Farmington FREEDOM FEST

City celebrated on June 30.

FARMINGTON — Liberty of expression as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights was fully exercised by citizens of Farmington at Freedom Fest 2012 sponsored by the Kiwanis Club on Saturday.

Among the liberties proclaimed in the U.S. Constitution enjoyed by the citizenry were the right to peaceably assemble, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to exercise religion. Those who participated in interviews freely did so unobstructed by the state, while others took photos, videotaped the festival or accessed news reports via portable electronic means as they enjoyed various aspects of freedom of the press.

George Shaw, who was running the sound board, worked several sound checks to get a variety of young musical acts on track. Shaw, who has been a member of the Farmington Kiwanis, said his affiliation with the club was his connection to the Freedom Fest and he was on hand just helping out.

Shaw said he thinks this year the fest didn't get a lot of time as far as promotion goes. "It didn't get promoted like it should have," Shaw said. Xcluded, a five member band of incoming Farmington seventh graders, played classic rock songs to open Freedom Fest. Band members are Quincy Graves, bass; Trey Waggle, guitar; Coleman Warren, drums; Jake Phillips, guitar; and Sam Shaw, lead vocals.

Jacob Phaneuf, who operates Inside/Out Studios in Farmington, manages the band and has vocal coaches working with other performers, who sang at Freedom Fest including Grace Bedell, an incoming sixth grader at Farmington.

Javan Jowers, an incoming seventh grader, assembled on the football field with his friends and played catch. Jowers will be playing for the Cardinals and coach Spencer Adams in the fall.

The festival drew families such as Tony and Leslie Lannutti, of Farmington, who came to hear their daughter Emily perform three solos. Emily is an incoming seventh grader at Farmington and sang Traveling Soldier, Your Hands and Born To Fly.

Deanna, the youngest of the family, was enjoying Freedom Fest but not looking forward to school which she noted starts in six weeks.

"When I'm in first grade, I'm not going to be happy. I don't like homework," Deanna Lannutti said.

For Sam Lannutti, 9, Freedom Fest afforded a change of pace as he and his brother, Dominic, an incoming freshman, just came from a three-hour wrestling practice coached by their dad. The family noted the day was also a celebration of the 18th birthday of oldest son, Anthony, who will soon begin his senior year at Farmington.

Boy Scout Troop 555 presented the colors and led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Dan Zelenka, Lieutenant Governor for the Kiwanis Missouri-Arkansas District who oversees Division 19B, which is the Farmington area, opened the fireworks show with prayer. Zelenka asked for blessing upon our country and troops around the world that protect freedom and added a request for rain. After the Star Spangled Banner was performed, the firework show commenced.

Barrage after barrage of patriotic sparkles filled the heavens with loud booms serving as a reminder of the price of freedom.

A star pattern emerged in the heavens from the fireworks show at Freedom Fest, held at Allen Holland Field, at Farmington on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Let freedom ring. Coleman Warren, of Farmington, lays down a rhythm track during Freedom Fest. Warren was performing with his band Xcluded, a five member group made up of incoming seventh graders.

Sam Lannutti, 9, and his sister, Deanna, 6, of Farmington, kicked back and relaxed finding what little shade was available on the west side of the bleachers at Farmington’s Allen Holland Field while waiting for music performances to begin at Freedom...

Sky light. The skies over Farmington lit up with Freedom Fest fireworks on Saturday. The Farmington Kiwanis Club sponsored the show held at Allen Holland Field, home of the Cardinal football team.