Mason is getting ready to turn its municipal campus into party central today as Red, Rhythm & Boom brings national acts, family fun and a high-tech drone-and-fireworks finale to mark America’s 250th birthday. The free event will transform the lawn behind the Municipal Center into a full-blown concert venue, with organizers noting that the celebration actually started early with a Mason Public Library block party and outdoor movie. With temperatures expected to run hot, crews have added cooling stations and extra medical staffing to keep the crowd safe.
According to the City of Mason, Red, Rhythm & Boom runs from 4 to 10 p.m. today at the Mason Municipal Campus (6000 Mason-Montgomery Rd.). The grounds will be packed with a Kids Zone, food trucks, vendor booths and shuttle parking from nearby churches and schools. Lawn seating is first come, first served beginning at 3 p.m., and the city is asking visitors not to park chairs or blankets on the grass before then. The event page also spells out what you can and cannot bring, how beverage sales will work on site and which streets and entrances will be restricted during setup.
Concert lineup and drone finale
Steve Caddell, the city’s assistant director of public works who helps coordinate the show, told WCPO that preparations are in the home stretch and the “stage will be finalized” as people start to roll in. The evening’s music lineup features Vertical Horizon and Fitz and the Tantrums, setting up a pop-rock soundtrack for hours of blanket-and-lawn-chair lounging. The night wraps with a Rozzi’s-produced drone-and-fireworks mashup planned for around 10 p.m., a family-friendly capper that trades a quiet night at home for a light show over City Hall.
Heat and safety
Per the City's event page, organizers are setting up two first-aid booths and will have emergency personnel on site, along with cooling stations to help people beat the heat. Volunteers will help funnel shuttle passengers from offsite lots and will staff information booths across the campus so visitors can find answers, lost friends or the nearest shade. Guests are asked to leave pets, grills and glass containers at home and to check the Municipal Center lost and found after the event if anything goes missing.
Library kickoff and community video
The Mason Public Library warmed up the weekend with a block party and outdoor movie, and adult program director Brent Stroud told WCPO that organizers leaned into novelty stuff, classic Americana for the family-friendly gathering. Ahead of the main event, the city also asked residents for one-word answers to the question of what America means to them. Those quick-hit clips will be assembled into a community video and unveiled tonight at Red, Rhythm & Boom as part of Mason’s broader America250 slate.
Drivers should be ready for road closures, since Lakeside Drive and parts of Mason-Montgomery Road will shut down for setup and the campus will be busy. Organizers recommend arriving early, staying hydrated and keeping an eye on the city’s social media channels for any last-minute changes.
