Mike Wolanin | The Republic Dance group Bollywood Beats performs for Exhibit Columbus’ Rock the Block party under Exhibit Columbus installation InterOculus on the opening weekend of Exhibit Columbus in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.
The InterOculus installation crowning the Fourth and Washington streets intersection in downtown Columbus via Exhibit Columbus might as well be a giant 10-gallon hat come Saturday.
A group of organizations have kicked up their heels to quickly organize a seasonal, added event linked to the Second Annual Who’s Hoo Independent Country Music Awards in town this weekend.
That program alone on Saturday is drawing musical artists and audience members from all over the country and from several different nations.
The added gathering will be the Boot Spookin’ Boogie free all-ages dance party from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at that intersection. The country-folk-themed shindig is another effort from Exhibit Columbus in partnership with the awards show organizers with support from The Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County and produced by Red Arch Community Events.
There will be a disc jockey, and beer and wine for purchase.
“We just thought it would especially fun to build on (show founder) Matt Lee’s whole idea,” said Richard McCoy, executive director of Landmark Columbus, the umbrella agency over the Exhibit Columbus architectural exhibition “Public By Design.”
Exhibit Columbus hosted its first dance party under InterOculus on Aug. 26 with an international array of culture and good, old-fashioned fun and unity that attracted a large crowd.
“I don’t quite expect to get back to that size (crowd),” McCoy said. “But this could be a couple hundred people.”
The Who’s Hoo fest, organized by the local Night Owl Country Band, includes a 7 p.m. Friday Halloween-themed pre-party at The Crump Theatre. The awards show is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at The Commons, 300 Washington St.
Information and tickets for that: https://nightowlcb.com/who-s-hoo-award-show-2023
