Despite temperatures hovering over 90 degrees, Red, White & Boom drew hordes of people to Downtown Columbus Friday.

Between the smells of funnel cakes, the top 40 music from the speakers belonging to WNCI-FM (97.9) at Broad Street and Civic Center Drive and the sights of banner advertisements from airplanes, people began to gather across Downtown early Friday, with organizers expecting over 450,000 in attendance.

If you missed Red, White & Boom, don't worry: Suburban July 4 fireworks events are going to be held across Greater Columbus all weekend into the early part of next week.

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Joy Cornett, 64, of the East Side, and her family sat at Broad and Front streets, awaiting the Ford Oval of Honor Independence Day Parade, which featured everything from political candidates and martial arts demonstration teams to COSI and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The loudest applause in the parade's crowd were handed to its grand marshals — 15 veterans from conflicts such as World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as former prisoners of war and military color guards.

"My sister, mom and my grandchildren — we come down every year for the parade, we set up right here in this same area, and my brothers have a tent and we come to see the fireworks," Cornett said. "We're so happy to be back at Red, White & Boom."

Cornett and her family arrived at 3 p.m., seven hours before the fireworks' scheduled start time of 10 p.m. 

Passing the time was the name of the game Downtown for the early birds.

"I'm killing time, watching these guys run all over and snack and eat, enjoy the sights, and people-watching," she said. "They (her grandchildren) had a chance to walk around and see the things for the children."

Throughout the evening, people played games, children ran throughout parks and others simply people-watched.

Mel Lehman, 54, of San Antonio, shared a tent with family and friends at Bicentennial Park and passed the time eating, catching up with family members and walking around the celebration area.

"We take advantage and just catch up and see what everybody's been up to because we're from out of town," he said. "We came around 11:30, and we usually make that a tradition — come here, go out to eat and come back and chill for the rest of the afternoon."

Attendees agreed the event's return was a welcome return — and a welcome distraction from their day-to-day worries.

"It's a positive," Cornett said. "It's a sad situation with some of the issues that are going on, such as gun violence. I know people who won't come down … they're afraid of the gun situation. People won't come down because of the racial situation."

Cornett added she felt safe Downtown, owing to her faith.

Some attendees wore shirts reading "Stars and Stripes and Reproductive Rights," and held signs reading "No Rights, No Fireworks," and "USA: Land of the Free? Abort the Supreme Court!" in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

About 7 p.m., protestors went into the crowd at Civic Center Drive and Rich Street and chanted slogans such as "Abortion is health care" and "My body, my choice."

"July Fourth is to celebrate America, and I'm not proud to celebrate because overturning Roe v. Wade gets rid of women's rights," said Chelsea Sudar, 34, of Galloway. "I was raised Catholic, so I understand the pro-life movement — however, there's so much more to Roe v. Wade and women have rights."

Sudar wore one of the aforementioned shirts.

"The reason I'm wearing this shirt is because we need to recognize women's rights," Sudar said.

After a 15-minute technical delay, the 'star' attraction — the fireworks — got underway. The soundtrack included music by the Ohio State University Marching Band, Lee Greenwood, Rick Astley, The Weeknd and Lizzo. 

The fireworks and holiday are special to Tahah Jawad, 17, of Dublin, who is the grandson of immigrants from Pakistan.

"For me, it was kind of a celebration," Jawad said. "It's a celebration: getting together, seeing some fireworks, getting some nice food."

After the fireworks, Jawad said it was worth the wait.

"I've seen fireworks at Niagara Falls, and that doesn't compare," he said. "This was long and it was crazy, like, the sparklers … those were my favorites. It was worth the wait."