COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Thousands of people are converging on downtown Columbus for Red, White & BOOM! 2015.SLIDESHOW: BOOM! viewer photos

The early birds started staking out spots to view the fireworks as early as Thursday at 6 p.m.

Columbus resident Jonathan Kimball marked off a spot in North Bank Part right along the Scioto River.

“We got lucky,” he said. “We came the other day and had a plan A, plan B, and plan C.”

His group will grow to 75-100 people by Friday night, he said. They have enough food for everyone.

Kimball is excited about the big show. “I hope we can feel them,” he said. “I think it will be a lot of fun.”

Delores Price remembers coming to see the fireworks with her mother years ago. She says, “This is one of the events my mother and I cherished when I was young. She’s been bringing me ever since I was little. So, I am glad I get to spend such an awesome occasion with my kids and we get to celebrate this together.”

This is the first year she staked out a spot with her children.  She has already picked up ideas to incorporate into her campout next year. Price explains, “Ok next year we need a tent and we need this. We are looking at all the things we need to do better for next year, but we are really excited about this year and we think we have a pretty good spot for this year.”

Janet Portisch is a Red, White & BOOM! veteran who has been watching the fireworks display downtown for more than 30 years.

“I think we brought a blanket and a stroller the first year and now we have this elaborate setup and our corn hole,” she said.

Portisch’s family missed Boom while on a family vacation at the lake. They vow that will never happen again. “Everybody said nope,” Portisch said. “We can’t do that again. We have to be at Red, White & BOOM!”

Lynn Halasz brought her crew up from Chillicothe. This ten-year Red, White & BOOM! veteran says she wouldn’t miss the event.  Her entire group is wearing matching tie-dye shirts.

“It is fun,” she said. It’s fun to get all together with these kids and to have them spraying red and blue paint everywhere.”