Alice revives Freedom Fest for first time in a decade
Alice will bring back Freedom Fest July 3-4, with free admission and a 10:15 p.m. fireworks finale at the Natatorium grounds. It is the city’s first community-wide Fourth of July celebration in at least 10 years.
Alice is bringing back Freedom Fest for the first time in at least 10 years, using the July 3-4 celebration to rebuild a holiday tradition around the Alice Natatorium grounds at 1723 FM 1554. Admission is free, the water park and pool are not included, and the city has set the event up as a two-day family gathering rather than a single fireworks stop.
The schedule runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. both days and is tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Friday opens with ceremonies at 5 p.m., followed by a talent show from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and live music by Los Heartbreakers from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday brings food contest turn-ins, a cake walk, a watermelon-eating contest, live music by Christina y Los Latinos and Whiskey D, and a fireworks show set for 10:15 p.m.
The city has built the event around more than one attraction. Freedom Fest includes a barbecue contest, car show contest, car audio contest, live music, food vendors, a military flyby and a talent show, with the Alice Convention and Visitors Bureau helping organize the celebration and local businesses backing it. City of Alice Parks & Recreation, which maintains the city’s parks, sports fields, water park, natatorium, golf course and neighborhood facility, says its role includes providing recreation programs and promoting eco-, cultural and socially oriented special events.
That structure matters in a town trying to turn a one-off revival into something families can count on. City manager Vincent Marquez said the fireworks are the main draw for organizers, calling them “the carrot” and saying the show may be shorter than some others but will be good. The rest of the program is designed to keep people on the grounds for both nights, with music, contests and food giving residents more reasons to stay local for the holiday.
Regulars at the natatorium are already treating the return as a community event, not just a holiday show. Julianna Flores and Margarita Smith said they are excited about the celebration and see it as a way to bring the community together. If the turnout matches that interest, Alice’s return to a full Fourth of July festival could become a fixture on the city calendar again instead of a memory of what used to be there.
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