Independence Day concert and fireworks

Schedule

Friday, July 3, 2026

For the safety of our guests, we ask that you follow these guidelines:

• Reserving space on campus is prohibited until 10 a.m. on July 3. Personal items will be considered abandoned property and discarded.
• Tents are prohibited (sunshades are allowed). 
• Parking in grass is prohibited.
• Portions of University Drive and the recreational trail (bike path) are closed to the public. Please adhere to signage and stay off of closed roadways and trails.
• Please leave pets at home. Fireworks, heat and crowds can create potentially stressful and unsafe conditions for dogs and other pets.
• Personal fireworks, including sparklers and smoke bombs, are prohibited.
• The COTC and Ohio State Newark campus is 100% tobacco-free—no tobacco use or vaping anytime, anywhere on campus.
• Alcoholic beverages, portable gas or charcoal grills, temporary pools and generators are prohibited.
• Political campaigning and posting political signs on campus is prohibited.
• Refrain from riding bicycles, skateboards, scooters and other similar devices on campus during the event.
• Drones are prohibited.
• Swimming is prohibited.

After the event, the following traffic plan will be in effect. Please note the available exits, road closures and direction of traffic flow from the campus area.

Country Club Drive north exit

Traffic will be directed north on Country Club Drive toward Sharon Valley Road. Cars may turn west (left) or east (right) onto Sharon Valley Road. Traffic turning east (right) will be directed onto King Road.

Country Club Drive south exit

Traffic will be directed south on Country Club Drive. Cars may continue south on Country Club Drive to access OH-16E. Cars may turn west (right) onto Granville Road to access OH-16W. Cars will not be permitted to turn east (left) onto Granville Road.

Rotary Park/Evans complex

Traffic will be directed east on Sharon Valley Road, then north (left) onto Hamilton Avenue and east (right) onto Moull Street to 21st Street.

Central Ohio Technical College and The Ohio State University seek food vendors to serve thousands of guests anticipated on the shared Newark campus for this event. Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Once notified, accepted vendors are required to pay a $150 fee and submit a certificate of insurance. Vendors are responsible for complying with the Licking County Health Department.

The vendor application will open in the spring.

On Sept. 18, 1999, a dedication ceremony featuring a concert and fireworks marked the completion of the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheater. Located at the heart of the shared Newark campus of Central Ohio Technical College and The Ohio State University at Newark, this multi-purpose amphitheater, covered by a permanent white canopy, was generously gifted to the community by Mr. and Mrs. J. Gilbert Reese and the Gilbert Reese Family Foundation. Named after Reese’s mother, Martha Grace Reese, the amphitheater serves as a cultural facility and gathering space for the community. 

In 2000, through their foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Reese initiated the tradition of sponsoring the annual Independence Day Concert and Fireworks to capture the community camaraderie and celebratory fanfare of the dedication and make the community aware of the affordable and accessible education available locally at Ohio State Newark and COTC. Local musicians performed live music in the Martha Grace Reese Amphitheater, while families and friends gathered on the surrounding lawn to enjoy music, picnic, and embrace the sense of community and celebration. A fantastic fireworks display capped off the night. 

Over 20 years later, the Independence Day Concert and Fireworks celebration continues to attract community members to the campus’s scenic central core, bringing together our community in a patriotic celebration. Around 25,000 Licking County residents attend this free, family-friendly event each year. The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation continues to proudly support this event as the founding sponsor in partnership with Central Ohio Technical College and Ohio State Newark.