How to Spend July 4 in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio, welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors to spend Independence Day in the region each year — will you be among them?

If you are, the highlight event of the holiday will undoubtedly be Red, White & BOOM, taking place July 3. The all-day celebration features the largest fireworks show in the Midwest, and is the largest single-day event in Columbus. The festivities are spread out over 2.5 square miles in downtown and include live music, a parade and a street festival — and it’s all free. If you do want to upgrade, purchase a V.I.P. ticket on the event website, which gives you access to VIP Village, with drinks, food and stellar views of the night’s conclusive fireworks show. V.I.P. tickets start at $150.

Stick around and make it a long weekend or even a week’s stay with Fourth of July packages from favorite hotels in the area.

If you book a stay at The Plaza Hotel Columbus at Capitol Square, a Marriott property, you can choose the Sheraton VIP package, which gives you two V.I.P. tickets to Red, White & BOOM  along with your guestroom, as well as complimentary parking and breakfast on July 4. A stay at The Junto, Columbus’ first lifestyle hotel with the hotel’s Red, White & BOOM Party and a Room package includes luxury accommodations and two general admission tickets to the hotel’s rooftop viewing party for the fireworks display.