is good place for a mellow dog—a drone show is far quieter than fireworks, so there's none of the noise that sends most dogs home early. Please bring water and a bowl for your pet; there's no water station on the grounds, and September evenings stay warm well past sunset. Animals aren't permitted inside the Atheneum, with the exception of service animals, and please clean up after your pet.
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 also 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, and 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, 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 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, a program of the University of Southern Indiana, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc. and 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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