A glorious show
Thousands attend eighth annual Freedom Fest
Freedom Fest is always about families, friends, and children having fun, and the City of Porterville Parks and Leisure Department and Porterville Fire Department always kick it up a notch with their fabulous water cannon, delighting people with a hundred feet of water and spray keeping people cool during the heat Saturday.
It was just one of many events and attractions thousands of people enjoyed at the eighth annual festival. Attendees set up awnings and shelters and gathered together as a community to celebrate an early 4th of July, enjoying cold drinks, eating hamburgers, hot dogs and listening to great live music played by the Blue Jackets Band.
All the while their children played games with giant beach balls or chased each other.
Racquel and Philip Sutherland said they enjoy the Freedom Fest every year like thousands of others in Porterville and surrounding areas.
Seven planes from the Flying Tiger Squadron flew over the festival and wowed the crowds with their perfect formation flying. Another aerial performance by the All Red Star Formation Flying team also had people spellbound and entertained on the ground.
Noreen and Harley Jones had never been to the festival before, and said they came to see the fireworks with their family and friends. Tino Gonzalez liked that there were so many activities for children.
Roy Gonzales and his family are from Woodville. They sat not too far from the water cannon and enjoyed the water’s
cool breeze. They were very hospitable, like so many other friendly people at the festival.
Gonzales remembered a time before the drought when the festival had many kid friendly bounce houses, water slides, and water tanks and said that was fantastic.
“Then came the drought. But it’s great seeing people come out here having fun,” he said. “The water cannon from the Porterville Fire Department is fantastic. They do that every 15 minutes. It reminds me of Woodstock, but not as wild. This is our first time back and we are enjoying it. It’s family friendly with all the barbecues and kids playing.”
A family member estimated that there were between 15,000 to 30,000 people at the American independence celebration. Louie Perez passed a giant beach ball like a volleyball to some other people and children and ran in to wipe his face. He said “God Bless America,” when asked about the festival.
Debbie Lopez sat with her sister Andrea, her daughter Chelsi, and her grandson Langston, and said, “The airplanes, the music, everything is awesome, even the weather now that it’s cooling off. Everyone is having a good time.”
Chelsi said it was her son’s first time at the festival, and it was a fun family gathering where everybody enjoyed the fireworks together.
Josh and Sandra Valencia, along with their two children and grandfather Miguel Ramirez, had never been to Freedom Fest, and said they were having a good time. Ramirez said he was especially enjoying being with his grandchildren. The Blue Jackets entertained the huge crowd with popular music from the 70’s, 80’s and other classics. They thanked Porterville, The City Council and the Tule River Reservation, then played a few encore tunes like “Hey Baby, Que Paso,” “Mustang Sally,” and a wonderful classical Mexican instrumental piece.
The lead singer said, “Happy 4th of July everyone.”
Before the fireworks began, the Star Spangled Banner was sung, and people stood and faced the flag, hands over hearts, and some sang.
The fireworks were as fabulous and spectacular as always. Porterville Parks and Leisure and the City always put on a glorious show.