Favorite Small Town July 4 Celebrations Around Northern Columbus, OH

Red, White and Boom is the biggest July 4 celebration in the Columbus area. It's held downtown each year, sponsored by one of the local television stations. But because it is SO big, it's the kind of celebration my family prefers watching from the comfort of our own home on our television set, especially as we have very young children. Instead, we are looking for alternatives for watching fireworks this year at smaller local celebrations where we can watch from the comfort of our van or even our backyard!

Powell, OH

http://www.visitpowell.com/powell07/index.php

Fireworks: 10:15PM on Saturday, June 27

The closest celebration to our family is through the Powell Festival. It is a two-day community affair that takes place the weekend prior to the Fourth of July each year. One of the nicest things about the Powell Festival is that the fireworks are early enough that we can enjoy other local fireworks a few days later.

Last year, the weather cleared enough that we took all of our children to see the fireworks from a nearby church's parking lot off Seldom Seen Road. If you live close enough to the festival grounds, which are off Liberty Street just south of Powell Road, you may enjoy the fireworks from the comfort of your own home by sitting out on your back patio, deck, or front lawn. In fact, when we moved to the area a few years ago, we were able to see a bit of the fireworks ourselves from our deck but trees have since grown too large to see the fireworks.

This year, we hope to see the fireworks on the festival grounds after enjoying some of the festival events that they have for the kids. This year there is a toddler zone and a free play zone where the kids can climb inflatable slides and the like. There is also a play area for older children where they purchase a wristband for unlimited play time for the day. Throughout the two-day event are concerts being given on the main stage where families can picnic or enjoy the splash park area to cool off. There are plenty of food vendors to get festival fare like elephant ears and funnel cakes as well as hot dogs and hamburgers and ice cream. There are also several local artisan and other vendor booths and community tents that line the path ways around the grassy areas of the festival grounds.

Because the Powell Festival is so early, we hope to go to more fireworks over the July 4 holiday weekend. What is nice is that many of the local areas will have fireworks the night before versus the night of July 4, allowing you and your family to enjoy fireworks two nights in a row! Some places we are considering that are close by are:

Delaware, OH

http://www.delawareohio.net/news.php?doc_id=1412

Fireworks: 10PM on Saturday, July 4. Fireworks will be launched from the city's property off Cherry Street. Suggested viewing areas are from the Ohio Wesleyan University practice fields and along Henry Street.

Prior to the fireworks there will be a parade at 11:30AM that starts from the Delaware County Fairgrounds and goes through downtown. The Central Ohio Symphony will hold its annual outdoor concert at 8PM on the Ohio Wesleyan Campus, just before the fireworks begin.

Westerville, OH

http://www.westerville.org/FullNews/tabid/314/ArticleID/691/CBModuleId/1059/Default.aspx

Fireworks: 10PM on Saturday, July 4, at Alum Creek Park South and behind Alliance Data. Rain date is July 5 at the same time and place.

Westerville is holding several events earlier in the day. You may register for a Run, Walk, & Children's Run at Alum Creek Park starting at 6AM with the run and walk event starting at 8AM. Children may race in the rotary's sponsored 400- and 800-yard dashes at 9AM with an awards ceremony held at 9:15AM. The Rotary will sponsor a parade at 1PM, moved from 1:30PM, and sponsor a food drive during the parade. The parade will go along Heatherdown Drive and State Street, then north to St. Paul's church.

Sunbury, OH

http://www.sunburynews.com/local.asp?ID=1495&Story=2

For additional information about the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Fourth of July Celebration, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 740-965-2860

Fireworks: 10PM on Saturday, July 4. Suggested viewing is on the grounds of Big Walnut High School

According to the local newspaper, "The Sunbury News," several local service area organizations are helping to put on this year's Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Fourth of July Celebration. To kick things off, a Flea Market will be held all day from 7AM to 5PM on the Square, and as long as it doesn't rain, the 10^th Annual Memorial Volleyball Tournament begins at 9AM. Children will be able to bring their bikes and trikes and enter them into a contest for best costume and best-decorated bicycle. A parade through Sunbury will begin at 10AM.

The fun keeps going with a Football Skills Contest that starts after the parade (approx. 11AM) at JR Smith Park and Fun Frolics on Big Walnut High School's football fields will begin in the afternoon. Fun Frolics include such events as sack races and balloon toss. That evening, music will be provided at 7PM until the fireworks begin and local fire departments are setting up a new fire safety training smoke house to teach children basic fire safety starting at 7PM until the fireworks start.

Always check your local area's website or check local newspaper listings for dates and times of local July 4 celebrations and fireworks near you! And be mindful of street closings and available parking to any of these events as you will want to factor that in to when you leave to watch the fireworks displays. In case of rain, some cities and towns offer rain dates.