Edmond Life and Leisure - June 19, 2025

LibertyFest in sight

Can you believe we are almost halfway through 2025? It seems to me that we have just started folks. Summertime is fantastic in Edmond. We usually stay in town during the summer but on occasion we sneak away to the mountains for a break from the heat and to do some flyfishing. We try never to miss our famous LiberyFest celebration.

This week’s newspaper has the official program in it. We have been honored and blessed to produce this official version of the event authorized by the LibertyFest committee for over 23 years. This year the events run from June 26th and run through July 5th with the LibertySprint run. The run was a new event but extraordinarily successful last year. It was hard to get another event on July 4th, so the event planners decided to move it to the 5th which is a Saturday. It will be a hot one, but these runners love it.

Edmond Life & Leisure marks the 25th year that we have been Edmond’s only locally owned and operated newspaper. This July will mark our 25th year for putting out the paper weekly without ever missing an edition folks.

So many communities have lost their local newspaper, and many communities are forced to operate without one. Communities need their local publication, and they operate best when the ownership and management are part of the town. We have been blessed to continue to operate in this local role.

That will represent over 40,000 pages of local advertising and local news for our Edmond. Together with our incredible staff over the years and our partner, Chris Hoke, we have been here to serve you each week. We are your journalistic watch dog, teller of important news and most importantly we highlight all the good organizations and people in Edmond. Unlike social media, we are accurate, and unlike social media no Russian has ever purchase ads here to promote fake news.

We owe special thanks to all the advertisers who have supported us and especially to the ones that continue you to do so. Our friends at Citizens Bank of Edmond are at the top of the list. No company or organization believes more in supporting local journalism than these folks. In a day and time when local journalism is so needed to counter all the bad information being pushed, we are blessed to have the financial support of so many businesses including Integris Edmond.

LibertyFest is a cherished tradition that has been bringing the community together for over five decades. Since its inception in 1972, LibertyFest has grown to become one of the most popular and anticipated events in the region, celebrating the spirit of independence and patriotism with a variety of family-friendly activities.

In addition to the entertainment, LibertyFest has a strong focus on community involvement. Volunteers play a crucial role in organizing and executing the events, and local businesses often sponsor various activities. This collaborative effort not only strengthens community bonds but also ensures the sustainability of the festival for future generations.

We are proud to produce the official LibertyFest program. We hope you find it useful. You can find a complete link to the program on our website, www.edmondlifeandleisure.com. Please remember that the schedule in print is prepared in advance so you might want to check the LibertyFest website or Facebook page for any changes closer to the events.

LibertyFest is more than just a celebration; it is a testament to the enduring spirit of community and patriotism in Edmond. As the festival continues to evolve and adapt, it remains a cherished event that brings people together to celebrate the nation's independence and our vibrant community of Edmond.

The History of LibertyFest in Edmond LibertyFest, Edmond's Fourth of July festival, has been a sold tradition in the community for over five decades. Since its inception in 1972, LibertyFest has grown to become one of the most popular and celebrated events in Edmond, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

The origins of LibertyFest can be traced back to the early 1970s when a group of resolute community members sought to create a festival that would bring the residents of Edmond together to celebrate Independence Day. The first LibertyFest was a modest affair, featuring a parade, a concert, and a fireworks display. Despite its humble beginnings, the festival quickly gained popularity and became an annual event.

We have lost so many of those founders and others who have pushed to make LibertyFest the excellent series of events it is today. Leah Kessler, June Cartwright, Charles Lamb and others. Once again, Edmond has a great festival and event thanks to folks who worked so hard ahead of us. The same is true with the Downtown Edmond Arts Festival. Yet, there are some great folks that have stepped up to the plate to help.

When the LibertyFest committee lost many event chairs in one year due to retirement and health, our friend Eriech Tapia stepped up to rescue the event and he is still leading the way for this great celebration. He has done so much for the organization this year even though his job has taken him to live in our nation’s capital and he married in late May. He and his bride met through volunteering for LibertyFest but that is another story that will appear in the newspaper soon.

Tapia has brought aboard so many great folks that are young and full of energy. They have breathed new life into the momentous event. Not one volunteer is or has ever been paid for LibertyFest. It is 100% volunteer, and this is exactly what it should be, but we owe special thanks to all those fantastic volunteers that give their time and energy to LibertyFest.

Over the years, LibertyFest has evolved and expanded, incorporating new events and activities to cater to the diverse interests of the community. Today, LibertyFest boasts a wide range of events, including a rodeo, parade, car show and ParkFest, a jazz festival, exploration Edmond, patriotic trivia, patriotic radio show, big band concert, band concert at UCO and the LibertySprint. Each event is designed to provide family-friendly entertainment and foster a sense of community spirit.

One of the most iconic events of LibertyFest is the parade, which takes place on July 4th. The parade features a colorful array of floats, marching bands, and community groups, all coming together to celebrate the nation's independence. The parade is a highlight of the festival and draws large crowds each year. Other communities have tried to duplicate this event, but they cannot. We have the tradition here in Edmond and the support needed for all these events.

In addition to the parade, the fireworks display is another major attraction of LibertyFest. The fireworks show, held on the evening of July 4th, is a spectacular display of pyrotechnics that lights up the night sky and provides a fitting conclusion to the day's celebrations.

LibertyFest has also gained national recognition over the years. The festival was ranked as one of the top 10 July 4th festivals in the nation by CNN and USA Today. This accolade brought increased attention to the festival and helped solidify its reputation as a premier Independence Day celebration.

The Edmond History Museum has played a significant role in preserving the history of LibertyFest. The museum's exhibit, "50 Years of LibertyFest," displays artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia from the festival's long history. The exhibit explores the origins of LibertyFest, how the festival has evolved over the years, and how it has grown to become one of Edmond's most popular events.

LibertyFest is not just about entertainment; it also serves as a platform for community engagement and volunteerism. Each year, hundreds of volunteers contribute their time and effort to ensure the success of the festival. Their dedication and hard work are essential to the smooth running of the events and the overall success of LibertyFest. Remember, there are no paid staff for LibertyFest. This lets almost all the events happen at no charge to the public.

As LibertyFest continues to grow and evolve, it remains a beloved tradition in Edmond. The festival's commitment to celebrating Independence Day and fostering community spirit has made it an integral part of the city's cultural heritage. With its diverse range of events and activities, LibertyFest offers something for everyone and continues to bring joy and excitement to the residents of Edmond year after year.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure, may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)