FORT PIERCE — The Fort Pierce waterfront is set to light up the night sky this coming Friday, Oct. 2, in celebration of a major milestone for one of the Treasure Coast’s most prominent employers.
According to Megan Morris, marketing manager for Pursuit Boats — a premier manufacturer of sportfishing vessels — the company is marking its 50th anniversary with a massive, custom-choreographed 300-drone light show created by Aerial Illuminations.
The spectacular aerial display will take flight exactly at 8 p.m. over the downtown water basins.
Designed as a grand finale for the city’s popular Friday Fest at Marina Square, the illuminated performance will be fully viewable to the public from the Fort Pierce City Marina and surrounding waterfront walkways.
Spectators can expect the synchronized drone fleet to paint the night sky with glowing, three-dimensional marine imagery and moving outlines of iconic Pursuit hulls, culminating in the company’s anniversary tagline: “Made for Generations.”
Morris explained that this special event serves as a “thank you” to the local employees, dealers, owners, and community members who have driven the brand’s success, as well as invoking a sense of community pride.
“Reaching our 50th anniversary is an incredible milestone for Pursuit, and Fort Pierce is an important part of our story,” said Chris Gratz, president of Pursuit Boats. “This celebration is an opportunity to recognize our employees, our customers, our dealers and the Treasure Coast community that has supported Pursuit over the years.”
The celebration highlights a remarkable journey that began in 1977, when industry pioneer Leon Slikkers first launched Pursuit as a specialized saltwater fishing line within S2 Yachts.
After a visit to the area in 1983, the company built a dedicated 75,000-square-foot facility in Fort Pierce, eventually relocating all operations to Florida. The company currently employs around 600 local workers at its facility in North Fort Pierce.
Today, Pursuit operates under the corporate umbrella of Malibu Boats, Inc., which acquired the brand in 2018 for $100 million.
The manufacturer expanded again in 2020, opening a sprawling 182,000-square-foot production facility in Fort Pierce to construct its massive 40-foot plus flagships.
Residents attending Friday Fest are encouraged to arrive early at Marina Square to enjoy the local vendors and live music starting at 5:30 p.m. before securing a viewing spot along the seawall for the historic 8 p.m. liftoff.