Columbus was lit with a thunderstorm of patriotism Friday evening for “QMIX Musical Fireworks 31: Back With a Bang! Vaccinate. Celebrate!” at Columbus Municipal Airport.
Back with a bang indeed, since COVID-19 canceled last year’s gathering.
It seemed fitting that the 18-minute, sky-high display was preceded by a national anthem recording by Lady Gaga. The annual celebration, after all, is known to leave thousands spread over several miles a bit gaga.
That includes fans such as Seaun Anderson, who has been attending the pyrotechnics choreographed to music broadcast on QMIX 107.3 FM radio for some 20 years. But Anderson mentioned that this show, big and booming as it is, is only a precursor to an extra special one done at a relative’s house in Brown County on July 4 every year.
With bottle rockets and such?
Anderson smiled, standing with family and friends along Central Avenue.
“With mortars,” he said for emphasis.
Though he was part of a sizable but still noticeably smaller-than-usual crowd around IUPUC and Ivy Tech Community College, the area near Blackwell Park on the other side of Central Avenue seemed as packed as ever. In fact, some families hosted watch parties in that area.
Columbus resident David Maschino of Iowa-based J&M Displays Inc. provided rockets’ red glare and much more in a clear-skies show that included music such as AJR’s “Bang” and The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” Plus, a few standards made their way back into the mix. That included Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA.”
Patra Jones, QMIX morning show host, told the throng via the airwaves just before the show began that she was grateful for their attendance, despite the fact that COVID-19 lingering effects locally canceled food and entertainment booths normally enjoying a brisk business.
“Even though it’s a little different (this year),” Jones said, “we appreciate all of you trying it out.”
