Preparations underway for Red, White & BOOM!

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Set up has started for Red, White & Boom! in Downtown Columbus.

This Thursday night, the largest fireworks show in the Midwest will take over the skies.

“As we get closer and closer to the event, it just gets more and more exciting, right?" Shawn Verhoff, co-executive director of Red, White & Boom!, said. "When we see tents go up and we see a fence go up and we see roads get closed."

The Downtown Riverfront is already being transformed for the event. By Sunday, fences had been erected around the parks and road closures were underway.

“So if you're driving down here, use your Waze or Google Maps, those will have the road closures in there,” Verhoff said.

With hundreds of thousands of people visiting on top of road closures, Verhoff said it could make for some stressful driving.

“We're going to reopen our stage after the fireworks at Bicentennial Park for another half an hour, so enjoy that band for another half an hour," he said. "Let everybody else clear out and then you go walk to your car."

On Wednesday, after 6 p.m., you can start claiming your spot to watch the fireworks.

“We do ask that nobody stakes anything, in what most people do, they kind of put down some caution tape, you know, weigh it down with either some bottles of water or, you know, a few little small rocks,” Verhoff said.

You can prepare early by packing a bag with items like sunscreen and blankets, and planning where you want to view the show.