Check out these highlights in Freedom Festival’s parade of entertainment. Among the many other options are water ski shows, band concerts, puppets, the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s “Frankenboy!” Uptown Friday Nights and Kernels baseball games.
Use the map above for many events or find a more complete rundown here. Below we highlight a few of our favorites.
Celebration of Freedom Parade – 10 a.m. Saturday (6/23), downtown route. Floats, walking units, decorated vehicles and more; awards, noon, Greene Square Park.
FILE PHOTO. Firworks explode above the APAC building during the Freedom Festival fireworks display in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Balloon Glow – 6 to 11 p.m. Tuesday (6/26), Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Food, music by Dogs on Skis, food, tethered hot air balloons, Kids Zone, chance to win free balloon ride. Admission: Freedom Fest button. Parking and shuttle buses at Washington High School, 2205 Forest Dr. SE.
Voices of Hope Patriotic Concert – 7 p.m. Tuesday (6/26) to June 28, New Covenant Bible Church, 3090 N. Center Point Rd. Includes recognition of veterans, military servicemen and women, and civil servants. Broadcast on KMRY radio. Free.
Firefighter Combat Challenge – Noon to 6 p.m. June 30 and July 1, Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW. Includes Kids’ Firefighter Challenge, ages 4 to 11. Competitors race, simulating physical demands of real-life firefighting via climbing a 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and rescuing a life-size, 175-pound “victim.” Registration: Firefighterchallenge.com Kids register on-site.
Country Concert Night – 6 p.m. June 30, Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW. Headliner: Jo Dee Messina. Opener: Cedar Rapids native Hailey Whitters Band. $15 advance, $25 gate, $5 ages 8 and under. Fireworks follow; bring seating.
Patriotic Pops Concert – 6 p.m. July 1, Kirkwood Community College. Orchestra Iowa and fireworks. $15 adults, $5 ages 6 to 12, free 5 and under; through Orchestra Iowa or Freedom Festival office. Bring seating; no pets, sparkles, food or drink; shuttles from Prairie High School. Rebroadcasted on KMRY radio, 6:06 p.m. July 8.
July 4 Highlights – CVRA 5th Season Races, 7 a.m. to noon, near Chrome Horse Saloon, 1202 Third St. SE, followed by Kids’ Parade, same place; Grand Ol’ Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 11 a.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium, 950 Rockford Rd. SW; Five Seasons Ski Show, 7 to 8 p.m., Cedar River at Ellis Park, 2021 Ellis Blvd. NW; Fanfare to the Fireworks with Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, 8 to 9 p.m., 200 block of First Street SW; Fireworks, 9:30 to 10 p.m., May’s Island, seating on riverbanks, not on bridges or the island.