Fireworks will be filling the night sky with bursts of color on Thursday night, but you can get an early start on the holiday by taking in the Central Ohio Symphony's free July 4 concert, where patriotic songs will be juxtaposed with pop fare like music from the Broadway hit, "Wicked." The show will end with its traditional pyrotechnical display.
Two other local orchestras have concerts on the way as well. On Friday, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra will show off its blues repertoire, then the Columbus Symphony will go the rock route when they team up with Windborne's Music of Led Zeppelin on Saturday.
Also taking the stage will be a hip-hop anniversary blowout, singer Amos Lee and the Columbus Black Theatre Festival featuring works by eight playwrights from the U.S. and Canada.
These events are just a few opportunities for entertainment in the area. Read more about them and others below. To receive these ideas in your inbox each week, sign up for the Life in the 614 newsletter.
New Albany to start Independence Day with 5K run/walk
Registration is open for the annual New Albany Independence Day 5K Race, which will begin at 8:45 a.m. in New Albany's Market Square. The run/walk will be preceded by a toddler crawl at 7:45 a.m., a kids' fun run at 8 a.m. and a pet parade at 8:15 a.m.
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The race supports the New Albany Symphony’s programming and educational outreach throughout the year. A portion of proceeds is donated to nonprofit performing arts groups in the community, many of which are scheduled to perform along the race course.
Registration is $50 for the 5K and $25 for the kids' run. Other events are free. (na5Krace.com)
Symphony to play pops, patriotic anthems at July 4 concert
Conductor Jaime Morales-Matos will direct the Central Ohio Symphony's free July 4 concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Phillips Glen, located behind Gray Chapel, 61 S. Sandusky St., at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware.
Guest artist Lindsay Uhrich will open the concert with "The Star-Spangled Banner" and sing two George Gershwin tunes and "America the Beautiful."
The program will include a salute to U.S. veterans, patriotic and popular songs, a tribute to composer John Williams and end with Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture" with theater cannon blasts and John Philip Sousa’s "Stars and Stripes Forever," followed by fireworks.
Lawn seating is free. Limited reserved-chair seating is available for $12 online or by calling 740-362-1799. (centralohiosymphony.org)
Black Theatre Festival to showcase works from across North America
With playwrights from Columbus to Canada, the 12th Columbus Black Theatre Festival will take the stage Friday through Sunday at the Columbus Performing Arts Van Fleet Theatre, 549 Franklin Ave. Eight one-act plays will be presented on the theme "Peace Within the Storm."
Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. An ASL-interpreted performance will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Tickets are $12 general admission, $5 for ages 13-19 and free for 12 and younger. Sales end Thursday. (mine4godproductions.com)
Columbus Jazz Orchestra to bring the blues to amphitheater
Celebrate America and the birth of the blues with artist director Byron Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra during "Red White & Blues" at 8 p.m. Friday at the Hinson Amphitheater, 170 E. Dublin Granville Road, New Albany. The venue will open at 6 p.m.
Food trucks will be on-site. Guests are also welcome to bring their own refreshments, including alcoholic beverages with a valid state ID. Seating is general admission and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Lawn seating is $37.50 and can be purchased at the CBUSArts ticket office at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., by calling 614-469-0939 or online. (cbusarts.com)
Green Lawn Cemetery to celebrate 175 years with open house
The 175th anniversary of the opening of Green Lawn Cemetery, 1000 Greenlawn Ave., will be observed with an open house offering music, speakers and the dedication of the new gazebo at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Beginning as 84 acres and designed by landscape architect Howard Daniels in 1849, Green Lawn has grown to 325 acres.
The event also will include a free cookout lunch with treats from Kona Ice and a concert of Civil War music by Steve and Lisa Ball. Free guided walking tours will be given at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. (greenlawncemetery.org)
Led Zeppelin tribute to rock Picnic with the Pops at the Commons
Because many of their songs have complex musical arrangements, Led Zeppelin is a perfect fit for orchestras to cover. The Columbus Symphony will do just that at the next Picnic with the Pops concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St. Gates open at 6 p.m.
Accompanied by Windborne’s Music of Led Zeppelin, the symphony will perform an array of songs from the Led Zeppelin catalog including “Kashmir,” “Black Dog” and of course, “Stairway to Heaven.”
For lawn seating, prices are $35 for ages 13 and older, $25 for a group, $10 for ages 3-12 and free for ages 2 and younger. Table seating also is available. (cbusarts.com)
Soulful folk troubadour Amos Lee to perform at the Southern
Blending soul, folk and rock, singer-songwriter Amos Lee is set to perform at the Southern Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in support of his 11th album, "Transmissions."
Lee, who was a teacher and a bartender before launching his music career, has worked with artists such as Norah Jones, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, and his music has been featured on the soundtracks of many TV shows and movies.
Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased at the CBUSArts ticket center at the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., or by calling 614-469-0939. (cbusarts.com)
Hip-hop's BLU to drop rhymes at 20th anniversary celebration
Grant Gatsby and 2x2 Crew will present the Every Body Else's Ent. 20-Year Anniversary, headlined by hip-hop artist BLU, one-half of the duo BLU & Exile, at 8 p.m. at Classic's Victory's Sports Bar, 547 S. High St.
The event honors Every Body Else's Ent., a Columbus booking and management company, and also will feature Bru Lei, Nova and Product, Jeremiah X, Reese Dude and Sounds by Mayh3m! Tickets are $20. (bit.ly/4bpZjrq)
Local painter to exhibit work at Kittie's Highline Art Space
In his debut exhibit, "Lively Places," Draven Burdock hopes viewers will lose themselves in each piece of his artwork, feel the energy of his love for painting and create their own narratives.
Rendered primarily in acrylic and charcoal, Burdock's works will be on display at Kittie’s Highline Art Space, 693 High St., Worthington, through Aug. 31.
Kittie’s offers locally roasted One Line coffee, teas, hot chocolate, smoothies and baked goods. Operating hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (rebeccaink.com/highlinecoffeeartspace)
Delaware County library friends to welcome author Joyce Maynard
The Friends of Delaware County District Library will host New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard in conversation with author and Ohio State professor Lee Martin at 6 p.m. July 10 at the Dempsey Event Center, 123 Hyatts Road, Delaware.
Maynard has penned 18 books, including her new novel, "How the Light Gets In." The evening also will include demonstrations of qigong and singing bowls and other activities. Wine and charcuterie will follow the presentations.
Tickets are $55, which includes a copy of Maynard's novel. Parking is in the paved lot next to Martiny’s BBQ, 5808 Columbus Pike. The Hyatts Road entrance is for accessible parking only. (delawarelibraryfriends.org)
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