This year’s Freefly Fest is generating loads of excitement. It’ll be at Lord Hill Farms near Monroe, Washington, on Wednesday, August 20th. This free, all-ages outdoor event runs from 11 a.m.

What is Freefly Fest?

Freefly Fest began in 2023 as an open house for the drone community. It’s a friendly meetup where customers, enthusiasts, pros and industry partners from around the world come together. You’ll see the latest drone gear (proudly made in the U.S.A) and meet people who build and use it. So it’s not your typical “demo day” – it’s a chance for pilots and tech fans to learn, network and fly.

Event Details

Freefly Fest 2025 is a free public festival. You can reserve a ticket now on Eventbrite. Here are the basics:

  • When: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM (doors open at 10:30).
  • Where: Lord Hill Farms, Monroe, WA (about 30 miles northeast of Seattle).
  • Cost: Free to attend (tickets are free).
  • Who: All ages. Drone pros, families and hobbyists are welcome.

Everyone is invited to explore Freefly’s world in this event that’s set to showcase the brand’s ambitious expansion. You just show up and enjoy – no experience needed.

Freefly’s New Drone Factory

The festival’s big highlight is a sneak peek at Freefly’s new headquarters, which is part of the company’s goal to build the world’s toughest drones. This year, Freefly will be moving into a 70,000-square-foot factory in Woodinville, WA. That’s nearly triple their old 25,000-square-foot facility. 

The new building has polished concrete floors and thick insulation (30% of the walls) to help control temperature. It even as a 45‑kilowatt backup generator for wind and power outages. Inside, you’ll find 10‑gigabit internet and high-quality lighting (95 CRI) under tall ceilings. In fact, Freefly’s president Tabb Firchau calls it “the most inspiring drone manufacturing center in North America”.

This new factory – just 10 miles from the fest site – reflects a decade of growth. Freefly went from a tiny 3,000-square-foot garage shop to this massive hub. It also means more jobs. Freefly will hire dozens of new workers for assembly, battery tech, electrical engineering and more. This mirrors the booming drone industry: the U.S. drone market is now well over $1 billion a year.

What to Expect at Freefly Fest 2025

At the festival you can expect live drone demos, hands-on gear and new product reveals. Freefly uses the fest to fly its latest models. Last year’s event featured flight demos of the Astro Prime drone, a new commercial UAS. In 2025, look for similar demos of Alta X and whatever new drones Freefly has up its sleeve

Spotting a drone in flight is part of the fun. This Freefly heavy-lift drone in action shows what you might see at the festival. Freefly Fest is famous for live demonstrations. You will watch camera drones like this take off and hover over the open field.

Try out the gear yourself. Here a pilot focuses on his controller during a past Freefly Fest demo. You might even get to handle a Freefly remote or gimbal. Vendors and engineers are on hand to explain the tech. It’s a rare chance to check out drone cockpits, sensors and flight screens up close.

For example, at Freefly Fest you might find:

  • Flight demonstrations of Freefly drones 
  • Hands-on exhibits: try new controllers, cameras or batteries.
  • Partner booths: see tech from allied companies (like communications radios).
  • Tech talks or Q&A: chat with Freefly engineers and pilots.

Why Freefly Fest Matters

The new Woodinville factory and festival highlight a trend toward U.S. drone manufacturing. Domestic production is a big deal right now, since new rules push agencies to buy American-made drones. By expanding its in-house plant, Freefly is doubling down on U.S. drone manufacturing. 

For you as a drone pilot, a bigger Freefly means more options and tougher gear on the market. Freefly’s emphasis on durability suggests future drones will be even more rugged and reliable. Plus, the new jobs and investment show the drone industry is healthy. Dozens of new engineering and manufacturing roles are opening up at Freefly. In practical terms, that could translate to faster support and more accessories for end-users.

Freefly Fest 2025 is another chance to see where the U.S. drone industry is heading. You can meet the people behind the scenes and try out their latest innovations. 

Related Reading: Top 10 Companies Building the Best U.S. Drones in 2025