In its 23rd year, Red, White and Boom has transformed into Red, White and Bicentennial Boom to celebrate Ohio’s 200th birthday.
The annual fireworks display will be launched at 10 p.m. Thursday from Washington Boulevard, between Broad and Town streets. The show will last approximately 27 minutes.
“It’s going to be a bigger, better, more intense show,” said Sarah Irvin, media director for Red, White and Bicentennial Boom. “Hopefully everyone will want to participate and be proud of the heritage of Ohio.”
Sunset Fireworks, Ltd. designed the fireworks spectacular this year. Since this is a bicentennial year, there will be a different feel to the program.
“There is more history intertwined into the show,” said Josh Whiteis, design manager for Sunset Fireworks, Ltd. “It’s more reflective overall, with some fun sections, but it won’t be quite as celebratory as past years.”
WNCI will provide an original soundtrack. Whiteis said there are both local and national influences on the soundtrack and in the show. These include a moment of silence for the troops and a tribute to the astronauts who lost their lives in the space shuttle explosion. There will also be an Ohio State section featuring the fight song.
The budget for this year’s show was $500,000, and Irvin said they expect close to 500,000 people to attend.
With such a large crowd, there will be more security at this event.
“We try to increase security more every year,” said Lieutenant Karl Barth of the special events security unit. “There will be about 500 officers there in various locations.”
Barth recommends people come early to the event and write their names on any coolers that they bring.
Both the crowd size and the budget for this event have increased in the 23-year history.
“When Red, White and Boom first started there was a $15,000 budget,” said Jim Marous, past executive director of Red, White and Boom. “About $7,000 was spent on fireworks and another $7,000 was spent on the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, which provided the original soundtrack. Back then, 20,000 people was a large number to be attending the show.”
Red, White and Boom has grown to incorporate all of downtown Columbus in its festivities. This year, the celebration begins at 11 a.m. when the Midway opens on Civic Center Drive. It will feature concession stands, games and fireworks-lovers looking for the perfect spot to watch the show.
Debuting at Red, White and Bicentennial Boom is the Children’s Park, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Batelle Park with the cooperation of COSI.
“There will be a stage with entertainment for the kids and lots of activities for them to have fun with,” said Irvin. “They can play with inflatable games, build boats, and enjoy different COSI activities like learning about fireworks.”
Returning activities to Red, White and Boom include Brewery District Boom, Taste of Boom and the Red, White and Boom annual parade. Brewery District Boom will be open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the Patio in the Brewery District. There will be food and live entertainment from The Menus.
Taste of Boom will take place on Nationwide Boulevard in the Arena District. This area will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight, featuring different restaurants, local bands, a beer garden and an interactive sports complex.
“Professional Columbus sports teams like the Blue Jackets and the Crew will be featured. It’s really a more upscale area,” said Irvin. “People can go there if they don’t really want hot dogs and other concession food.”
The Red, White and Bicentennial Boom parade will begin at 7 p.m. with the theme “Ohio Celebrates.” According to the Web site, this parade is the largest in Central Ohio, running almost a mile from Front and Spring streets to Front and Main streets in downtown Columbus.
Beginning at noon and lasting until after the fireworks, the Bicentennial Stage in Bicentennial Park will have non-stop live musical entertainment.
As is tradition, WNCI and NBC-4 will host their Boom Centrals again this year. WNCI will start covering the event at 10 a.m. from the corner of Broad Street and Civic Center. NBC-4 will broadcast from their Boom Central from Town Street and Civic Center Drive from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Janna Buckey, vice-president of creative services for NBC-4, said they always try to bring the event to life for the viewers at home.
NBC-4 has many interactive games planned to play at their Boom Central.
“This year we want to be more historical and Ohio-oriented,” Buckey said.
According to Irvin, many events are planned for the rest of the holiday weekend.
Sixteen suburbs have partnered with Red, White and Bicentennial Boom to have their own Suburban Booms on Thursday. On Friday, Short North will turn their monthly Gallery Hop into a Bicentennial Hop, shutting down a portion of High Street for a block party. There also will be a fireworks display at the Hop, launched from the I-670 construction pit.
