Mills Street closed from 5 a.m. to midnight 

 

COLUMBUS—The Town of Columbus is gearing up for its 57th annual Fabulous Fourth of July celebration, set for all day Thursday, July 4.  

The day will include more than 50 vendors, amusement park rides, food, music, games and end with a firework show.  

The town is urging residents to be aware that Mills Street will be closed from Walker to Peak Street from 5 a.m. until midnight on Thursday. Detours are set up for Thursday to bypass downtown.  

The town is also urging participants to leave their pets at home. The asphalt is too hot and fireworks are frightening for pets, town officials said.  

ABC Party Rentals was contracted for the amusement park rides, which will be in Stearns Park. The rides will open Wednesday from 5-10 p.m. as well as all day Thursday. Thursday’s festival will be from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., with opening remarks at 10 a.m., live music all day on stage, and the festival ending with the firework show, which will begin at 9:45 p.m.  

This year’s fireworks will be set off in a different location, near the State Credit Union off Mills Street. The town’s insurance company deemed the previous location, closer to downtown unsuitable because it was too close to homes. Town officials have done testing with drones at different heights to ensure the fireworks can be seen from downtown.  

Rides can be enjoyed for $1 per ticket or $20 for a wristband, with wristbands included both Wednesday night and Thursday until 3 p.m. Kids games will also be provided by Crossroads Baptist Church on Stearns Lawn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.  

A car show will also be held until 3 p.m. Thursday on Gibson Street. There will be peoples choice awards and door prizes.  

Several bands will grace the stage all day, including gospel, blues, rock and jazz music.  

From noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, there will be a Veteran’s hour, featuring patriotic songs.  

There are normally thousands who attend the event. The festival is free entry.  

The town is using Nixle to send critical communication through text, email, voice messages, social media and the Nixle mobile app.  

People can register for Nixle by going to Nixle.com or specifically for the Fabulous Fourth festival, residents can text FAB4THOFJULY to 888777.  

Thursday’s weather calls for a high temperature of 91 degrees with isolated rain and thunderstorms predicted. A rain date of July 13 has been scheduled for the festival.