By Lacey Luce
Can you believe it’s July? Seriously! I’m still not sure where I misplaced May.
As we enter into the Independence Day holiday, I like to take a moment to reflect … on the glory of a three day weekend. It’s even better if you can use a vaca day and make it a four-day weekend.
This is my philosophy, the beauty of a four-day weekend is you can pack all kinds of fun things into the first three days and then use the fourth day for recovery (or as l like to call it, couch therapy).
So let’s start: Friday is Red, White & Boom. So, we have yet another event where half the state will seem to converge downtown to listen to music (they have four bands), eat, walk about and cap it all of with the largest fireworks display in the Midwest.
The nice thing is, If you are coming downtown for Red, White & Boom you don’t have to limit yourself to Red White & Boom festivities. You can explore the free exhibitions at the Riffe Gallery and Urban Arts Space and eat at one of the many restaurants downtown.
If Red White & Boom is just a little bit too much for you or if you need even more patriotic fun, on July 4, Picnic with the Pops has Patriotic Pops featuring the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, topped off with fireworks. If you haven’t heard the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus yet, you’ve been missing out.
Obviously there are firework displays and related events going on throughout the weekend in our various neighborhoods. I’ll leave it to your deft fingers to Google those.
I do, however, feel the need to give a quick reminder about the Short North’s Gallery Hop, which will follow the Doo Dah Parade on Saturday. I’m not the hugest parade fan, I get bored. But no one gets bored at the Doo Dah. It’s not a proper parade (which is a good thing). It’s performance art, comedy, and pageantry all rolled into one.
I’d like end this week’s warriors wrap up with a Last Call.
This is your last weekend to see All Play, No Work at the Riffe Gallery, Game Show at Vanderelli Room, Hats on the Silk Road: Selections from the Collection of Russell S. and Dona Fling at the Columbus Museum of Art, World of Shojo Manga! Mirrors of Girls’ Desires & Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum and Kooza, the Cirque De Soleil show.
Just remember when one show closes, another is soon to open.
Cheers.
The above image was found on the Doo Dah Parade Facebook page and is from the 2010 parade.
Lacey Luce is a marketing, communications and event strategist for the Greater Columbus Arts Council who still loves fireworks and sparklers like an eight-year-old.
