Attractions

Where:  Parade travels from the Center down Main St. Fireworks on Riverside Drive
When: Saturday, July 4. Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Fireworks start around 9 p.m.
Price: Free. No wristband required!

Bring your family and friends down to the riverfront for this patriotic and awe-inspiring fireworks extravaganza. Parades and live music on the riverfront will entertain as you wait for night to fall and the explosions to begin!

A wristband is all that is needed to attend the headline concerts of the festival, but upgrade to preferred seating to gain access to the lower plaza area for an up-close view of the concert for $20 per night or $35 for both nights. Space is limited so secure your spot today!

Please note, preferred seating upgrades do not include admission to the festival site. You must purchase an admission wristband also

Preferred Seating upgrade tickets can be purchased online, by calling the GAGE box office at (812) 401-9999 or in person at 318 Main St, Evansville, IN 47708. Please note that preferred seating upgrades cannot be purchased from our not-for-profit partners.

Where:  Riverside
When: Friday, June 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Price: Free with wristband, although preferred seating upgrades are available

From small-town Son of the South to hot new artist to bona fide country star, Billy Currington has seen it all. In 2003 he burst onto the Nashville scene with his self-titled debut album, and proceeded to burn up the charts with Top Ten singles “I Got a Feelin’” and “Walk a Little Straighter”. It wasn’t long before the legendary Shania Twain tapped him to be her duet partner in their smash hit “Party for Two”. In the accompanying video, Currington swung from an enormous chandelier and straight into the hearts of Americans everywhere.

Where:  Riverside
When: Saturday, June 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Price: Free with wristband, although preferred seating upgrades are available

The Bacon Brothers

Long before Kevin Bacon launched his prolific stage and screen career, and before Michael Bacon became known as a go-to composer for film and television, they were just two brothers, born nine years apart, coming of age in Center City Philadelphia. By the late 1960s, Michael, already a professional musician, would gig with his band at the city’s famed Electric Factory with a young Kevin tagging along when he could. It’s a time preserved in the cover art for The Bacon Brothers’ latest, New Year’s Day, with a preteen Kevin singing alongside a mandolin-strumming Michael. The record, laden with the brothers’ trademark gritty rock and a touch of Philly soul, hearkens back to those roots in the City of Brotherly Love, when life was less complicated and music filled the air.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Since their arrival on the music scene in 1993 in a legendary residency at Los Angeles’ Brown Derby nightclub, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s irresistible live show and aggressive, musically perceptive approach has proven them over time to be the singular standout among the numerous bands that launched the Nineties swing revival.

The seven-man group forged a massively successful fusion of classic American sounds from jazz, swing, Dixieland and big-band music, building their own songbook of original dance tunes, and, sixteen years later, BBVD is a veteran force that to this day adds new fans by the roomful every time they play.

 

Where:  Riverside
When: Saturday, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: Free with wristband

Reaching speeds of up to 150 miles per hour these fast, nimble powerboats pull 4-5 G’s, similar to that of a fighter jet, and take hairpin turns around course markers. 

Respected among boat racers and fans as the top level of powerboat competition, these light powerful race crafts require the highest skill and experience to successfully race. Unlike other boating competitions, F1 Champboats is geared towards fans with the boats racing close to the shore.

NASCAR’s own Carl Edwards explained F1 Champboats as “NASCAR on water.”

 

Where:  Riverside
When: Saturday, at noon and 4 p.m., and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Price: Free with wristband

Lake St. Louis Ski Club skiers bring a thrilling family fun atmosphere with their daredevil skiing maneuvers.

 

Where: Riverside
When: Saturday 11 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 3 PM
Price: Free with wristband

Typhoon Jet Ski Freestyle Extreme National Tour features some of the top freestyle jet ski performers in the industry, including:  former Sea World performers Typhoon Tommy and Rambo Rosie Nuttall, Former national freestyle champions Joe Eckert and Mike Hoffman, Chad Cummings, Tom Timm, Corey Gibson, Jimmy Sweeney, Hunter Veeneman and many others.

Don’t miss highflying freestyle flips above water, jet ski dives underwater and crowd interactions with the riders.  There will be lots of other action between shows that will include hula-hoop contest, Hydroturf t-shirt and poster signings, Slippery lifejacket safety demos and pictures with the skiers.

Where:  Riverside
Price: Free with wristband

There are about 31,000 active skydivers in the whole North American continent.  Of those, a mere 14% are women.  In a reversal of the usual statistics, the Misty Blues team is 100% women and you’ll be thrilled by the visual treat of their exciting, patriotic display.     

The Misty Blues team has performed all over the world and love to meet as many people as possible after they land. Between team members they have over 30 records & 20,000 jumps and the average number of jumps per team member is an amazing 2,000.

Gene Soucy and Warren Pietsch are one of the most well-respected and proficient airshow duos in American aviation.

Soucy is a former member of the record-setting Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team, has been a member of two World Champion U.S. Aerobatic Teams, and has won more awards than any other active airshow pilot. Nicknamed “Mr. Airshow”, Soucy’s style relies on pure innovation and versatility.

Flying beside Soucy in Evansville will be Warren Pietsch who began flying at a young age and soloed at age 16. Pietsch has flown shows all over the U.S. and Canada for the past 28 years and continues to thrill crowds with his airplanes that are simply fun to watch. Warren's love of aviation includes air show performances and he enjoys the inspiration that air shows bring to kids and adults alike.

The dual aerobatic act at the Old National Bank Freedom Festival will feature a ShowCat Biplane, a clipped Taylorcraft, and Edge Monoplane, a Piper Support Aircraft.

Teresa Stokes, an internationally acclaimed aviation artist and top stuntwoman-wingwalker, will excite the crowd with her daring wing stunts.

Teresa has been wingwalking on Gene Soucy’s Showcat since 1988. She says it is an inspirational way of experiencing her artistic subject matter, and loves the thrill of every flight. It affords great opportunity for meeting new people, exciting travel to new places in the barnstormer mode of yesteryear, and to work at the most fun job in the world!

Where:  Casino Aztar Events Plaza
When:   Thursday 8PM – 1AM
Price: Free with wristband

Where:  Casino Aztar Events Plaza
When:   Friday 9PM – 1AM
Price: Free with wristband

Rocking the Tristate for nearly ten years, Never Been Caught puts on a high energy rock show with the hottest tunes from groups like Nickelback, Green Day, Finger Eleven, Breaking Benjamin, Weezer, Bush, Collective Soul, Guns and Roses, Poison, Rage Against the Machine, Limp Bizkit, Shinedown, Metallica, Godsmack, Joan Jett, Velvet Revolver, Sublime, BuckCherry, Puddle of Mudd, Alice In Chains, Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC.

Where:  Casino Aztar Events Plaza
When:    Saturday 9PM – 1AM
Price: Free with wristband

Performing well over 280 shows annually since 1998, Poptart Monkeys have lifted eyebrows and connected with a thriving fan base, evident by the packed venues throughout the Nation! With the passage of time, peoples curiosity over the band's early controversy involving a breakfast food giant has been replaced by the realization that the Poptart Monkeys deliver one of the best stage shows on the scene today.

The Poptart Monkeys' wild and crazy antics on and off stage place them in a musical class all their own. The Pennsylvania-based band successfully mixes comedy with clever musicianship. So, what's the result of Comedy Central meets MTV? Simply put, a high-energy modern rock show that pulls out all stops and keeps audience members on the edge of their seats.

Price: Free with wristband
Where:Main Stage by Four Freedoms Monument
When: Saturday, June 20 1pm – 1:45pm

Price: Free with wristband
Where: Main Stage by Four Freedoms Monument
When: Saturday, June 20 2pm – 2:45pm

Price: Free with wristband

Fox 7, WTVW will be auditioning tri-state students, who will be in the 5th grade for the 2009-2010 school year, to become the Fox 7 5th Grader.

The winning student will host a daily 5th Grader segment on AM Evansville, plus get other opportunities throughout the year to appear on Fox 7. The winner will also receive a flat screen HDTV, a Wii gaming system, and appear with Fox 7 during the July 4th parade in downtown Evansville.

To enter, log onto www.tristatehomepage.com and download the registration form, fill it out and bring it to the main stage during Fox 7 Day at the Freedom Festival, Thursday, June 18th, or Friday, June 19th, between 10:00am and 1:00pm. Be early, only 150 contestants will be allowed to audition each day The winner will be announced on Friday, July 3rd during Fox 7 News at 6.

When: Saturday at 10:00 am

Price: Free with wristband

Come celebrate your freedom to entertain us, amaze us, or make us laugh... at the 2009 Freedom Festival Talent Show presented by CBS44 and My44.

Many types of performances are welcome: Singing, dancing, musical instruments, comedy, and many other forms of entertainment. (See official rules for restrictions.) All performances must be family friendly and be less than five minutes in length.

Trophies awarded for 1st – 5th place for each of three age divisions.

Download the application form here or get one from the CBS44/My44 offices during regular business hours.

Deadline for entry applications is Friday, June 5th at Noon!

When: Thursday 1 PM – 10 PM, Friday 12 PM – 10 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 10 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM

Price: $15 for an all day unlimited rides pass

 

2009 Heritage Federal Miss Freedom Festival Pageant

2009 Heritage Federal Little Miss Freedom Festival Pageant

Where:  Riverside
When: Saturday, from 10 a.m.

Click here for the BBQ Fest Entry Form

Click here for the BBQ Fest Rules

Click here for the BBQ FAQ

Support Gilda's Club while you enjoy the taste-tempting offerings of competing amateur chefs.

Gilda's Club is named in honor of Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. Gilda dreamed that all people affected by cancer, as well as their families and friends, would have access to the same kind of emotional and social support that she received during her illness.

Price: Free with wristband

East Meets West Participant Registration Form

When: Thursday, June 18, 2009
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Dress Plaza, Downtown Evansville
Cost: $25 per Chamber member; $225 per table of 10; $50 per non-member

The Annual Freedom Festival Kickoff Breakfast, presented by The Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana, will take place on Thursday, June 18 in a VIP tent on Evansville's Riverfront!

The breakfast will be emceed by 14 WFIE's Mike Blake and will include a delicious breakfast and the opportunity to hear about the many scheduled activities that will take place during Evansville's famous festival.

There will be over 300 people in attendance! You don't want to miss this!

Seating is limited. Reserve yours early!

Please contact Andrea Deig-Sandefur no later than Monday, June 15, at 812.425.8147 or via e-mail at asandefur@ccswin.com or click here to make your reservations today!

Where:  Sunset Park, off Riverside
When: Friday, June 19 from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: Free with wristband

What better way to express the patriotic theme of the Freedom Festival than a historic demonstration that honors the brave men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. Dressed in full authentic uniform, re-enactors demonstrate key events that took place during World War II. A static display of military artillery and memorabilia will be showcased. 

Where: Old National Bank Plaza - One Main Street 
When: Thursday, June 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Price: Free - no admission wristband required

The opening ceremony will be a celebration of Freedom, paying tribute to the American way of life that is made possible through the sacrifice and diligence of our armed forces and public safety agencies.

Where:  Riverside
When:    Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM, Sunday 10 AM – 3 PM
Price: Free with wristband

DockDogs has been featured on ESPN, ABC, and CBS. The competition is simple and exciting. Simply put --the dog with the longest leap off the end of a dock --The Big Air Dog–Wins! Anyone with a dog and a fetch toy can register to participate. See the DockDogs website for further details.

When:    Thursday 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat at the always-popular Miller Lite Office Olympics! Back by popular demand, the Office Olympics features a series of fun-filled games where teams of co-workers compete against other businesses for bragging rights and friendly competition. The Miller Lite Office Olympics promises to be a golden time!

Office Olympics Registration Form

When: Saturday 9AM – 6 PM
Price: Free with wristband
For information on participating in the TMMI Junior Achievement Grand Prix, please contact Theo Boots at Junior Achievement at
(812) 421-8152 or http://www.ja.org/

Where:  Throughout the festival
When: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the 4th of July
Price: Varies – All proceeds will go to the not-for-profit organizations running the booths

Over the past year we collected community surveys on the Freedom Festival and respondents overwhelmingly stated that they wanted to see local, non-profits given the opportunity to set up booths at the festival to sell food and drinks.  This opportunity would not only help local organizations raise money, but also provide a higher quality and variety of food selections for the Festival.

ALL the food vendors at the Old National Bank Freedom Festival will be local Tri-State non-profit organizations.   All funds raised at a vendors booth through food sales will stay with their organization. 

For a list of the participating not-for-profit vendors and their wares, click here.

For more information on becoming a vendor at the 2009 Old National Bank Freedom Festival, contact Ally Sauer at (812) 424-2986

Where:  Riverside
When: Saturday, July 4
Price: Free. No wristband required!

Bring your family and friends down to the riverfront for this patriotic and awe-inspiring fireworks extravaganza. Parades and live music on the riverfront will entertain as you wait for night to fall and the explosions to begin!

If your group or organisation would like to participate in this year’s 4th of July Main Street Parade to be held on Saturday, July 4th at 5:30pm, please complete and return this application form by June 22.