Columbus is bracing for a full-on softball takeover Monday, as the USSSA Great Lakes National Championship rolls into town for a week of games, skills contests and a downtown party built to pack local streets, shops and restaurants. Organizers have made it clear the opening-day festivities are all about steering players and their families into the heart of downtown while putting local vendors and live entertainment in the spotlight.
Monday's Schedule And Where To Watch
According to USSSA Indiana Fastpitch, skills competitions are set for Ceraland Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by coaches and umpires meetings and a late-afternoon team parade that will funnel crowds toward downtown. The official itinerary lists a welcome ceremony and evening block party from roughly 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with food, rides, vendors and a DJ in the mix. Spectators can track updated game times, scores and lodging information through the USSSA mobile app and the event page.
Downtown Block Party, Vendors And Local Impact
Downtown Columbus is turning the welcome into a full-on block-party-style bash, with awards announcements and a lineup of food trucks and artisans taking over the Bartholomew County Public Library plaza and surrounding streets. Vendors expected to appear include Miss Rachel’s Neat Treats, Lemonade Bros, Sno Biz, Hotbox Pizza, Dirty Dough and Antojitos Rosita, along with hair-tinsel and henna options, as reported by The Republic.
The same report notes that organizers expect about 168 teams and roughly 2,100 athletes from 10 states, plus an estimated 5,000 spectators, with the total economic impact projected to approach $2.1 million. Kate Todd of the Columbus Area Visitors Center told the paper that hotels overseen by the visitor center are essentially full. Downtown organizer Erin Hawkins added that “not only will the party be super fun and cool for the people attending, but it’s also a great way to deliver all of these people onto the doorsteps of our small businesses downtown.”
How To Follow And Plan Ahead
If you are coming into town, organizers suggest using the USSSA event page or mobile app for last-minute schedule changes and field assignments, and turning to the Columbus tourism site for lodging options and downtown maps via Visit Columbus. The Bartholomew County Public Library plaza is the hub for awards and much of the evening programming, according to the library's events calendar Bartholomew County Public Library.
Organizers also advise arriving early and checking vendor hours on the Visit Columbus site so fans can make the most of the downtown action, according to Visit Columbus.
