FIREWORKS
The Krupps from Gahanna said they would only leave if the fireworks display were canceled altogether — something that hasn’t happened in the history of the show — or if they were kicked out.
But John Krupp and his two sons, 13-year-old Colin and 14-year-old Oliver, arrived Downtown later than expected due to the weather, so they had trouble finding a good spot to set up camp.
The Krupps tried to arrange their lawn chairs on the Rich Street bridge, but police said they either had to stand up or find another place to put the chairs. They decided to mosey through the crowd with their wagon of supplies to find a better spot, which proved to be difficult.
“We might just go back to the bridge and stand,” Krupp said, adding they weren’t going to leave without seeing fireworks.
The Dean family from Grove City didn’t have trouble staking out a spot for the parade. Because of the rain that delayed the parade’s start by a halfhour, to 6 p.m., there were plenty of spots available along the route. Heather and John Dean and their daughters, 8-year-old Avery and 4-year-old Savannah, huddled under some construction scaffolding in an effort to stay dry.
“We watched (past Red, White & Boom fireworks) on TV, and I promised them we would come,” Heather Dean said. “They’ll always remember their first one as a rainy one.”
Forest Park resident Ember Bennett, 22, arrived around 1:30 p.m., before the storm clouds came into view. She snagged a spot on an awning-covered bench across from COSI with two friends, 23-yearold Lashonda Love and 21-year-old Steven Lovell. This was Bennett’s second Red, White & Boom with Love. The rain and their past experience helped them grab a seat close to the one they had in 2017.
“I’m just here for the pyrotechnics,” Bennett said. But she said it was also her “last chance to get funnel cake until the state fair.” For some other longtime attendees, tailgating began even earlier this year.
To fill his time before the fireworks display, 29-year-old Brad Hart said he mingles with other early birds. “I usually just find people to talk to and get to know them,” Hart said. “Sometimes I see people from past years, but I always meet new people.” As the rain comes down Wednesday afternoon, Shella Alexander, left, and Katlyn Alexander, both 17-year-olds from Westerville, take cover under their lawn chairs during the Downtown parade. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther walks in the annual parade — and gets a little help with the umbrella.