Brookshire Brothers Freedom Fest presented by metro PCS will once again be offering all the sights, sounds and tastes of an old-fashioned, community-wide Independence Day celebration on July 4th in Festival Plaza.
Families are invited to enjoy delicious festival food, children’s activities, the “All-American Hot Dog Eating Contest”, the “Star Spangled Pitch Off” washer tourney, and live music by Nickel Draft and Mondo Domo. The evening will culminate in a dazzling fireworks display sponsored by the Nacogdoches Jaycees beginning 30 minutes after dark.
Admission is free.
Freedom Fest will take place from 5 to 9:30 p.m. in Festival Plaza, located just south of the downtown square in Nacogdoches. Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to Festival Plaza. Glass bottles and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
New this year is the “All-American Hot Dog Eating Contest”. The contest starts at 6:45 on July 4th in downtown Nacogdoches, and there will be three age groups: 7-12, 13-17, and 18+. Participants may pick up a registration form at any Brookshire Brothers in Nacogdoches or they may register the day of the event. Registration is free. The first place winners will receive a $25 Brookshire Brothers’ gift card.
Sharpen those washer-pitching skills for the 3rd annual “Star Spangled Pitch Off” washer tourney sponsored by Brookshire Brothers. Teams of two have the opportunity to compete in this pitching event at 6 p.m. located by the children’s activities in downtown Festival Plaza. Contestants can sign up at the Jaycees info booth, and entry into the contest is $20 per team. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Pitch Off.
“We had great success at last year’s Pitch Off so we wanted to bring it back for another year,” said Lindsey Mathews, meeting and event coordinator for the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Pitching washers is a fun outdoor event enjoyed by many around East Texas so come out to Freedom Fest and participate in a little friendly competition.”
A fun children’s area will keep the kids entertained with a petting zoo, slides, moonwalks, and potato sack races. This year’s festival will also feature the “Cool Zone” sponsored by Nacogdoches Medical Center.
“Freedom Fest has something for the whole family to enjoy from excellent food to show-stopping fireworks,” said Lindsey Mathews, meeting and event coordinator of the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau. “What better way to celebrate our nation’s independence than to share it with family and friends at a safe and fun patriotic festival.”
Sponsors for the Fourth of July celebration include Brookshire Brothers, metro PCS, the Nacogdoches Jaycees, Hotel Fredonia, Commercial Bank, Bancorp South, Citizens 1st Bank, First Bank and Trust East Texas, GAP Broadcasting, the City of Nacogdoches, and Pepsi, the official drink sponsor of Freedom Fest.
Other popular locations for viewing the fireworks are the University Mall, Williamsburg Plaza, Downtown Square, Nacogdoches County Courthouse, Coy Simms Softball Park, Brookshire Brothers on South Street and the Hotel Fredonia.
For more information about Freedom Fest, call the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau at 936-564-7351 or 1-888-OLDEST-TOWN.
