LibertyFest gets out of the chute with rodeo
EDMOND — The 45th annual LibertyFest got underway over the weekend, highlighting a twonight rodeo.
The Fourth of July celebration in Edmond includes 10 events.
On Thursday, there will be an University of Central Oklahoma summer band concert at7:30 p.m. Thursday-near Buddy’s Cafeteria; watch for signs on campus. Free watermelon and ice cream will be served.
The July 4 parade, called “45 Years of Family Festivals,” begins at 9 a.m. and will feature more than 100 entries. The 1.5-mile parade has been organized for years by Charles and Jerry James.
The parade begins at University Drive and Ayers Street, continues west to Broadway, goes south to Second Street, east back to University Drive, then north.
This year’s grand marshal is Col. Devin R. Wooden, commander of the 137th Special Operations Wing at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base. Wooden, of Edmond, is a command pilot with more than 5,000 military flying hours.
The parade will be available on livestream at www. libertyfest.org.
New for the second year are helicopter rides from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 1 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 2 from the parking lot between road rally sponsors Earls Rib Palace and Edmond Furniture Gallery.
DWTA will offer helicopter rides for $40 for a four-minute flight, going from zero to 120 mph in seconds.
ParkFest at UCO starts at 6 p.m. July 4 with free watermelon while the supply lasts. Music, games, family entertainment, contests and food are included.
The fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on the University of Central Oklahoma campus. People should turn to KZUC 993 UCentral Radio during the fireworks.
Taste of Edmond will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Festival Market Place in downtown Edmond. This is a fundraiser for LibertyFest to help pay for future events. More than 40 restaurants will serve samples during the all-you-can eat event.
Wristbands for Taste of Edmond are on sale in advance for $12 a person; children 10 and younger get in free. The day of the event, the price jumps to $17. There is no rain date and no animals are allowed.
Wristbands can be bought at Edmond Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1030 S Bryant Ave.; Edmond Historical Society, 431 S Boulevard; Edmond Life and Leisure, 107 S Broadway; Fashion Boutique, 104 S Broadway; Fields Jewelry, 12 S Broadway; Gourmet Gallery, 1532 S Boulevard; Michelle Schaefer’s Farmers Insurance, 19 E Hurd; Patti’s Hallmark, 3216 S Broadway; and during the LibertyFest Car Show on Saturday at Hafer Park.
The annual street party and tasting event started June 15, 1991, with 20 restaurants, in a small building on Broadway with 500 people attending.
The first car out in the road rally is at 11 a.m. Sunday. Register and start at Earl’s Rib Palace, 2121 S Broadway. The fee is $10 per vehicle. Awards ceremony at 5 p.m.
For more information, go to www.libertyfest.org.