Nearly 500,000 Will Attend Festivities, Fireworks near Columbus, Ohio

If you want a good seat for the premiere fireworks display in central Ohio on July 3, you're going to have to show up early to jockey for position among the estimated 500,000 attendees. But no need to drag a stack of books and magazines to occupy the wait; the organizers of the event have planned plenty of things to keep you busy leading up to the big show at 10:00 pm.

Macy's Children's Park
So it is noon and the kids are already restless. Take them to burn off some energy at Macy's Children's Park located at Battelle Park. There will be music, arts and crafts, and a show put on by COSI about the science of fireworks. The park will remain open until 6:00 pm.

Entertainment in Bicentennial Park
According to the Red White & BOOM organizers, the following acts will be performing on state at Bicentennial Park:
12:00-1:15pm Andy Wallace & 2 Bricks Shy
1:30-2:15pm DeJavu
2:30-3:30pm Celebrate Kids
4:00-4:45pm City Folk
5:00-5:45pm Lou Band
6:15-7:15pm BabbleJack
7:30-8:30pm Jared Marone with Last Big Town Band
8:45-9:45pm The Divide
10:00-10:25pm FIREWORKS!
10:25-11:15pm The Divide

Taste of BOOM
Don't want to drag a huge cooler with you? Starting at 4:00 pm along Nationwide Boulevard, enjoy fare from hometown restaurants as you listen to the sounds of local superstar bands. Don't forget to grab a beer at the beer garden!

The stage schedule, according to the official website, is as follows:
4:00-4:25pm The Fort Hayes Jazz Group
"A Splash of Red" directed by Cathy Wallace
4:30-4:45pm Austin Fehrenbach
5:00-5:30pm The Figurines
5:45-6:15pm Edgar Peach
6:30-7:00pm The Sneeks
7:15-7:45pm User Friendly
8:00-8:45pm Johnathan Hoard
9:00-9:30pm Conspiracy
10:00-10:30pm FIREWORKS!
10:30-11:15pm Conspiracy

If you can't wait until the afternoon to eat, beginning at 11:00 am there will be concessions available along Civic Center Drive.

Independence Day Parade
The parade will be marching along Front Street beginning at 6:00 pm. This year's theme is "Coming Together for Freedom" and has over 80 entries.

BOOM Central
Local radio and television stations will have their broadcasting spots set up on Civic Center Drive. Look for local celebrities from WNCI and NBC4 and maybe even be in the background of the broadcast.

A couple of guidelines to take into consideration:
Leave your alcohol and portable grills at home. Neither is permitted at Red White & BOOM. But don't fret; you can purchase alcohol at Taste of BOOM.