Freedom Festival Event Calendar
Kendra Hinson sits on the basket of a hot air balloon during a gathering of hot air balloon pilots preceding the 4th of July weekend July 1, 2016 in Provo. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Utah Governor Gary Herbert , left, speaks with a group of friends, including Montel Williams, right, at the Freedom Festival 31st Annual Freedom Awards Gala Thursday, June 30, 2016 in Provo. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Spectators watch the Freedom Festival Grand Parade, on Monday, July 4, 2016. The parade is the largest of its kind in Utah and attracts thousands to Provo every year to celebrate the Fourth of July. SAMMY JO HESTER, Daily Herald
The annual Heritage Festival at SCERA park, part of the Freedom Festival in Orem, brought crowds of kids as well as families to test out World War II guns, vehicles and food as well as a colonial times food, characters and history Saturday, July 2, 2016 in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
People in historical clothes from the colonial period sit in their tent and eat breakfast at SCERA park during the annual Heritage Festival Saturday, July 2, 2016 in Orem. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
Patriotic Service
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Marriott Center
COST: Free
WHAT: Ken Niumatalolo is this year’s Patriotic Service keynote speaker. The Patriotic Service will also include musical performances by the Utah Valley Children’s Choir and the 23rd Army Band of the Utah National Guard.
WEDnesday, JUNE 28
Clog America
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Orem High School, 175 S 400 E, Orem
COST: $7, $10 for reserved seats
WHAT: Clog America joins with Sam Payne and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to present “America Remembers,” a tribute to America’s patriotic past.
The performance explores America’s cultural heritage through music, dance and storytelling. Tickets are available on the SCERA website: scera.org
THURSDAY, JUNE 29
Freedom Awards Gala
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Utah Valley Convention Center, Provo
COST: $50 (Tickets must have been purchased in advance)
WHAT: An evening of dining and entertainment with performances by vocalist Dallyn Vail Bayles and Pianist John Sargeant.
Also on the program, the Freedom Festival will honor the four recipients of the 2017 Freedom Awards.
SATURDAY, JULY 1
Stadium of Fire
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
COST: $29-$175
WHAT: Stadium of Fire welcomes the Grammy-award winning artist, Little Big Town; Five-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes and comedian Brian Reagan to perform at the 37th annual Stadium of Fire. With flag-waving skydivers, military flyovers, patriotic tributes, and more leading up to the largest stadium fireworks show in the nation, the Stadium of Fire looks to continue its tradition of being the biggest patriotic event in the Valley.
Tuesday, July 4
Freedom Run
WHEN: Tuesday, 7 a.m.
WHERE: Kiwanis Park, Provo
COST: Varies by race
REGISTRATION: freedomfestival.org/event/freedom-run
Grand Parade
WHEN: Tuesday, 9 a.m.
WHERE: University Avenue and Center Street, Provo
COST: Free
WHAT: The largest parade of its kind in Utah, the Grand Parade will follow a slightly different route this year, starting at 960 N University Ave and continuing to 200 S before turning east and continuing to 200 E, finally turning north to Center Street and turning east again to finish at 900 E.
JUNE 30 – JULY 4
Freedom Days
WHEN: Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Monday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: Center Street, Provo
COST: Free
WHAT: Freedom Days is a four-day event filled with entertainment, food, handcrafted goods, carnival rides and more.
Balloon Fest
WHEN: Saturday, Monday-Tuesday, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
WHERE: Bulldog Field, 1100 N Freedom Blvd, Provo
COST: Free
WHAT: Watch as hot air balloons take flight over Utah Valley. A 33-year-old tradition, more than 25,000 spectators marvel as 25 hot air balloons inflate and fly, taking part in challenges like the “Hare and Hound competition,” as pilots attempt to hit targets with bean bags, and “jousting” as the pilots attempt to pop balloons that are floating 200 to 300 feet above.
Colonial Fest
WHEN: Saturday, Monday-Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: SCERA Park, 600 S State St, Orem
COST: Free
WHAT: Explore a colonial village, complete with artisans, exhibits, and demonstrations. Listen to storytellers in the Old South Church, or turn your attention to public debates and trials in the streets. From a Mayflower replica, to gun and armor displays, to colonial games, Colonial Fest has activities for the whole family.
EXHIBITS: Apothecary shop, blacksmith, cooper, broom maker, gunsmith, spoon maker, potter, bobbin lace maker, silhouette cutter, chandler, Isaiah Thomas Print Shop, women’s boutique, home life, frontier life, & much more.
Cries of Freedom
WHEN: Saturday, Monday-Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: SCERA Park, 675 S State St, Orem
COST: Free
WHAT: Celebrating its 10th year, “Cries of Freedom” is a musical exploring the cost of freedom and the lives of those who have been willing to give all to obtain it. The Cries of Freedom event also includes the Walk of Freedom to honor fallen soldiers from Utah, and the Milestones of Freedom, which explores the experience of immigrants entering the United States.
Fine Art Show
WHEN: Monday-Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: 151 S University Ave, Provo
COST: Free