Star Spangled Kids Day brought hundreds of children and families downtown Wednesday as Columbus’ Celebrate 250 continued, offering a full afternoon of hands‑on fun, cooling stations, and patriotic energy, despite the intense summer heat.

One of the biggest draws of the day was the dunk tank, where attendees lined up for the chance to send notable community figures into the water. Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane, Columbus City Council member Josh Burnett, and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Director Crissy Riley all took their turns on the hot seat. When the tank needed refilling, Columbus Police Lt. and Public Information Officer Skylar Berry received a crash course on firehose operation from Columbus Fire Capt. and Public Information Officer Mike Wilson, turning the refill into another crowd‑pleasing moment.

Beyond the dunk tank, kids raced through an inflatable obstacle course and took repeated runs down a giant slide. Kidscommons set up stations for face painting, hair tinsel, and coloring, giving children a chance to get creative between activities. Sidewalk chalk art also filled Fourth Street near The Commons as young artists added bursts of color to the pavement.

To help beat the heat, volunteers handed out free snow cones and bottled water chilled in troughs of ice. Misting stations placed on both sides of Fourth Street offered steady relief throughout the afternoon.

Star Spangled Kids Day continued the Celebrate 250 tradition of community‑centered events, giving local families a chance to enjoy a festive and active summer outing as Columbus marks America’s 250th anniversary.