Families and individuals in Utah County have a plethora of activities to choose from this weekend as America’s Freedom Festival in Provo gets underway.

“Come, let’s gather as a community at the various America’s Freedom Festival events in celebration of our great country and the freedoms we enjoy,” said Cameron Martin, 2023 festival president. “There is something for everyone with a lineup of fun patriotic celebrations and entertainment that will bring us together in song and activity, topped off with amazing fireworks.”

This year’s slate of events is starting with Thursday night’s awards gala designed to honor local heroes and humanitarians. This year, the gala committee recognized several with special Freedom Awards, all veterans and members of the “greatest generation,” having served in World War II.

The public-facing event begin in earnest with a Saturday night sellout, according to Jim Evans, executive director of the festival. Iconic ’80s rock band Journey will headline the Stadium of Fire concert at LaVell Edwards Stadium before a fireworks show that can be seen far beyond Brigham Young University’s campus.

That sellout should not discourage residents from participating in other events, though, in Provo and Orem. While most events are free to enter, there are some minimal charges including the food areas and rides.

The Balloon Festival runs Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at Fox Field across from the Utah Valley Hospital, 1100 N. Freedom Blvd. Balloons will begin filling up at 6 a.m. and competitions go until 8 a.m.

On Sunday, the Patriotic Service will be held at the BYU Marriott Center beginning at at 7 p.m. The program will include Steven J. Lund, young men general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the One Voice Children’s Choir.

Events in Provo and Orem will continue Monday and Tuesday with the July Fourth Parade at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The pre-parade festivities start at 8 a.m., but the fun is a continuation from the night before as thousands party along the parade route. The route starts at 960 N. University Ave, proceeds south to 100 South, jogs one block and heads north to Center Street where it ends at 900 East.

Streets around the parade will be closed off at 6:30 a.m. and reopen at noon. The Freedom Run, which starts at 7 a.m., will come down the parade route prior to the parade’s start.

Freedom Days in downtown Provo features the annual market and food courts as well as a carnival for all ages. It runs Monday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

For those seeking more history in their July Fourth celebration, free events will be held at the Scera Park and SCERA Center for the Arts.

These events run Saturday, Monday and Tuesday featuring the Colonial Heritage Festival and the Military History Days, under the shade trees at Scera Park, with a musical stage production of “Cries of Freedom” inside the SCERA showhouse II. Screenings will be held at at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day.

The Brent Ashworth American Heritage Museum is also inside with artifacts dating back to the Mayflower. It is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. More information on the events can be found at https://freedomfestival.org.

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