COLUMBUS – A 5K and a beer garden are two additions that will greet the half million people expected to crowd into downtown Columbus Monday for the city’s 36th annual Red, White & Boom! fireworks display, billed as the largest in the Midwest.
Click here for a Red, White & Boom! map
The following downtown streets were closed as of 9:00 a.m. Friday morning:
W. Spring Street between Marconi Boulevard and Neil Avenue
W. Long Street from Hocking Street to Marconi Boulevard
Civic Center Drive from W. Broad Street to E. Rich Street
S. Second Street from E. Rich Street to W. Main Street
Marconi Boulevard from W. Long Street to W. Broad Street will be closed from Sunday, July 2 9 a.m. to July 4, 6 a.m.
W. Broad Street from S. Belle Street to Washington Boulevard will be closed, Monday, July 3, from 9 a.m. to Tuesday, July 4, 6 a.m.
Neil Avenue from Vine Street to W. Long Street and W. Spring Street from Hickory Street to Neil Avenue will be closed Monday, July 3, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.
Beginning at 6 p.m., Monday, July 3, all streets within the following boundaries will be closed:
• North: Spring Street
• South: Mound Street
• West: McDowell Street
• East: 3rd Street
All closed streets will reopen at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, July 4.
The Columbus Division of Police is gearing up for what is one of the largest and most challenging events on their calendar and are encouraging parents to take precautions in case one of their children wanders off into the huge crowd.
They recommend taking a photo of the child the day of the event so searchers will see the clothing they are wearing and also register them at one of five booths, open from 3:00 to 11:30 p.m. around the spectator area where kids will receive yellow wrist bands:
Broad and Front Streets
Long Street east of Neil Avenue
Marconi Boulevard west near Nationwide Arena
200 Civic Center Drive
Washington Blvd. and W. Rich Street
The Charity Day 5K run/walk, scheduled for Sunday, benefits 19 charity partners. The race will start and finish next to the all new BOOM Beer Garden.
Genoa Park is closed to the public from through Tuesday for fireworks operations.
Public set-up begins at 6:00 p.m. Sunday. (Anything placed before 6 p.m. on July 2 will be collected and taken to Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Dr.)
Columbus Recreation and Parks requests that personal canopies, tarps and blankets not be set-up until July 3.
Stakes and posts are prohibited for safety reasons.
Most parking restrictions will be in place by Sunday, July 2, at 10 p.m. (see below)
Signs will be posted in these areas to remind motorists that there will be no overnight parking. Any vehicles that remain beginning at 3 a.m., Monday, July 3, will be ticketed and towed. During the hours of parking restrictions, parking meters will be bagged and temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted where no meters are present.
Long Street will be open from 6-9 a.m., Monday, July 3.