Freedom Fest: ‘A red, white and blue family-oriented event’
Published 2:00 pm Sunday, June 29, 2014
![Miguel Garate holds up a peace sign while carrying an large American flag with the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors during the Fourth of July parade Thursday. Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/06/0705-Parade-1.jpg)
Miguel Garate holds up a peace sign while carrying an large American flag with the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce ambassadors during the Fourth of July parade last year. Herald file photo
NOTE: Scroll down to see the Freedom Fest parade lineup and a full schedule of events.
The Fourth of July Celebration has taken on many names in Austin: Cedar River Days, SpamTown USA Festival and — most recently — Freedom Fest. But to Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Forstner, the theme has always been the same.
“It’s a red, white and blue family-oriented event,” he said.
Freedom Fest — Austin’s annual celebration of patriotism, community pride and family — returns July 3-6.
“It’s been a good celebration a long time,” Forstner said.
According to estimates, at least 20,000 people attend Freedom Fest and the parade each year.
Festivities kickoff around 2 p.m. Thursday at Bandshell Community Park with performances by Jane Taylor Academy of Dance and Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, the Miss Sparkler/Mr. Firecracker pageant at 3:30 p.m., and other entertainment at the bandshell. Fun and entertainment continues throughout July 3 and 4, with the bandshell entertainment featuring mostly Austin talent. Inflatables at the park will be free on both days.
“I think that will really be nice for kids,” Forstner said.
![Twins Tyler, left, and Taylor Winkels, both 3, enjoy Freezees along the parade route Thursday. Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/06/0629.FourthPackage6-449x240.jpg)
Twins Tyler, left, and Taylor Winkels, both 3, enjoy Freezees along the parade route last year. Herald file photo
This year’s celebration will bring back a festival-favorite by popular demand: Two nights of fireworks on July 3 and 4.
“I think the thing I’m most excited about is the return of the two nights of fireworks,” said Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Forstner.
Forstner said organizers know two things about the celebration: “People love the parade and they love the fireworks.”
More small group entertainers — jugglers, clowns and more — will be in the park performing for small groups of people, according to Forstner.
The parade returns at 11 a.m. Friday, preceded by the 10:45 a.m. Mini Piggy YMCA Fun Run. With North Main Street closed for work on an “invisible” flood wall along Mill Pond, the Fourth of July parade will feature an altered route. The parade will start at Austin Utilities, 400 Fourth St. NE, and move down Fourth Avenue Northeast before turning south onto Main Street North — its normal route — and running to Bandshell Community Park.
“It’ll make a nice route, too,” Forstner said, noting there are many parking opportunities and the parade will still go through a commercial district.
The changed route will be about a block shorter and feature one turn.
Along with an altered route, parade goers will see something else new during this year’s parade: political candidates. The chamber rescinded a rule disallowing political candidates from being in the parade, and both candidates for the House District 27B — DFL incumbent Jeanne Poppe and Republican challenger Dennis Schminke — are in the parade.
“It’s quite a tradition here in Austin,” he added.
Forstner said the parade will have a few more marching bands than 2013.
Jeanine Nelson, a chamber ambassador of more than 20 years, is looking at Freedom Fest through a different lens this year as the chamber’s head of member relations and major events. She praised people like Forstner and Jeff Baldus, the executive director of the Austin Area Foundation who still is a vital organizer for the festival.
“A lot is taken for granted,” she said.
When asked about her favorite part of the festival, Nelson didn’t have to think long: “Of course it’s the parade and the fireworks,” she said.
The Kids Fishing Contest, the Hog Jog five-mile run and the 25-mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race all return July 5. The chamber is urging people to register early for the races at www.ymca-austin.org for the run and www.austincoc.com for the bike race; however, race-day registration is available for both.
However, The Hormel Institute’s “Walk for a Cancer-Free World” is not returning for a fourth year.
![A girl reacts to the steam from the Osman Dragon Patrol's dragon during the parade Thursday. Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/06/0629.FourthPackage7-449x273.jpg)
A girl reacts to the steam from the Osman Dragon Patrol’s dragon during the parade last year. Herald file photo
Freedom Fest parade lineup
1. VFW Post & Auxiliary
2. American Legion Post 91 & Auxiliary
3. American Legion Post 146-Adams
4. DAV
5. Boy Scouts
6. Girl Scouts
7. Austin High Cheerleaders
8. Austin High School Marching Band
9. Grand Marshal
10. Gene’s Pedalists
11. Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center
12. Matchbox Childrens Theatre
13. City of Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm
14. Little Miss Sparkler (Overby)
15. OPEN
16. Hormel Institute
17. Tom’s Heating & A/C
18. Austin Alumni Band
19. The Cedars of Austin
20. Jane Taylor Academy of Dance
21. Pacelli Catholic Schools
22. Y-Waste Removal
23. Moose Lodge No. 1180 –
24. Walgreens
25. Good Samaritan / Comforcare
26. Blooming Prairie “The Stix of Fury”
27. Primrose Retirement Community
28. Jeanne Poppe-House Representative
29. Ambassador of US to UN
30. Riverland Community College
31. Kwik Trip
32. Austin FFA
33. Knights of Columbus
34. OPEN
35. Rochester Pipe & Drums
36. Relay for Life
37. A Smooth Move
38. Austin Lions Go-Cart Unit
39. Mower County Sheriff
40. Bridget’s Dance Conservatory
41. Pizza Ranch
42. Southland
43. Vision 20/20
44. McDonalds
45. Keys To Life Apostolic Church
46. Mower County GOP/Dennis Schminke
47. Hy-Vee
48. Sacred Heart Juggling Team
49. Big Island Rendezvous and Festival
50. Rochester Merry Medics
51. Lyle Area Cancer
52. Alley Katz
53. Austin Jaycees
54. KSMQ
55. Westminster Presbyterian Church
56. OPEN
57. Dylan Kaercher’s Theater Camp
58. Austin Power & Sport
59. Riverside Figure Skating
60. Austin Utilities
61. Eastwood Bank
62. Albert Lea HS Marching Band
63. Salvation Army
64. Acclaim Studio of Dance
65. Mower County Mentoring Program
66. Crane Community Chapel
67. ARC Mower County
68. B&T Coaches LLC
69. Cedar River Longbeards
70. Austin ArtWorks Festival
71. Osman Dragon Patrol
72. Austin Shrine Oriental Band
73. Great Clips
74. Windom 4-H
75. Mower County 4-H
76. Mower County Fair
77. Home Federal Savings Bank
78. Viking Auto Glass & Bumper
79. Gold Cross Ambulance Service
80. Austin Youth Hockey
81. Austin Bruins
82. Rochester Cycle Patrol
83. St. Marks
84. Thompson Sanitation Inc
85. Hometown Broadcasting Power 96 & KQAQ
86. Precision Signs
87. 100 M4 Hunger — Kelly Nesvold
88. Total Fitness Gym of Austin
89. Minnesota Corrugated Box
90. Austin YMCA Gymnastics
91. The Corners Bar & Restaurant
92. KAUS
93. OPEN
94. OPEN
95. OPEN
96. OPEN
97. Austin Community Band
98. Brownsdale Fire Department
99. Mapleview Fire Department
100. Austin Fire Department
2014 Freedom Fest: Schedule of Events
![The Senior and Junior Taps Company from the Jane Taylor Academy of Dance perform a routine during the Town & Country Day in the Park at Bandshell Park Friday.](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/06/0629.FourthPackage4-449x214.jpg)
The Senior and Junior Taps Company from the Jane Taylor Academy of Dance perform a routine during the Town & Country Day in the Park at Bandshell Park last at a previous Freedom Fest.
Thursday, July 3
—Bingo, presented by the Mower County veterans, at the Bandshell Community Park pavilion, 2-9 p.m.
—Jaycees Street Dance, featuring Amish Playboyz (outdoor stage) and Seeds (indoor stage) at Torge’s Live, 1701 Fourth St. NW; Cost: $5; tickets available at the door, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.
—Captain Kirby’s train rides, Bandshell Community Park, 2-5 p.m.
—Kids Power Pedal Pull, Bandshell Community Park, registration at 4:30 p.m.
—Arts and crafts show along the path, Bandshell Community Park, 2-10 p.m.
Bandshell stage: entertainment, 2-10 p.m.:
(Paul Pruitt returns to emcee day two events)
Food concessions and Jaycee’s Beer Garden available
•Jane Taylor Academy of Dance, 2-2:30 p.m.
•Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, 2:45-3:15 p.m.
•Miss Sparkler/Mr. Firecracker Pageant, 3:30-5 p.m. on the bandshell stage. Open to girls and boys ages 5 to 8. Registration forms available at the chamber, the YMCA, Overby Orthodontics, or online at www.facebook.com/littlemisssparkler or at www.austincoc.com.
•Riverland Theatre group (subject to change), 5:15-6:15 p.m.
•3 Lane Band, 6:30-8 p.m.
•Announcements, 8-8:30 p.m.
•Austin Symphony Orchestra, 8:30-10 p.m.
•Fireworks, dusk
Friday, July 4
—32nd annual Mini Piggy Fun Run, 10:45 a.m.
—Independence Day Parade, 11 a.m.
New parade route:
The parade will line up in the parking lot of Austin City Hall and Austin Utilities, 500 and 400 Fourth St. NE, and move down Fourth Avenue Northeast before turning south onto Main Street North — its normal route — and running to Bandshell Community Park.
—Austin Fire Department water wars behind the bandshell on Ninth Place SW, 2-5 p.m.
—Ice cream social at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2-4 p.m. — free parking on July 3 and 4.
—Bean bag tourney north of the bandshell, 1 p.m. registration, 2 p.m. playing time. Call Shelley for more details at 507-440-0961.
—Bingo, presented by the Mower County veterans, at the Bandshell Community Park pavilion, 2-8 p.m.
Bandshell stage: entertainment, 1-10 p.m.:
•Opening ceremony/flag raising, 1-1:30 p.m.
•LibertySeed Event, 1:30-2 p.m.
•Austin High School mariachi band (subject to change), 2-3 p.m.
•Austin High School jazz band (subject to change), 5-6:15 p.m.
•The Austin Big Band, 6:30-8 p.m.
•Announcements/fireworks raffle drawings, 8-8:30 p.m.
•Austin Community Band, 8:30-10 p.m.
•Fireworks, dusk
Saturday, July 5
—Children’s fishing contest, 9-11 a.m. $2 entry fee with prizes for all; $50 for first place – age 15 and under. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
—Hog Jog five-mile run starting at East Side Lake Park, 8 a.m. Pre-registration at the Austin YMCA or at www.ymca-austin.org; race-day registration 6:45-7:30 a.m. at the race site.
—Dan Ulwelling 25-mile bike race starting at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, noon start time, 11 a.m. registration. Online registration at www.austincoc.com. Registration fee: $12 by June 13; $15 after.
—Austin Eagles Club Summer Bash. Car show, noon-3 p.m. Bingo at 2 p.m. Food served outdoors all day.
![Five-year-old Quinton Frimley, left, and 6-year-old Austin Langille watch their lines in East Side Lake during the Kids Fishing Contest Saturday. Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/06/0629.FourthPackage1-449x299.jpg)
Five-year-old Quinton Frimley, left, and 6-year-old Austin Langille watch their lines in East Side Lake during the Kids Fishing Contest last year. Herald file photo
Sunday, July 6
—Morning Lions Fly-In Breakfast at the Austin Airport, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.