July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
July 1, 2015
A super-sized Fourth of July Recipe
11
Easy treats for the 4th of July
Around Town
3
School
8
Students visit U.S. Capitol
Submitted photo A photo from a previous O’Fallon Heritage and Freedom Fest. The Fourth of July celebration has been running for over 30 years and an estimated 150,000 people were a part of the crowd in 2014.
O’Fallon’s Heritage and Freedom Fest has become one of the largest celebrations in the region By Brett Auten It’s that time of year. Hot weather, shorts and tank tops; a cold beverage, tasty food, and children filled with boundless energy. It’s time to celebrate America’s birthday and O’Fallon’s Heritage and Freedom Fest is the place to be with carnival rides, free fireworks, free concerts and sideshows Located at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex, 900 T.R. Hughes Boulevard, O’Fallon, the holiday weekend will be overflowing with fireworks displays, big-name headliners, unique sideshows, Kids’ Zone activities, carnival rides and festival food. Over the last six years, the Heritage and Freedom Fest has grown to be the largest event in the county. “I think it’s a combination of things,” O’Fallon Tom Drabelle O’Fallon Director of Public Relations said. “We have national touring acts, which draws people from other states, and you can come to the event, spend the entire day and not spend a dime if you like. I think people appreciate that and it makes it a draw around the county and the surrounding area.” This time of year is always a hectic one for local hotels as more and more non-county residents have marked the Heritage and Freedom Fest as their destination for the Fourth of July weekend.
“We try to put on an event that makes O’Fallon a tourist destination,” Drabelle said. “It has become a regional draw and it exposes people to St. Charles County and O’Fallon. The hotels are filled and it’s a great time to promote local businesses.” The O’Fallon Heritage and Freedom Fest has been running for over 30 years and an estimated 150,000 people were a part of the crowd in 2014. This year, headline musical acts Gloriana, Smash Mouth, LoCash, Toad the Wet Sprocket and special guest Tonic will perform on the festival’s Main Stage on Thursday and Friday. Popular regional bands the Well Hungarians and Superjam also will perform. “With free festival admission, free headline entertainment, two nights of exceptional fireworks displays, free sideshows, and a great Fourth of July parade with prizes for the best entries, O’Fallon’s celebration has become the biggest and most popular in the area,” said Marsha Seymour, O’Fallon’s manager of Tourism and Festivals. “This year, visitors will be treated to an expanded fairground with a new entrance on T.R. Hughes Boulevard and new attractions.” The party starts on Thursday with gravity-defying carnival rides for adults and teens, fun rides for younger kids and a colorful midway with games and concessions from 5-10 p.m. New this year, DJ Beezie Boyer will take
audience requests for songs from 6-10 p.m. Unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased at the carnival for $20 each for use on Thursday only. There will be no fireworks on Thursday. Country music headliners Gloriana and LoCash take the stage on July 3. One of the best party bands of the last couple of decades takes over on Saturday as Smash Mouth and friends take over the Main Stage on Saturday along with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Tonic. Watch fireworks on Friday and Saturday Gather the family and friends, line up your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy one of the area’s most dazzling fireworks displays, the Jena “Dusty” Mielke Fireworks Spectacular, which will light up the sky at 10:15 p.m. on July 3 and 9:30 p.m. on July 4. Please come early; T.R. Hughes Blvd. and Cool Springs Industrial Drive will temporarily close for one hour before fireworks start. Free activities in the Kids’ Zone on Friday and Saturday When they’re not bouncing on giant inflatables or playing games, kids can get face painting and decorate a visor or sunglasses to wear in the Kids’ Zone. A free diaper-changing station will be available. Open noon – 9:45 p.m. on Friday and noon – 9 p.m. on Saturday. See FEST on page 2
Students receive book donation
Oaver the Fence
16
Decision by committee syndrome
Movie
‘Inside Out’
9
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