Freedom Festival

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Freedom Festival The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival is Iowa’s biggest celebration—over 40 years strong! Join us and be part of the fun this summer!

As a nonprofit, we create safe, family-friendly events that are low or no-cost, ensuring everyone can make lasting memories. The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival is all about celebrating Independence Day with fun, affordable, and family-friendly events that bring our community together! For over 40 years, the Freedom Festival has created cherished memories for those who live, work, play, and visit Cedar Rapids and the surrounding corridor. The festival now spans an exciting week of events, leading up to and including Independence Day, July 4th. By utilizing local venues, parks, vendors, businesses, and city services, the Freedom Festival proudly supports the "shop local" philosophy. While we receive tremendous support from the City of Cedar Rapids, the Freedom Festival is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. True to our mission, we ensure that all events are either low-cost or free, allowing everyone in the community to participate without financial barriers. Our aim is to foster a sense of patriotism, community, and joy as we celebrate life in Eastern Iowa. Our mission is to celebrate the quality of life in Eastern Iowa by providing safe, affordable and fun annual events that embody the spirit of patriotism with a sense of community and family.

🍦🍩🍪 Life is sweeter with dessert! 😋Happy National Dessert Day! 🎉We've had the pleasure of working with some pretty DELIS...
10/14/2026

🍦🍩🍪 Life is sweeter with dessert! 😋

Happy National Dessert Day! 🎉

We've had the pleasure of working with some pretty DELISH food trucks over the years, and we couldn't let today go by without giving them a little shoutout! 💕

From ice cream and donuts to all kinds of sweet treats, these vendors sure know how to satisfy a sweet tooth! 🍨

💕 Shoutout to a few of our sweet favorites! 👇

🍦 Outside Scoop Ankeny
🍩 Dave's Mini Donuts
🍪 Big A Cookies
🥨Griddle & GiddyUp
🍨Macy Moo’s Food & More
🍓Everbowl

🍰 Now we have to know… what's YOUR go-to dessert? Drop it in the comments below! 👇

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our BoardMembers! ❤️🤍💙As we welcome a new chapter at Freedom Festival, wewant to take a moment ...
10/14/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Board
Members! ❤️🤍💙

As we welcome a new chapter at Freedom Festival, we
want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate
seven incredible individuals who are wrapping up their
time on our Board of Directors!

Please join us in thanking Jessica Mackey, Torri
Freese, Liz Loney, Jenny Townsend, Coady Sierra, Lori
Armstrong, and Lindsey Gaunitz! 🎉

Your time, dedication, and passion for Freedom
Festival have made a lasting impact on our
organization and the communities we serve. We are so
grateful for the ideas, leadership, and countless hours
you've contributed to helping make our Festival what it
is today!!

Meet the Board! 🎉Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Jess Peters!Get to know Jess...
10/13/2026

Meet the Board! 🎉

Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Jess Peters!

Get to know Jess a little better:

How long have you been on the board?
— “Since November 2024!”

What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
— “I take mac and cheese very seriously. 😂 I’ve been rating and ranking the ones
I’ve tried at different restaurants, venues, and food trucks for the past decade.”

What’s your favorite Freedom Festival event?
— “Dock Dogs is my favorite because it’s so much more than watching dogs compete. You can see how much time, effort, and dedication the owners put into working with their dogs. What really gets me is seeing how genuinely proud they are of their pups. That bond and excitement between them is so heartwarming. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much our pets mean to us.”

What’s your favorite part about being on the Freedom Festival Board?
— “Seeing all of the hard work come together to create experiences that bring families and the community together.”

Thank you, Jess, for the passion and dedication you bring to the Freedom Festival Board! We’re grateful to have you on our team helping create experiences that bring our community together, and we now know exactly who to ask when we need a mac and cheese recommendation! 😂

🎉 Be sure to check back later this week as we introduce another one of our amazing Freedom Festival Board members!

Meet the Board! 🎉Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Jill Cejka!Get to know Jill ...
10/11/2026

Meet the Board! 🎉

Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Jill Cejka!

Get to know Jill a little better:

How long have you been on the board?
— “1 year!”

What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
— “I’m originally from Illinois, and I spent a lot of time growing up at county fairs, the Illinois State Fair, and racetracks because we trained and raced harness horses!”

What’s your favorite Freedom Festival event?
— “I really loved the Drone Show, but the fireworks really moved me. They were so great this year, and I felt really proud to have worked with this awesome group of people to put it all together.”

What’s your favorite part about being on the Freedom Festival Board?
— “Being part of the team that helps bring great summer events to the community that is the Corridor.”

Thank you, Jill, for bringing your enthusiasm and community spirit to the Freedom Festival Board! We love having you as part of the team and appreciate all you do to help create memorable experiences throughout our community. 🎆

Be sure to check back this Wednesday as we introduce another one of our amazing board members!

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday, Natalee! 🎂🎉Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our amazing Marketing & Events Assistant, Natalee! 🥳💙Your...
10/10/2026

🎉🎂 Happy Birthday, Natalee! 🎂🎉

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our amazing Marketing & Events Assistant, Natalee! 🥳💙

Your creativity, hard work, and positive energy bring so much to the Freedom Festival team, and we are so lucky to have you!

We hope your special day is filled with lots of laughter, joy, and all the things that make you happiest! 🎈✨

Help us wish Natalee a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉🎁

Sorry for bringing it up. 😂 See you in July!
10/09/2026

Sorry for bringing it up. 😂 See you in July!

🎉Our Meet the Board series continues! 🎉This week, we’re excited to introduce Crystal Beckett, a member of the Freedom Fe...
10/09/2026

🎉Our Meet the Board series continues! 🎉

This week, we’re excited to introduce Crystal Beckett, a member of the Freedom Festival Board!

Get to know Crystal a little better:

⭐ How long have you been on the board?
— “This is my first year on the board!”

⭐ What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
— “I love musicals! My favorite is Grease.” 🎭🎶

⭐ What’s your favorite Freedom Festival event?
— “Celebration of Freedom!” 🎆

⭐ What’s your favorite part about being on the Freedom Festival Board?
— “Being able to bring our communities together with fun, family-friendly activities and events!” ❤️💙

Thank you, Crystal, for choosing to be part of the Freedom Festival Board! We’re so excited to have you on our team and appreciate your passion for bringing our communities together and creating memorable experiences for families throughout the area.

Stay tuned next Friday as we introduce another one of our incredible board members!

Have something to sell, share, or showcase? We want to hear from you! 🛍️✨The Freedom Festival is already planning for 20...
10/08/2026

Have something to sell, share, or showcase? We want to hear from you! 🛍️✨

The Freedom Festival is already planning for 2027, and we’re looking for amazing market vendors and community organizations to join the fun!

Whether you create handmade goods, artwork, apparel, accessories, home décor, unique gifts, or simply want to set up a community booth to share your organization, services, or mission, there’s a place for you at the Freedom Festival! 🎨🎉

2027 Market Vendor & Community Booth applications are NOW OPEN!
Ready to showcase what you do and connect with our Festival crowds? Head to our website to learn more and apply today!
freedomfestival.com/market-vendor

Know a local maker, small business, nonprofit, or community organization you’d love to see at the Festival? Tag them below! 👇

Meet the Board! 🎉Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Shelby Vanous!Get to know Sh...
10/07/2026

Meet the Board! 🎉

Our Meet the Board series continues! This week, we’re excited to introduce Shelby Vanous!

Get to know Shelby a little better:

How long have you been on the board?
— “I have been on the board for 4 years, with this upcoming year being year 5!”

What’s something most people wouldn’t know about you?
— “I love watching reality TV!”

What’s your favorite Freedom Festival event?
— “Dock Dogs, but I also love the Cardboard Boat Regatta!”

What’s your favorite part about being on the Freedom Festival Board?
— “The individuals it surrounds me with. We work together wonderfully, and it’s encouraging to be around people who are positive and willing to go the extra mile to bring more to our community.”

Thank you, Shelby, for your continued dedication to the Freedom Festival! We’re so grateful for the positivity and commitment you bring to our board and for everything you do to help make our community events possible. ❤️🤍💙

Be sure to check back on Friday as we introduce another one of our amazing board members!

Calling all food trucks and food vendors! The Freedom Festival is already cooking up plans for 2027, and we’re looking f...
10/06/2026

Calling all food trucks and food vendors! The Freedom Festival is already cooking up plans for 2027, and we’re looking for delicious local favorites to join the fun! 👀🍔🌮

Whether you’re serving up burgers, tacos, BBQ, sweet treats, or something totally unique, we want to hear from you!

2027 Food Vendor applications are NOW OPEN! 🎉
Ready to bring your flavor to the Freedom Festival? Head to our website to learn more and apply today! https://www.freedomfestival.com/food-vendor

Know a food truck or vendor you’d love to see at the Festival? Tag them below! 👇

Address

51 1st Avenue Bridge
Cedar Rapids, IA
52401

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+13193658313

Website

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