Hunter
04/22/20
An event that draws up to 100,000 in Cedar Rapids each year is the latest victim of the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizers of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival have announced that all events surrounding the two week celebration are cancelled; that includes the parade, Freedom Bike Ride, and Celebration of Freedom Fourth of July Fireworks.
In a statement, Mayor Brad Hart said, “This year’s festival will yield to the safety of our community due to the coronavirus, but I’m certain Freedom Festival 2021 will be the biggest and best yet. I’m already looking forward to it.”
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Freedom Festival started 35 years ago as a fireworks display and has grown to its current format with nearly two dozen events spread over a two-week period. This will be the first time the Festival has been cancelled; even during the flood of 2008 organizers were able to relocate several events.
2020 Freedom Festival buttons, which had already been manufactured, will be available at Cedar Rapids and Marion Hy-Vee stores for $5 starting May 1st. Organizers say purchases will help ensure the festival will return next year.
