4th of July Set to Sizzle at Sports Complex

Westerville’s biggest community party of the year is only a few weeks away, and plans are underway for the largest and most entertaining day of celebration yet. The Rotary Club of Westerville has been working for months on event logistics, partnering again with the City to host the main event at the Westerville Sports Complex (325 N. Cleveland Ave.). It will be the second year a race, music, entertainment, food and fireworks are centralized in the park for a more immersive experience.

New Parade Schedule

New in 2022 is a change to the parade start time, now beginning at 10:30 a.m. Rotary’s event manager David Krebs says the time change was adopted so that parade participants and spectators can enjoy the event in the cooler part of the day.

“Our traditional start time in the afternoon heat in July was grueling, and we heard that complaint year over year,” said Krebs. “The Westerville parade is popular, and it’s long. So this makes sense. It gives people time to get home and ready to come back out for the music and food, and later fireworks. Now everyone can make a full day of it in Westerville.”

Krebs says the parade will celebrate the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) this year on its 50th anniversary, with co-grand marshals as executive director Scott Marier (retiring this year from WARM) and WARM staff members and volunteers.

Fireworks Launch Site

This is the second year fireworks will launch from a site near the Sports Complex, expanding the view for larger crowds. The show will be easily seen from many sites along North Cleveland Avenue, including areas around the Westerville Community Center and Westar.

It will also be the second year Rotary will host a daylong program of music, food and family entertainment.

“We will have two bands again on the main stage and food trucks lined up inside the park,” said Krebs. “There’s enough space to add some fun features for families, and enough programming to start the celebration with us at 4 p.m. all the way through the fireworks at 10 p.m.”

Take a photo of your child/children the night of the fireworks. This will aid Westerville Police Officers (WPD) if your child/children becomes lost. Look for a Lost and Found table or staff member with a radio.

DO:

Bring a blanket, chairs or picnic supplies.

Bring a trash bag(s). Please be considerate and take your trash to a canister at the field or take it home with you for curbside collection.

Consult www.westerville.org for information and maps on parking.

DON'T:

Bring your own fireworks. WPD officers will be on-site and monitoring crowds, as well.

Stake an umbrella or tent in the ground. There are underground sprinklers that could be damaged.

Bring or consume alcohol or illegal substances.

Block sidewalks or trails with chairs, blankets, bikes, etc.

4 TH OF JULY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Run / Walk 8 – 9:25 a.m.

Parade 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Food Trucks 4 – 10 p.m.

Live Music 5 – 10 p.m.

Fireworks 10 p.m.

Full details of the day’s events will be posted on the Rotary website (www.rotaryclubofwesterville.org). Day-of announcements and updates will be available on City social media accounts (www.facebook.com/cityofwesterville and www.twitter.com/tellwesterville).