A NIGHTMARE OVER LITTLE ELM PARK: THE SEQUEL
When the skies over Little Elm Park first lit up with A Nightmare Over Little Elm Park last Halloween, audiences witnessed something extraordinary — a seamless blend of storytelling, spectacle, and supernatural imagination. But as every good horror fan knows… nothing truly stays buried.
This October, the story continues — and deepens — with A Nightmare Over Little Elm Park: The Sequel. Working alongside the brilliant team at Verge Aero, I wanted to push the limits of drone storytelling — transforming the night sky into a living canvas where folklore, fear, and cinematic atmosphere collide.
The sequel begins where last year’s show left off. The fireworks, lights, and spectral energy of Halloween night tore open the veil between the living and the dead — and something slipped through
.
In the new story, the Little Elm Paranormal Society (LEPS) returns to investigate. Using experimental drone technology and ghost communication tools, they attempt to make contact with the other side — but quickly realize that some forces aren’t just listening… they’re responding.
Audiences become part of the investigation as the drones transform into living symbols of fear: from the Lady of the Lake, to the Headless Horseman, Bloody Mary, and even a giant all-seeing eye that scans the crowd. Each manifestation builds until the sky itself becomes a haunted landscape — a maelstrom of light, sound, and spirit.
Designing The Sequel meant more than just expanding the effects; it meant deepening the mythology. Every sequence was crafted like a cinematic chapter, drawing from classic horror imagery — pumpkins, black cats, werewolves, vampires, and more — all brought to life through the precision of Verge Aero’s fleet of synchronized drones.
Each light pattern, formation, and movement was storyboarded to align with the beats of the narrative. From the moment the drones spell “HELLO” across the sky to the chilling final message — “GOODBYE” — every element serves the story.
The drones aren’t just lights in the sky; they are characters, ghosts, and symbols of the unseen.
Every great haunting needs a heartbeat. For A Nightmare Over Little Elm Park: The Sequel, I worked closely with Bill Norman Music to design a cinematic soundtrack that fuses ambient EVP tones, unsettling whispers, and classic horror orchestration.
Each sequence — from the ethereal calling of the Lady of the Lake to the climactic eruption of pyrotechnics — was scored to heighten emotional tension. The music functions like a spirit itself, guiding audiences through a sonic journey of curiosity, fear, and awe.
Working with sound engineers, we built a layered mix of EVP static, thunderous percussion, and spectral melodies that mirror the drones’ choreography. Together, the visuals and soundscapes create an immersive, living seance in the sky.
Verge Aero’s drone technology was the perfect partner for this vision. Their ability to choreograph hundreds of drones allowed us to merge theatrical storytelling with advanced aerial art.
From the swirling spirit grids to the explosive finale where the veil collapses, every moment required precision — a conversation between design, programming, and performance.
The Verge Aero team and I worked hand in hand, translating narrative beats into aerial movement. Their expertise allowed us to shape emotional arcs in the sky, something that few technologies can achieve with such eerie elegance.
When the lights dim and the drones rise, Little Elm Park transforms into a stage for the supernatural.
The show’s final moments — a haunting farewell whispered from beyond — remind the audience that the veil never closes completely.
“Because the veil never closes completely.”
That’s the final line of the script — and the promise of this new chapter.
Hopefully, each year adds a new layer to the lore, a new reason to look up, and perhaps… a new reason to be afraid of what’s watching back.
Stay tuned — the spirits of Little Elm aren’t done yet.
