Liberty Station - Heroes Event

On Saturday, August 20, San Diego’s Liberty Station, a multifaceted community hub developed on the recommissioned Naval Training Center grounds, hosted its fourth annual Military Heroes Festival in partnership with the Rock Church and United Services Organization (USO).

The Military Heroes Festival, an invite-only, superherothemed event for active military members and their families, was launched in 2018 to thank military members for their service, dedicating a day to celebrate the families who also sacrifice so much by providing them with free groceries, resources, diapers, haircuts, children’s backpacks stuffed with school supplies, toys, prize giveaways from local businesses, live entertainment and the chance to meet-and-greet with their favorite superheroes.

While the event transitioned to a drive-through format in 2020, it returned in-person in 2021, and the 2022 event was even bigger. The event was put on by over 320 volunteers, a 14% increase from 2021, and welcomed 2,195 active military members and their families, who were selected from a raffle of over 5,000 military members. At this year’s event, Liberty Station and its partners donated over 16,000 pounds of groceries, $45,115 worth of clothing, shoes and books, a 25% increase from 2021, 455 school backpacks, 270 free haircuts and $8,000 worth of giveaway prizes, including scooters, gift cards to local businesses, vouchers for experiences and more.

Special guests at the event included marvel superheroes, storm troopers, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and iconic San Diego sports teams, including the San Diego Padres, San Diego Gulls, San Diego Legion and San Diego Wave Futbol, who also contributed on-site activations like jumping castles, meet and greets, free game tickets and more for attendees.

Before Liberty Station was the vibrant 361-acre community of restaurants, shops, fitness centers, artist studios and museums San Diegans know today, it served as San Diego’s Naval Training Center. Opened in 1923, this naval training center housed over 2 million Navy recruits through 1997. The Military Heroes Festival is a testament to Liberty Station’s continued dedication to honoring its roots in military history and the many military families who still call San Diego home.

As Liberty Station prepares to celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2023, the property and its partners are gearing up for an even larger Military Heroes Festival.