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Equestrian riders travel the Freedom Festival Grand Parade route on July 4, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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Freedom Festival Chairman Bill Freeze, left, poses with the late Alan Osmond.

Courtesy Bill Freeze

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The "Let Freedom Ring" pin for the 2026 Freedom Festival is shown.

Courtesy Bill Freeze

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Equestrian riders travel the Freedom Festival Grand Parade route on July 4, 2025, in Provo.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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With its annual slate of summer events that include the Fourth of July Grand Parade and Stadium of Fire, the American Freedom Festival goes to great lengths to celebrate patriotism in Provo.

For its 2026 slate, falling on the United States’ 250th anniversary, the organization is set to go above and beyond.

The Freedom Festival officially kicked off Friday as event organizers presented a “Let Freedom Ring” pin to Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins inside her office at City Hall.

Event organizers have more than 35 events planned for the summer to celebrate the nation’s  semiquincentennial as well as the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.

“It is seen as a time to reflect on the independence, innovation and progress that American history has shown through its people and its enduring spirit,” Freedom Festival Chairman Bill Freeze said in an announcement. “This anniversary is a time to also honor the brave men and women that have given their lives protecting our great country and the goal of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ first declared in 1776.”

Recognized as part of the celebration will be Alan Osmond, the eldest brother of The Osmonds musical group, an Army veteran and a Freedom Festival leader who died April 20.

Freeze told the Daily Herald he planned prior to Osmond’s death to honor him as part of the celebration this year. Freeze visited with Osmond two weeks before his death to take a picture and discuss the honor.

“One of our great veterans, Alan Osmond, has been a leader in the Freedom Festival for 45 years,” Freeze said. “From the very beginning, his firework ideas have given us all thrills. The ‘Father of the Stadium of Fire’ still gets a bang out of this incredible Provo tradition. Thank you Alan and Suzanne Osmond for your commitment to the Freedom Festival.”

The “Let Freedom Ring” pin, designed by Robison Jewelers, is now available for purchase at the Freedom Festival office in Provo and Central Bank locations in Utah County.

Freedom Festival events also begin next week. Running Monday through Wednesday is the Hope of American performances, where a chorus of thousands of fifth- and sixth-grade students from more than 100 schools gather in the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University to sing patriotic songs. Pre-show performances for the three concerts begin at 6:15 p.m., with the main event starting at 7:30 p.m.

Other May Freedom Festival events include the Utah Valley National Day of Prayer at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Provo Community Congregational United Church of Christ and the Memorial Day service on May 25 at the Provo City Cemetery.

The Grand Parade will begin at 9 a.m. July 4 along University Avenue and Center Street in Provo, and Stadium of Fire will be at 8 p.m. July 4 at LaVell Edwards Stadium and feature Brad Paisley.

Several additional Freedom Festival events will take place in June and July throughout Provo that the Daily Herald will provide updates on and/or cover in person.