Freedom Fest Returning to Montgomery After Year Off

MONTGOMERY, TX — After missing out on Freedom Fest in 2020, Montgomery County residents and organizers are excited to bring it back in 2021.

With the COVID-19 pandemic at its peak in Texas around Independence Day last summer, Freedom Fest had to be canceled, but it's back to normal in 2021 with even more fun planned than before. The sixth annual 4th of July celebration in downtown Montgomery will take place July 3, and will feature fun for people of all ages.

The event is "full steam ahead," according to Shannan Reid, director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, with no mask or other COVID-19 restrictions.

"We were one of the only events that was going to try to move forward last year, but it was just down to the wire and we had to make the call [to cancel], unfortunately," Reid said. "It was always in our minds that we would be back to full speed by July 3 this year."

Freedom Fest is centered around families and accessibility, and that's readily apparent in the anything-but-a-trailer parade. The highlight of Freedom Fest, the parade encourages residents of all ages to show off their patriotism and creativity using whatever mode of transportation they can find, except a traditional parade float or trailer.

The parade is also a contest and will be judged in three different categories by members of the Montgomery Lions Club. The club will designate a best themed entry, which will go to the person or group that best encapsulates the theme of this year's Freedom Fest: Celebrate Freedom. There also will be an award for best spirit, which will be given to the entry that displays the most enthusiasm at the time of judging. Finally, there is an overall category that combines the prior two categories along with creative design.

"The parade is a blast," Reid said. "It's for the sweet little family with the young kids that wind through the streets decked out in red, white and blue. It's meant to be for everyone to join in with golf carts and wagons and even pedestrians walking through. It's unique to us and a lot of fun."

Participants should line up for the parade at 8 a.m., and judging starts at 8:30 a.m. The staging area and judging will take place in the back parking lot of the Montgomery ISD Education Support Center located on Clepper Street. For the complete parade route, entry forms and sponsorship information, see the Freedom Fest website.

The Junior Creative Arts Show is a new addition to Freedom Fest this year that came about because of the pandemic and lockdowns that resulted from it. According to Reid, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce wanted to award the efforts families and children made during the pandemic to expand new hobbies and skills.

"This is a way to highlight all kinds of ability and talent that has blossomed over the past year with our kiddos," Reid said. "It's almost like a step back in time when you go to these small towns and you see the little art show and projects that are set up."

Members of the Montgomery Lions Club will again be the judges across five categories. The entries will be judged in two age groups: 12-and-under and teenagers (13-19). Here are the categories accompanied by specific entry types:

• Baked goods
  • Cookies
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Breads
• Needle craft
  • Sewing
  • Crochet
  • Knitting
• Handicraft
  • Woodwork
  • Leatherwork
  • 3D mixed media
• Horticulture
  • Floral arrangements
  • Home grown plants
• Fine arts
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Photography

Entries should be set up in the Community Center at 14420 Liberty St. from 8-9 a.m., and judging will occur shortly after. The creative art show will open for public viewing and purchasing following the parade. Any project not meant for sale should be marked "not for sale." More information is available on the website.

Adults can participate in the crafters market by reserving a 10 feet by 10 feet booth to sell homemade or homegrown items, and children can expect to have plenty of fun in the Kids Zone, which will feature bounce houses and lawn games such as Yard Yahtzee and giant Connect Four in addition to plenty of other fun activities.

There will be food trucks and vendors selling festival food, including classic 4th of July fare such as hot dogs and lemonade.

"It's by the community and for the community," Reid said. "It's an intimate time for the Montgomery area to come together, and we're super patriotic. We show our pride, wear our red, white and blue. We come out and enjoy one another, and it's such a family-friendly community. We really enjoy celebrating together."

For more information on the festival, check out the Freedom Fest Facebook page.