Freetown Freedom Festival set for Friday, Saturday

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FREETOWN

The state extending its restrictions a little longer this month because of the COVID-19 pandemic fortunately hasn’t stopped the Freetown Freedom Festival from going on as planned this weekend.

The festival is set for Friday and Saturday at Pershing Township Park in Freetown.

Cheryl Long, president of the festival, said after working with the Jackson County Health Department to comply with the Stage 4.5 Indiana guidelines for festivals and fairs per Gov. Eric Holcomb’s announcement July 1, the festival committee was given the go-ahead.

Holcomb said outdoor events such as fireworks shows and local parades are allowed, as evidence suggests the chance of viral transmission of COVID-19 outdoors is significantly smaller than the risk of transmission indoors.

Long said the festival committee recommends attendees wear face masks, but they will not be required except by those who are preparing and serving food.

There also will be hand sanitizer stations available, and although seating is available at the stage, attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair to enjoy the entertainment.

“The vision behind the festival is as it has been for over 100 years: We are not a committee putting on an event for the community, but rather a community coming together to celebrate our freedom at a festival,” Long said.

“We believe it is important to proceed with the festival both for the morale of the community and the importance of continuing the basis of the festival’s purpose — to celebrate America’s great independence and freedoms as well as to honor those who have made those freedoms possible,” she said.

One major change this year is that games, booths and food will be open at 4 p.m. Friday. That includes Kids’ Alley with games, activities and prizes until 9 p.m.

Friday’s food menu at the booth in the park next to the stage will consist of hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, homemade desserts and drinks.

To sign up to donate cakes, pies, cookies or other desserts to be sold in individual servings, visit signup.com/go/Jxxxvxr or bring items to the food booth after 4 p.m. Friday or on Saturday morning.

The opening ceremony featuring the Long Family Singers will be at 6 p.m. at the stage. The speaker will be syndicated talk radio show host and podcaster Todd Huff.

Entertainment onstage that night includes Justyn Underwood at 7 p.m. and The Dallas Cole Band at 8:45 p.m.

Saturday kicks off with a tractor drive at the Freetown ball diamond.

The festival opens at 10 a.m. with Kids’ Alley and vendors. At that time, The Dew Daddies will perform onstage. At 11 a.m., food, including the same menu as Friday along with a fish fry, will begin being served.

The parade will begin at noon, a classic car show will go from 1 to 5 p.m., a cake walk at a cost of 50 cents per round starts at 3 p.m., open karaoke is at 4 p.m. and a karaoke contest will begin at 5 p.m.

To donate homemade or store-bought baked goods for the cake walk, sign up online at signup.com/go/vuGHxQD or drop them off between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday at the food booth next to the stage. Baked goods can be cookies, cupcakes, breads and cakes.

Other stage entertainment Saturday includes On the House Band at 1:30 p.m., Steve Deweese acoustic show at 6 p.m., Eliana Weston acoustic show at 7:45 p.m. and music at 10:30 p.m.

Kids’ Alley closes at 9 p.m., a fireworks show will be at 9:45 p.m. and the festival closes at 11 p.m.

Also during the event, festival T-shirts with an original painting by Freetown’s own Larry Cox will be available for purchase for $10.

The festival committee will be donating 10% of the profits from this year’s event to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 charities.

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The Freetown Freedom Festival is set for Friday and Saturday.

Anyone interested in being a vendor can find information online at facebook.com/groups/freetownvendors or by texting 812-569-2710.

Those interested in volunteering at the festival can visit facebook.com/groups/freetownfreedomfestivalvolunteers.

To register for the parade, which will be at noon Saturday, contact Bill Wilson at 812-498-4902 or email [email protected].

To keep up with the latest on the festival, visit facebook.com/freetownfestival.

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Freetown Freedom Festival

Friday

4 p.m.: Vendor booths open

4 to 9 p.m.: Kids’ Alley with games, activities and prizes

6 p.m.: Opening ceremony with the Long Family Singers

7 to 8:30 p.m: Justyn Underwood

8:45 to 11 p.m.: The Dallas Cole Band

Saturday

9 a.m.: Tractor drive

10 a.m.: Vendor booths open

10 a.m.: The Dew Daddies

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Kids’ Alley with games, activities and prizes

Noon: Parade

1 to 5 p.m.: Classic car show

1:30 p.m.: On the House Band

3 p.m.: Cake walk and car show music

4 p.m.: Open karaoke and contest registration

5 p.m.: Karaoke contest

6 p.m.: Steve Deweese acoustic show

7:45 p.m.: Eliana Weston acoustic show

9:45 p.m.: Fireworks

10:30 p.m.: Music

11 p.m.: Festival closes

Sunday

1 p.m.: Volunteer after-party (bracelet required)

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