Maine media highlight homecoming light shows by alum

University of Maine alumnus Themis Violaris returned to Orono this fall to help make the university’s homecoming one of the biggest ever celebrations, with more than 1,200 former students registering to attend, a record for UMaine. Violaris brought with him two record-setting drone light shows that turned the sky over Orono into a spectacle of light.

Bangor Daily News reported that Violaris, CEO of Grizzly Entertainment, earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from UMaine, and donated the light performance as a gift to the school. Each show featured 400 drones, creating elaborate aerial displays over the University Mall and the Alfond Arena.

“It’s beautiful to return home,” Violaris told BDN, “New England and especially Maine has treated me very nicely during my time when I was here. I always wanted to come back.”

He added that Maine “has a personal touch for me, it’s part of my heart. I will never say no when Maine calls.”

The first performance had a hockey theme centered around the Black Bear matchup against Colgate. WABI reported it gave homecoming an event a spectacular quality. The second show celebrated the wider UMaine community. 

Violaris told WQCM-FM, his goal was to dazzle the crowd and show his appreciation for the university that helped launch his career.

According to Fox Bangor, each show cost roughly $50,000 to produce, and this expense was covered by Violaris personally as a way to give back. These performances were part of a five-campus tour but Violaris wanted to make sure UMaine was at the top of the list because “this is where his story began.”