W
hat’s more American than Classic Rock and watching stuff get blown up with 100,000 of your closest friends? It can only get more American when you name it after the stars and stripes.
Every year, Blue Ash rolls out the red carpet for Red, White & Blue Ash, one of the region’s biggest Fourth of July bashes, this year pairing its 30-minute fireworks display with a live performance by ’80s Rock band Cheap Trick.
The event has grown over the years since its inception in 1991, in part because it consistently brings in big name bands. Recent years have seen Yes, Peter Frampton, Kenny Loggins, Huey Lewis and the News and Foreigner come through Blue Ash, often with five-figure price tags in tow.
Most of Red, White & Blue Ash’s nearly $200,000 cost is covered by sponsorships, though the city of Blue Ash kicks in some funding as well. Last year saw 100,000-120,000 attendees, according to Blue Ash’s Emily Schaffer, who helped plan this year’s event. CityBeat caught up with Schaffer to talk about the annual spectacle.
CityBeat: When and how did this event begin? Why do you think it has gotten so big?
Emily Schaffer: This is the 29th year that Blue Ash has produced an Independence Day event, but we didn’t start calling it Red, White & Blue Ash until 2007. It’s a free event with national entertainment and fireworks. Not only does it attract from the Greater Cincinnati area but also across the Midwest because it’s national entertainment and free fireworks, right in their backyard. It’s convenient; they don’t have to go too far.
CB: Why the Fourth of July? Is the holiday particularly special to Blue Ash or did the event just grow organically?
ES: It just grew over the years from the original one in 1986. It was obviously a lot smaller back then. The Fourth of July is such a great holiday for America in general. Why not celebrate it?
CB: What type of behind-the-scenes work goes into the event that people might not know about? Does it involve a lot of volunteers?
ES: There aren’t too many volunteers. We have a great event staff; they start planning for next year’s event the day after the Fourth of July. They started planning for 2014 on July 5 of 2013. They’ll do the same thing for next year’s event. A lot of people don’t realize it’s a yearlong process with a lot of details and logistics that go into it. When it comes down to it we have awesome event staff, great sponsors and they work really hard throughout the year. The event staff in the recreation department plans multiple events, also the Taste of Blue Ash.
CB: Why do you think this is such a draw for people in the greater Cincinnati area?
ES: It’s national entertainment, fireworks and proximity. They can sit in their backyard and watch the fireworks because it’s so close. A lot of people can walk, and if you’re in surrounding suburbs it’s a really short drive for national entertainment. In the past couple of years we have had 100,000 to 120,000.
CB: Is there a conscious effort to attract people outside of Blue Ash to the festival?
ES: We advertise the event and entertainment and open doors to anyone that wants to come and anyone is welcome to come. Really, we just advertise in greater Cincinnati area but also a lot on social media and the Internet and if stuff can just can go viral, it can reach anywhere on social media.
CB: The event spends a decent amount of money bringing in big-name music acts. What’s the philosophy or strategy behind this? How do you choose the bands?
ES: It just adds to the Fourth of July. We choose the music based on popularity of the band and what we think our audience will like and also who is available to perform. The national entertainment is what makes it a success.
CB: Tell us about the fireworks show. Just how big is it?
ES: It’s 30 minutes long and simulcast to music on Warm 98. We work with Rozzi’s and Cumulus Radio to choreograph the fireworks with the music. Its an awesome show, you can see it all around Blue Ash.
CB: What’s next for Red, White & Blue Ash?
ES: Right now we’re focusing on this year, praying the weather and everything cooperates. After this is over we’ll start to focus on next year’s event.
Red, White & Blue Ash
4 p.m. Friday, July 4
Cheap Trick performs at 8:15 p.m.; fireworks at 10 p.m.
Summit Park, corner of Glendale-Milford and Plainfield roads
Free; no sparklers, glass bottles, alcohol or pets, ya wankers!
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.