You don't have to be in the middle of the estimated crowd of 400,000 people to get the full Red, White & Boom! experience.
There are plenty of good viewing spots for the annual fireworks celebration away from the big crowds and heavy traffic that are sure to descend on Downtown come Wednesday.
From parks to rooftop parties to the comfort of your own home, here are some options for getting all of the boom with a bit more room.
Preparing for fireworks:
Parks
Scioto Audubon Metro Park, 400 W. Whittier St. in the Brewery District, welcomes visitors who want to watch the show from its 119 acres south of Downtown. Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks officials recommend getting there early, though, as the park will be closed to vehicles when it gets too full. Rangers and sheriff's deputies will be on duty to help with traffic.
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There will be children's activities and rock-climbing demonstrations from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be no food trucks at the park, though, so bring your own food and drinks.
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Lou Berliner Sports Park, 325 Greenlawn Ave. in Merion Village, has nearly 230 acres of fireworks-watching space, although we probably shouldn't include its 31 baseball and softball diamonds in that total. The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department officials plan to charge $5 for parking Wednesday.
Dodge Park, 667 Sullivant Ave. in Franklinton, is 19 acres with parking locations less than a mile from Red, White & Boom's launchpad.
McFerson Commons and North Bank Park in the Arena District offer up-close viewing locations that are likely to come with many of the same traffic and parking headaches as Downtown.
Rooftops
Brass Eye, the rooftop bar at the Junto hotel, 77 Belle St. in Franklinton, is only taking names for the waiting list right now for its viewing party. The event runs from 5 to 11 p.m. and includes a welcome co*cktail and two hours of passed hors d'oeuvres for $65. Go to thejuntohotel.com/restaurants-bars/brass-eye to get on the waiting list.
Goodale Station, located on the 12th floor of the Canopy by Hilton at 77 E. Nationwide Blvd., is taking reservations for a party that includes seating on the patio or in its glass-walled dining room, a barbecue buffet, one drink ticket, free valet parking and a live DJ. Tickets are $100. Doors open at 7 p.m. and reservations are available through goodalestation.com.
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Lincoln Social, 711 N. High St. in the Short North, has reservations available still for Wednesday. It's advertising food and co*cktail features for the night but hasn't shared details.
Lumin Sky Bar is taking reservations for Red, White & Boom! viewing from its perch atop the AC Hotel Columbus Downtown, 517 Park St. They're $50 and available at luminskybar.com. Groups of up to eight can reserve their seating by spending a minimum of $1,500 on food and drinks.
Mandrake, 810 N. High St., the rooftop bar at the Moxy Columbus Short North hotel, is hosting a "Boom With a View" party from 6 p.m. to midnight. Standing-room tickets are $25 each and VIP seating runs from $50 to $300 per person with minimum spending requirements. Reservations are available at mandrakerooftop.com.
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Confluence Park
The Boat House, 679 W. Spring St., is offering a barbecue buffet, open bar, live music and views from its location where the Scioto and Olentangy rivers converge north of Downtown. The party starts at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $75 for inside seating, $100 for window seating and $120 for deck seating. Visit boathouserestaurantoh.com to order.
Franklinton
In addition to the rooftop views at the Junto hotel's Brass Eye, watch parties are planned at other places in Franklinton.
Land-Grant Brewing Co., 424 W. Town St., has planned just about the longest party of the day, from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tables are first-come, first-served, but you're welcome to bring your own chairs and stake out space on the Gravity Park pickleball courts. Bungalows for six to eight people are available for rent at landgrantbrewing.com.
DJs will be in the beer garden for an all-vinyl party from 7 p.m. to midnight, and Ray Ray's and Ember and Spice will be selling food.
BrewDog, 463 W. Town St., has no tickets left for its "Red, White & Brew" party but is open for regular business all day Wednesday.
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Brewery District
Germania Singing & Sport Society, will celebrate American independence with some German flair at "Red, White and Brats," from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at its clubhouse, 543 S. Front St. There will be beer, bratwursts and music from Polka Cola, a self-described German fusion party band from Maineville, near Cincinnati.
Home
WCMH-TV will broadcast Red, White & Boom! fireworks live on Channel 4 and online at nbc4i.com.
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