Fittingly, one of the live bands for Friday and Saturday’s Celebration on the River at Upland Columbus Pumphouse will croon the 1970s Osmonds’ pop hit “Down By the Lazy River” at some point during a partial, throwback music set.
But here’s the thing: The surroundings around the free rain-or-shine event at 7 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, part of the Columbus Area Bicentennial, will hardly be lazy this weekend — not with laser light shows, food, trivia contests, dancers, antique vehicles, fireworks and more.
But one section of song lyrics certainly could apply:
Down by the lazy river,
One big family.
If you’re all alone,
You won’t be (for) long.
That fits bicentennial organizers’ we’re-all-celebrating-our-history-together theme that has stretched throughout this calendar year. Debra Slone, organizer of the celebration at 148 Lindsey St. along the East Fork White River, has said that, if the weather cooperates, she could see a total of perhaps 2,000 people for the two days. Moravec Realty came up with and funded the gathering.
Community business leader and philanthropist Tony Moravec knows very well how to merge history with a community party. When he unveiled his restoration of the 1900s-era Zaharakos confectionary and restaurant on June 6, 2008, on Washington Street, thousands showed up to digest both sweet memories and food.
Organizers say the location at the 1871 Upland restaurant structure at 148 Lindsey St. is both ideal and historic, precisely in the area where Bartholomew County officially was established.
The first day of the event tentatively will begin in the evening with music from the local pop-rock Bigger Is Better Band. The following day’s live music will feature local musician Andy Day’s band, Stone Carnival.
