Freedom Festival Calendar
Winner of the Youth Speech Contest Aerin Burns speaks at the America's Freedom Festival Patriotic Service at the UCCU Center in Orem on Sunday, June 28, 2015. TREVOR CHRISTENSEN for the Daily Herald
Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, speaks at the America's Freedom Festival Patriotic Service at the UCCU Center in Orem on Sunday, June 28, 2015. TREVOR CHRISTENSEN for the Daily Herald
Jeff Bramble sets up the crown of Stars and Stripes, Senator Bramble's balloon, during America's Freedom Festival Balloon Fest in Provo on Thursday, July 2, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Rick Piendel fills up a Blaser Swisslube hot air balloon during America's Freedom Festival Balloon Fest in Provo on Thursday, July 2, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Children dressed in colonial solider garb walk down Center St. in Freedom Festival's Children's Parade in Provo on Saturday, June 28, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Santiago Rojas rides a carnival ride while celebrating Freedom Days on Thursday, July 2, 2015 in downtown Provo. The festival is part of a multi-day event in Provo ending with the Stadium of Fire concert at Lavell Edwards Stadium on July 4. SAMMY JO HESTER, The Daily Herald
Sunday, June 28
Patriotic Service featuring Elder D. Todd Christofferson
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Marriott Center, Provo
Cost: Free
Thursday, June 30
Freedom Awards Gala
When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo.
Cost: $50 per person
What: The 2016 honorees are the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a member of the Supreme Court of the United States; Amir Hekmati, a former Marine imprisoned for suspected espionage in Iran when he traveled to the country to see his dying grandmother; Anna Tang, who, at 6 years old, attempted three times to escape Community Vietnam with her family, being imprisoned after the first two attempts; and Tyler Beddoes, a Spanish Fork Police Officer who was one of the responders involved in the rescue of Baby Lily in March 2015.
Friday-Monday, July 1-4
Balloon Fest
When: 6 a.m., Friday-Saturday, Monday
Where: Bulldog Field, 1100 N. Freedom Blvd.
What: More than 25,000 spectators will have the opportunity to experience approximately 25 of these magical giants close-up as part of the ever popular Balloon Fest.
Colonial Fest
When: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Monday
Where: SCERA Park, 600 S. State St., Orem
What: Meet history face to face at the 8th Annual Colonial Heritage Festival, a free three-day event for the whole family.
Exhibits: The apothecary shop, blacksmith, cooper, broom maker, gunsmith, spoon maker, potter, bobbin lace maker, bee keeper, chandler, wood worker, women’s clothing, home life, frontier life, and much more.
Cries of Freedom and The Walk of Freedom
When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Monday
Where: SCERA Park, 675 S. State St., Orem
What: Participants will be processed and guided through the walk by one of the immigrant character actors. You will go through this experience carrying the name of a real immigrant who went through Ellis Island with the hope to become a True American. The journey will take you to the Second Continental Congress where you will learn when and why we should declare independence from our homeland. You will then visit the Constitutional Convention where you will learn the principles of the Constitution and how to uphold it. Finally you will visit with various groups of Americans who will tell you of their “Cry for Freedom.” The experience will conclude with you taking the Oath of Citizenship. The event is free but donations are appreciated. There will be concessions and plenty of shade for your family to spend the entire day.
Freedom Days
When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Monday
Where: Downtown Provo (Center Street and University Avenue)
What: Freedom Days showcases some of the region’s finest specialty products, fun hands-on activities, local entertainment, and unique foods. There is something for everyone including handcrafted jewelry, live music, kids art, books, paintings, quilts, and more!
Fine Art Show
When: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Monday
Where: 151 S. University Ave.
What: Meet nationally acclaimed artists, see live demonstrations, and purchase original and printed works at the Freedom Days Fine Art Show. A gallery stroll will be held 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 1. Al Rounds, internationally acclaimed artist, returns for another year and is joined by artist Howard Lyon, Dan Wilson, Annie Henrie Nader, Linda Curley Christensen, and Robert A. Boyd. Darin Ashby, Jay Bryant Ward, Brent Borup, and Cary Henrie will also be present at the Gallery Stroll.
Saturday, July 2
Stadium of Fire with Tim McGraw
When: 8 p.m.
Where: BYU’s LaVell Edwards Stadium
What: This year’s Stadium of Fire welcomes three-time Grammy Award-winning country music icon Tim McGraw to the 36th annual Stadium of Fire at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Few artists have shaped modern country music as profoundly as McGraw. With 25 No. 1 singles, the highest grossing tour in country music history and an impressive acting career all under his belt, McGraw brings a new level of entertainment to a jam-packed patriotic bash in Provo.
Tickets: $29-$175, wwwfreedomfestival.org
Monday, July 4
Freedom Run
When: 7 a.m.
Where: Kiwanis Park, 820 N. & 1100 E., Provo
Registration: FreedomFestival.org
Grand Parade
When: 9 a.m.
Where: The parade will follow the same route that it has in previous years. It begins at 960 N. University Ave. and proceeds south to 100 S. and then turns east to 200 E. From there it turns north to Center St. and then turns east and ends at 900 East.