Freedom Festival 2025

May 2, 2025: Freedom Feastival, Green Square Park

• Returning in 2025, the Freedom FEASTival will be back at Greene Square Park on Friday, May 2nd! From 11 AM - 8 PM! Come down and enjoy a variety of food vendors, live music, and kids activities. This is a FREE event to attend!

May 19-28, 2025: The Medallion Hunt, Cedar Rapids

• Get ready, because the Medallion Hunt is back in 2025! Every year, the Freedom Festival hides a special Medallion somewhere in the Cedar Rapids Metro area, and this year, it could be yours! The Medallion is a unique acrylic disc featuring the official design of this year’s festival. Solve the clues, find the Medallion, and you could win a $500 Hy-Vee gift card! Learn More.

Try Dock Dogs, Newbo District
Returning again in 2025 is “Let’s Try DockDogs” (pre-registration required!) If you've ever wondered about unleashing the untapped potential of your canine companion, here's your golden opportunity! We invite you to join us in the thrilling world of DockDogs before the seasoned professionals take the docks. Learn More.

Freedom Drone Show, Tuma Sports Complex
NEW to 2025 and the first in the Cedar Rapids area! Join us for our first ever drone show! Taking place at Tuma Sports Complex, the Drone Show will kick off at dusk and will feature 400 drones for a beautiful and fun 20-minute show. Prepare to be amazed as drones take flight in a stunning light show, transforming the sky into a canvas of vibrant visuals. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind experience that blends innovation with beauty! Learn More.

DockDogs, Newbo District
Returning to our 2025 festival in a NEW location, this event will take place in Czech Village by the African American Museum and Kickstand. DockDogs is the perfect event for both human and canine! As seen on ESPN, ABC, and Outdoor Channel, DockDogs has evolved to the fastest growing sport for our four legged friends. Learn More.

Freedom Bike Ride & Kids Ride, Big Grove Brewery
Join us on June 28th for our Freedom Bike Ride! Starting in Cedar Rapids, we will kick off the ride at Big Grove. Get your first beer free prior to the ride and enjoy a FREE breakfast hosted by Big Grove! Beginning downtown, the route will take you south to Ely where you can enjoy food and drinks at local establishments. From Ely you’ll go through Solon where you can take a pitstop at Big Grove - Solon. The ride will end back in Cedar Rapids at Newbo where you can stick around to enjoy Patriotic Fest happening from 11 AM - 10 PM with our parade starting in the afternoon following the ride. Learn More.

DockDogs, Newbo District
Returning to our 2025 festival in a NEW location, this event will take place in Czech Village by the African American Museum and Kickstand. DockDogs is the perfect event for both human and canine! As seen on ESPN, ABC, and Outdoor Channel, DockDogs has evolved to the fastest growing sport for our four legged friends. Learn More.

Cardboard Boat Regatta, Robbins Lake - Ellis Park
After making it’s grand return last year, the Cardboard Boat Regatta is back again in 2025! Join us out at Robbins Lake for an exciting competition on June 28th! Competitors will navigate an “out and back” course starting and ending on the bank. The race format will see head-to-head heats of two boats, with each run timed to completion. The team with the fastest time to finish the route, will be the 2025 Cardboard Boat Regatta Winner! Learn More.

Patriotic Fest, NewBo
NEW to 2025! The Patriotic Fest will be a full day of fun with a variety of events taking place in the Newbo area! Start your morning off at our Cardboard Boat Regatta at Robbins Lake, then make your way down to Newbo/Czech Village for a packed day! We will be kicking off the event with IMAGINATION! Square presented by Tanager Place! This FREE family-friendly event will include interactive booths, hands-on activities, face painting, Freedom Festival trackless train rides, freebies from area organizations, and so much more! Learn More.

DockDogs, Newbo District
Returning to our 2025 festival in a NEW location, this event will take place in Czech Village by the African American Museum and Kickstand. DockDogs is the perfect event for both human and canine! As seen on ESPN, ABC, and Outdoor Channel, DockDogs has evolved to the fastest growing sport for our four legged friends. Learn More.

Tribute to Heroes & Flag Raising Ceremony, Veterans Memorial Building
Another Freedom Festival favorite is back in 2025! Our Tribute to Heroes Breakfast will be returning to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on July 1st! Doors will open at 7:30 AM. The ceremony and breakfast will begin at 8 AM and will conclude at 9 AM. Following the ceremony, join us outside the Vets Building for our Flag Raising Ceremony on Mays Island! Learn More.

Rock N Bowl, SpareTime Cedar Rapids
Back again in 2025, our Rock N Bowl event will take place on July 2nd at SpareTime! We are proud to offer this event for people with disabilities, their friends, and family to enjoy time together. The day will consist of free bowling at SpareTime in the Elite Suite! Other activities will include a photobooth and face painting. We are excited to host this event for the 10th consecutive year! Learn More.

Pancake Breakfast, Veterans Memorial Building
We’re bringing the Pancake Breakfast downtown! Start your 4th of July off right with the Freedom Festival Pancake Breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Building to fuel yourself for a day full of celebrations! From 8-11am. Learn More.

Car Show, Downtown Cedar Rapids
The Car Show will kick off at 8 AM on the 2nd Avenue Bridge and run until 12 PM. Come check out some of the area’s most authentic and unique cars, motorcycles, and vehicles! Learn More.

Yoga on the Island, Mays Island
NEW to 2025! Kick off your 4th of July celebrations with a rejuvenating yoga session on Mays Island with Vela Yoga! Starting bright and early at 9 AM, join us for a peaceful, hour-long yoga class while surrounded by the vibrant energy of the holiday. Best part? The class is absolutely FREE with your Freedom Festival button! Learn More.

Patriotic Pop-Up, Veterans Memorial Building
NEW to 2025! The Patriotic Pop-Up vendor market highlights small businesses, offering the public a chance to shop locally and support independent creators. From handcrafted goods to locally sourced treats, the market will provide a unique, community-driven shopping experience. It's a perfect opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind items while celebrating the spirit of Independence Day! Learn More.

Celebration of Freedom, Downtown Cedar Rapids

Join us on the 4th of July in downtown Cedar Rapids for one of the largest firework displays in the state of Iowa! Prior to fireworks beginning at 1:30PM, enjoy live performances, a variety of food trucks, and kids activities including: face painting, bounce houses, balloons, and trackless train rides!

Samuel John will take the stage from 5:30 - 6:30PM, followed by Dalles Jacobus performing at 7PM! Following his performance, fireworks will light up the sky at 10PM thanks to J&M Displays! Food trucks and a kids zone will be available throughout the evening.

NEW this year! Honor and celebrate your loved one’s life at the largest celebratory fireworks show in Cedar Rapids! Honor a loved one, give a birthday shout out, or just simply celebrate someone in your life with a new addition to our fireworks show. When you dedicate an aerial shell, it is exclusively for your loved one. You will receive the description of the firework and the approximate time it will go off in the show. All donations to reserve a firework will go to fund the following year’s Freedom Festival Fireworks Show. Flying High Tribute Fireworks was created in honor of the late, Joseph Noble Saari and we are honored to have this addition to our show.

Purchase online ahead of time or purchase on the day of at the 4th of July Fireworks downtown Cedar Rapids! We will be reaching out in June to coordinate which firework you would like to be yours! We have limited quantity available so reserve yours today!

Join us earlier in the day and spend the entire 4th downtown Cedar Rapids!

Entry: A Freedom Festival button is required for entry. Purchase yours ahead of time at any area Hy-Vee or purchase at the gate!