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FreedomFest celebrating city’s 20th anniversary

6/14/2012 - South Side Leader
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By Maria Lindsay

Green resident Kathy Derby, at left, snacks with her granddaughter, Annabell Wood, and husband, Steve Derby, during last year’s FreedomFest.
Photo: Lew Stamp
GREEN — A variety of family entertainment will help celebrate “country and community” and Green’s 20th anniversary at FreedomFest, which will take place June 23 from noon to 11 p.m. at Boettler Park, 5300 Massillon Road.

“FreedomFest 2012 will provide plenty of opportunity for families to engage in fun activities, enjoy great summer food, listen to great live music, including country music’s rising band, The Farm, and cap the evening off with a spectacular fireworks display,” said Parks and Recreation Superintendent Mike Elkins. “Families should plan to arrive early and stay late and join in a celebration of country and community.”

Scheduled performances by local bands include Jukebox Hereoes from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; Escape, a Journey tribute band, from 6 to 7 p.m.; and The Farm from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

All the acts will take place on a stage set up on the soccer field.

Family activities will be available from noon to 8 p.m. and set up all around the park.

According to Parks and Recreation Events Coordinator Kim Goodhart, the activities will include inflatables, EuroBungy, a rock wall, Indy cart racing, laser tag, three full-sized NASCAR vehicles, a 3-D-motion theater, a nine-hole putter golf course, a zip line, Extreme Trampoline, carnival games and more.

Sixteen food vendors will set up shop around the park and offer a variety of food, according to city officials. Vendors will include: American Fry, Chick-fil-A, Cindy’s Munchies, Duke’s Dog House, DG Concessions, Figure the Odds, Fudgie Wudgie, Hylton Family Concessions, John’s Gyro King, Judy’s Concessions, Mom & Pop Ice Cream & Funnel Cake, Ooey Gooey Concessions, Risky Business, Scott’s Fire & Ice, Stoddard’s and The Pierogi Lady. People also are able to bring their own picnics to the fest.

Also, a beer garden will be set up on the hill near the Freda Hunter Bates Pavilion and will be open from noon to 9:45 p.m.

The day’s events also will include a visit from the Children’s Hospital Medical Center Air Bear Helicopter from 5 to 7 p.m., landing weather permitting, according to city officials. In addition, TAS Aircraft skydivers will drop into the park at 8 p.m., also weather permitting.

Fireworks will close out the day’s events at approximately 10:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, fireworks will be presented the next day, June 24.

To mark the city’s 20th anniversary this year, city officials commissioned artist Ron Beahn, of Green, to create artwork to be displayed in the Central Administration Building, 1755 Town Park Blvd. Beahn painted the Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse, and posters of the watercolor will be sold for $10 each at FreedomFest. Beahn will be available to sign the posters at the event.

Beahn also painted Comet Road Church 20 years ago when the community first became a city, and a limited number of copies of that art also will be sold. Proceeds from the sale of artwork will go to the Friends of Parks, according to Goodhart.

Admission to the festival and most family activities are free. 

Free parking will be available at the park and nearby lots, with continuous shuttle service available, according to city officials. Handicapped parking, as well as restroom facilities, are available at the park.

Boettler Park also offers the Heritage Hill playground, picnic tables and pavilions, a walking path and the 1885 Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse.

For details on the event and to check weather-related information, visit the city’s website at www.cityofgreen.org.

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