Celebrate our nation at the National Infantry Museum on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 during our fifth annual community-wide Independence Day celebration!

Freedom Fest will be held from 11a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be filled with music, kids’ activities, historical reenactments, food, and fun.

FREE ADMISSION:

Admission to Freedom Fest is free. There will be nominal costs for the theater, food and drink. Donations made on July 4th will go toward construction of a new national monument to the Global War on Terrorism coming Fall 2017, to be located along Heritage Walk. The National Infantry Foundation relies on donations to operate the museum and preserve the artifacts that tell the heroic story of the American Infantryman. #CircleofHeroes Text COH to 91999 to Donate!

ACTIVITIES:

-Interactive demonstrations from the living historians at Historic Westville.

-Treadstone Climbing Gym is bringing a rock climbing wall suitable even for small children.

-– The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus will bring the cannon this year for live firings starting at 11am. The Columbus Historical Reenactors Association will set up a Civil War era campsite. Additional living historians will set up displays inside the museum to allow visitors to touch and learn about both weapons and household items used in our country’s early years.

-All day, kids will enjoy bounce houses, face and hair painting, balloon animals and Superheroes.

-Youngsters are invited to dress up their bicycles, tricycles, strollers and wagons – and themselves! – for the MuscogeeMoms Pint-Sized Patriots Parade down Heritage Walk at noon. Register online now: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/NationalInfantryFoundation/paraderegistration.html
or onsite the day of the event starting at 9:30am. Ages 12 and under.

-At the end of the parade, eyes will turn to the skies as the Silver Wings parachute team jumps onto Inouye Field at 12:30pm to deliver a copy of the Declaration of Independence.

-Live bands will perform throughout the day just outside the museum’s rotunda. Large tents will provide seating and shelter from the sun.

The Shelby Brothers

Wolf & Clover

Neal Lucas & the Freezer Burn

Capt. Geech & the Shrimp Shack Shooters

Peace-Dog

-The Giant Screen Theater will be the perfect place to cool off, with free kids movies playing at 11am: Frozen and 2pm: Moana (Sensory Screening).

-Vendors will sell ice cream, barbecue plates, chicken sandwiches, funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, frozen mocktails and soft drinks. The Fife and Drum Restaurant and Bar as well as the Rally Point Canteen concessions stand will be open for diners who’d rather stay indoors.

AFTER FREEDOM FEST:

The museum’s activities will end at 5 p.m. Festival-goers will be encouraged to head to uptown Columbus or Phenix City for a concert in the riverside amphitheater and fireworks at
dark.