Columbus Hosts Red, White, and Boom Fireworks Show

Downtown Columbus, Ohio, hosts an annual independence day tradition on the third of July every year. This event, known as Red, White, and Boom, celebrates Independence Day the way only a city with the name of Columbus can. This is the 27th annual Boom!, the Midwest's largest fireworks display. The fireworks start at 10pm, but Red, White, and Boom is more then just the explosions in the sky. This celebration promises to be bigger and badder then ever before!

One common misconception about Red, White, and Boom is that it is a nighttime event. This is not so. There is a full menu of family oriented activities throughout the day leading up to the grand finale fireworks celebration at ten pm at night. Here is a listing of events scheduled in downtown Columbus on July 3rd as listed on the Red, White, and Boom website:

10 a.m. Germain Motor Company's BOOM! Central hosted by WNCI 97.9 opens

11 a.m. Food and novelty concessions open on Civic Center Drive

12 p.m. Macy's Children's Park presented by COSI and Columbia Gas opens at Batelle Riverfront Park Entertainment begins at Bicentennial Stage

4 p.m. Taste of BOOM! presented by Miller Lite and sponsored by Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi and Mike's Hard Lemonade opens

5 p.m. Germain Motor Company's BOOM! Central hosted by NBC 4 opens

6 p.m. Ohio Air National Guard flyover Red, White & BOOM! Parade presented by AEP and supported by the Office of Attorney General Marc Dann begins on Front St.

6 p.m. Macy's Children's Park closes

9:45 p.m. Flag Lowering at Columbia Gas

9:55 p.m. Moment of silence

10 p.m. FIREWORKS! with Grand Finale presented by Marathon Live coverage of fireworks on NBC 4 and 97.9 WNCI

10:30 p.m. Entertainment resumes on Bicentennial stage and Taste of BOOM! stage

When you go to Red,White, and Boom do not forget to bring your radio. WNCI simulcasts a specially produced soundtrack to go along with the fireworks. It is amazing how the sky lights up in sync with the radio.

Parking is never fun. I highly recommend taking a COTA busline to the events. Central Ohio Transit Authority is extending the hours of 14 of their local bus routes and offering four park and ride locations for Red, White, and Boom!

Have fun, but stay on your best behavior, because this year according to the Columbus Dispatch there will be 200 police officers in the crowds along with three hidden surveillance cameras in undisclosed locations. It may seem a little big brother like, but it is better to be safe then sorry, especially when crowd can reach as high as 400,000 people.