Celebration of Freedom2026
The Cedar Rapids Areas Celebration of America's 250th Trip Around The Sun
The Freedom Festival Celebration of Freedom took place at McGrath Amphitheatre on Saturday July 4th. The days events began with a pancake breakfast at 7:00AM at the Veterans Memorial Building, and ended with one of Iowa’s première fireworks shows at 10:00PM. The event also featured a car show, kids activities, food trucks, an eggroll eating contest, and musical performances by 42 Romeo and Gimikk. The event was free to the public, and was the end of the week long Freedom Festival Celebration which began on June 25th this year. The Freedom Festival Celebration has taken place in downtown Cedar Rapids every year for the last 43 years, and is hosted by the Freedom Festival non-profit organization.
Jacob Alff (left) and his daughter Lilly Alff look at a Super Sport Chevelle owned by Jason Klein and his son Jack Klein during the car show on second Avenue on July fourth. The Kleins enjoy working on cars together and have done four or five car shows for the last five years.
Yohan Amun (left) and his dad Michael David perform as the musical duo What if Were Doomed during the Fourth of July car show just outside of the Veterans Memorial Building. This was the duos first time performing at the Fourth of July celebration.
Mima’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream co-owner Elizabeth Mullen prepares an ice cream taco for a customer while participating as a vendor during the Fourth of July celebration. Mullen’s favorite product of theirs is their Creamsickles, however their top selling product is the Ice Cream Tacos.
Kyriee Larson gets a Poke ball painted on his face by Funny Face Designs by Lori employee Katie Dooley. Larson’s favorite Pokémon is Pikachu.
(left to right) 42 Romeo bandmembers SPC Blain Benjamin, SGT Valerie Lloyd, and SPC Holly Sprecher perform a mix of classic rock songs at McGrath Amphitheatre during the fourth of July celebration in downtown Cedar Rapids. 42 Romeo is the Iowa National Guard’s 34th army band.
Eggroll Lady employee Abby Buske prepares Jalapeno Popper and Smoked Bacon Mac and Cheese eggrolls for customers during the Celebration of Freedom at McGrath Amphitheatre. Buske has worked for Eggroll Lady for the Last three years.
Ten year old Samantha Martin from Lisbon kicks a soccer ball at the dart balloon while playing the Ball Darts game provided by Spacewalk Inflatables on July fourth. This was the Martin family’s first time attending the Celebration of Freedom in Cedar rapids.
Tyson Theriot (right) participates in the Eggroll eating contest held in front of McGrath Amphitheatre during the Celebration of Freedom. This was the first year in which the Freedom Festival non-profit partnered with Eggroll Lady CR, who provided the Eggrolls, to create the Eggroll Eating Contest.
Foam Wild Co-Owner Ron Davis blasts foam at a group of kids between musical performances on Saturday July fourth. Davis owns Foam Wild, which is based in Des Moines) with his friend AJ Padilla. The two of them have been in business for about a year.
Gimikk lead Vocalist James Brinker performs a set full of classic rock music with the rest of the band. The Gimikk band members have been performing together for over twenty years.
Abi Alexander records the fireworks show while attending the Celebration of Freedom for the first time on July fourth. The fireworks show at the end of the 4th of July celebration in Cedar Rapids has been ranked as one of the best fireworks shows in Iowa.
joshcobbwildphotography.com Facebook Instagram
All photos will be available for purchase upon request to cobbwildphotography@gmail.com