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America's Freedom Festival Associate Director Robyn Pulham is shown in her office Friday, June 26, 2026, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Fireworks explode after the Stadium of Fire concert at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

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A helium balloon is pictured on the Freedom Festival Grand Parade route on University Avenue on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Dancers perform before the Stadium of Fire concert held at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, July 2, 2022.

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald file photo

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Stadium of Fire takes place at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, July 3, 2021.

Connor Richards, Daily Herald file photo

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Eight days before the Fourth of July, America’s Freedom Festival Associate Director Robyn Pulham is trying to learn how a new payment terminal works. 

She focuses on the instructions her assistant laid out for her — until the phone rings.

Provo City is calling. She’d better answer.

Pulham takes a swig of soda, grabs the phone, scribbles notes and hangs up. Back to the payment terminal, until something else steals her attention moments later.

Such is life when making final preparations for one of the largest Fourth of July festivals in the country on America’s 250th anniversary. 

“It feels like there’s nothing I’m not working on right now,” she said. “But I have Dr. Pepper.” 

The Freedom Festival hosts 30 events in Utah County this summer, most notably the Grand Parade in Provo and Stadium of Fire on July 4 at LaVell Edwards Stadium. 

With just two full-time employees, Pulham and Executive Director Jim Evans, making it all happen requires a herculean effort from thousands of volunteers from throughout Provo and Utah Valley, along with help from Provo City and Brigham Young University.

Each event has a committee chair and its own subcommittees, and then additional volunteers are needed to run each event.

“I really believe we couldn’t do this anywhere else besides here, just having the people that will jump in and help,” Pulham said. “It really is impressive that Utah County jumps in, and they want to be involved, and I think just our attitude of service around here makes a huge difference.”

But that doesn’t mean the workload is light for Pulham. She’s involved in just about everything — especially now because Evans is away due to a medical matter.

On Friday morning she went to the bank to send a wire transfer to Brad Paisley’s group for entertainment fees, then picked up petty cash for Friday afternoon’s Summer Beach Party at the Riverwoods, which she planned on attending at 4 p.m.

In her office, she released Stadium of Fire tickets to sponsors and donors, a process she said required getting all their information and exchanging it with BYU.

Pulham’s to-do list also involves building a list to see who’s on the stand for Patriotic Service Sunday at the Marriott Center, and she’s touching base with committee chairs for the Timpanogos Bluegrassroots and Folk Festival at 2 p.m. Saturday at Orem City Center Park and the Children’s Parade Saturday on 800 E. Center Street in Provo.

She admits things are a bit stressful, but she’s happy to be doing the work.

“It’s going great,” Pulham said. “We’re excited to have the events here and to be able to go and enjoy all of the hard work we put in.”

Most of the work, though, happens before what Pulham calls the “crazy time.” 

Several months in advance, Pulham said she spends a lot of time working with sponsors and building out ads for the program and magazine. 

Front of mind this year was how the festival could provide educational opportunities for kids and families to understand the significance of America 250. Pulham said 2026 Freedom Festival President Susie Bramble challenged each committee chair to apply education to their events.

Three new parade floats will focus on historic moments, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Colonial Days has added more hands-on things for families to do, and at the balloon festival, run by Bramble, pilots will hand out balloon cards with facts or questions about the Declaration of Independence.

One of the biggest annual decisions is identifying a performer for Stadium of Fire. Pulham said they gather lists from the executive council and trustees, and send out surveys to gauge interest. Top picks are identified by her and Evans and sent to BYU for approval. 

Upon approval, the festival goes to its production company to discuss pricing and feasibility. 

“And then after we figure out who would fit in, then it’s like, is (that performer) going to be available?” Pulham said. “Are you touring? Are you even in the United States at that time? Like, where are you going to be in your tour schedule? A lot of them like to take summers off to be with their families.” 

Paisley will return for a second time, after headlining in 2011. 

“It’s kind of fun when they come back, because you know they loved it,” Pulham said. “Tim McGraw has been here a couple of times, Journey has been here a couple of times, the Jonas Brothers a couple times, and Carrie Underwood has been here a couple times. Multiple performers have come back. And I’m sure the word would spread if they loved it. It helps with other performers.” 

Preparing for the annual Freedom Festival is no small feat, but Pulham said the effort is well worth the result.

“We want to bring the community together and just have a nonpartisan place where everybody can join with us and enjoy,” she said. “We want people to come and enjoy our events. We do want them to learn a little bit about America 250 this year, we want to spark patriotism. Our focus is God, family, freedom, and country.”