event_info

Festival Event Information

June 28 - July 1 & July 4, 2007

2007 Freedom Festival Parade

Freedom Through the Years”

Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.

The Evansville Freedom Festival Parade is one of the most exciting events of the 2007 Festival! On Thunder Weekend, there will be increased attendance to insure exposure to your entry. Along with floats, veterans, bands, and flags, you can be a part of our celebration of freedom.

River City Racing Club Little Thunder

Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24
at Eagle Crest Lake, I-164 and the Lloyd.

The 2007 I.M.P.B.A. International Regatta takes the form of Little Thunder once again this year on Evansville’s East Side, with open water on June 22 from noon to 6 p.m. and heats beginning on June 23. No button needed for this event!

Vectren Balloon Glow

Friday, June 29 – 6 - 9 p.m.

at Tri-State Aero

Come out to Tri-State Aero at dark and see the amazing sight of hot air balloons lighting up the night sky over Evansville, Indiana. The 2007 glow also features live entertainment from local talent The Duke Boys, a jump by the U.S. Army Golden Knights, and a night pyrotechnic air performance by Oregon Aero Firedancer. A yearly favorite, this is a sight to see and a great way to wrap up a day of fun at the Freedom Festival!

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana/Kenny Kent Toyota 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular, presented by Casino Aztar

July 4 on the riverfront

This annual favorite event wraps up the Freedom Festival with a bang and a spectacular show. Each year, the Fourth of July fireworks draw huge crowds to Evansville’s downtown and the riverfront to share in a celebration of our independence and of our wonderful community. Fireworks begin at dark. Buttons required only for lower-level access.

Opening Ceremonies

Friday, June 29 – 11 a.m. at the Four Freedoms Monument

Freedom Festival Opening Ceremonies, including featured speakers, Boom Squad Performance, a Military Swear in and a special B-52 flyover.

Budweiser/Budweiser Select/Bud Light Bierstubes and Beer Gardens

- Bierstubes - June 28-30 – 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. nightly at the

Casino Aztar Events Plaza

- Beer Gardens – June 28 – 5 p.m. to midnight; June 29 – 3

p.m. to midnight; June 30 – noon to midnight, July 1 – 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chestnut Street

The Evansville Freedom Festival Bierstubes – sponsored by Budweiser, Bud Light, and Bud Select. Come out for cool drinks and hot music at the Budweiser Bierstubes and Beer Gardens.

Thursday, June 28

HOT 96 FM at the Casino Aztar Events Plaza

7:30 p.m. - Acoustic Act

9 p.m. - Never Been Caught

Never Been Caught

Friday, June 29

103GBF at the Casino Aztar Events Plaza

7:30 p.m. - Jay Johnson

9 p.m. - Gonzo’s Toybox

Gonzo’s Toybox

Jay Johnson

Saturday, June 30

104.1 WIKY at the Casino Aztar Events Plaza

7:30 p.m. - The Franklins

9 p.m. - Deb Turner’s Saturday Night Dance Party

The Franklins

Deb Turner

Operation Fire SAFE

at the Operation Fire SAFE tent

Operation Fire SAFE, a program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will distribute 10,000 FREE battery operated smoke alarms at Thunder on the Ohio, and over 65,000 more smoke alarms at the other ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane races during the 2006 season. Fans of Thunder on the Ohio will have an opportunity to meet with specialists to discuss their fire safety needs and members of the local firefighting community will be on site to answer questions.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana Junior Achievement Grand Prix

Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30 at

the Evansville Museum

This year’s Junior Achievement Grand Prix go-cart race, sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana, marks the 11th anniversary of an event benefiting Junior Achievement programs in Vanderburgh, Gibson, Posey, Warrick, Pike, Knox, Davies, Jefferson, Dubois and Wayne County in Illinois.

As in years past, The Junior Achievement Grand Prix event will involve participation by over 50 corporate sponsors, who support Junior Achievements’ mission of educating and inspiring young people to value free enterprise, understand business and economics to improve the quality of their lives.

Family Fest

Sunday, July 1 - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the

Evansville Museum

The Evansville Courier & Press and Fox 7 Family Fest at the Museum - Presented in partnership with the Evansville Museum, the Museum Contemporaries, and the Evansville Freedom Festival.

Best seats in the house for Thunder Air and Thunder on the Ohio! Free food and beverages all day long, including lunch; fun family entertainment, including magic shows, children’s activities, planetarium shows, and more. Admission prices are $150 for a family of four (up to two adults and two children ages 11-18), $60 for adults, $20 for children ages 11-18, and children 10 and under are
admitted free! For tickets, call the Evansville Museum
at (812) 425-2406.

Museum of 20th Century Warfare Historic Military Encampment

Friday, June 29 – Sunday, July 1 at Sunset Park

Expanding on its success of last year, the Museum of 20th Century Warfare will be back this year and bigger than ever. With displays and re-enacters from the Roman, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam eras as well as modern displays, the historic military encampment will stretch along the riverfront at Sunset Park.

Shuttle Schedule

Friday service to Tri-State Aero:

Whirlpool South Lot from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m and Whirlpool, Sunset Park, and Atlas Van Lines from 5 - 10 p.m.

Saturday shuttle service:

Central High School, Wolf's Auto, Harrison High School, Locust & 3rd, and Whirlpool South Lot from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday shuttle service: Central High School, Wolf's Auto, Harrison High School, Locust & 3rd, Whirlpool South Lot, Bristol Myers, and the Civic Center from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

There will be a $1 fee per person for service Sat. and Sun. from all locations. There is no charge for the return trip. Children 5 and under free, coolers and lawn chairs permitted.

Fourth of July shuttle service: Civic Center Parking Lot from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. This service is free.

Evansville Freedom Festival Parade

Button Information

Thunder on the Ohio

Thunder Air

Event Schedule