America's Freedom Festival is well under way in Provo. And the celebration of independence continues through Saturday.
The culminating event of the festival is the famous Stadium of Fire at Cougar Stadium on Brigham Young University's campus. This year's headliner, Natalie Cole, will sing legendary songs like "Unforgettable" and "Route 66."The Air Force will provide a memorable golden anniversary tribute, and Austin Fireworks will proudly ignite the largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi.
More than 50,000 will watch the performance inside the stadium Friday night, and another 100,000 are expected to gather to watch the fireworks from various Provo locations.
"There are still about 8,000 tickets. There are still good tickets available if people are interested," said Linda Walton, public relations coordinator for the Freedom Festival.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 378-BYU1.
But Stadium of Fire is not the only event to ignite patriotism in Provo this week.
A gala dinner will be held Thursday for humanitarian award winners Sister Marjorie Hinckley, wife of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley; Gen. Robert Oaks, an Air Force veteran; Chris Fields, a firefighters who participated in rescue efforts after the Oklahoma City bombing; Rudolf Poecker, a soldier in Hitler's army that refused to fire his weapon; and the Pleasant Grove parents of an LDS missionary who was shot in Argentina.
Tickets are still available by calling 378-BYU1.
Friday morning at 9, the Grand Parade will be held, with giant helium balloons and circus animals. Floats, bands, clowns and equestrian teams will entertain crowds expected to be as large as 200,000.
Before the parade gets started, more than 30 hot air balloons will be launched from Freedom Field at 1100 N. Freedom Blvd. Some will be lit from the inside and launched before dawn. The rest will take off around 6:30 a.m. to fill the Provo skies with a splash of color and creations.
The balloon festival is also Thursday and Saturday mornings, but Friday is the only day that the balloons will be lit before dawn.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday an arts festival will be held at 100 E. Center St. Creative, performing and children's art will be displayed. Food vendors and live music will also be available.
Other Freedom Festival events:
- Tuesday: Concert Series, 7:30 p.m., Provo Tabernacle. Free admission.
- Wednesday: Carillon Concert, 7 p.m., BYU Centennial Carillon Bell Tower. Free admission.
- Thursday: Balloon Festival, launches 6:30 to 7 a.m., 1100 N. Freedom Blvd. Free admission.
- Arts Festival, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 100 E. Center St. Free admission.
- Awards Gala, 6:30 p.m., BYU Wilkinson Center Ballroom. For tickets, call 378-BYU1.
- Friday: Balloon Festival, 1100 N. Freedom Blvd; 10K run begins at 1200 E. Rock Canyon Park; 5K run begins at the BYU Law School parking lot; 1-mile run begins at the Utah State Hospital. All runs begin at 7 a.m. For information, call 370-8019.
- Friday: Grand Parade, 9 a.m., starts at 960 N. University and proceeds south on University and will continue east on Center Street. Free admission.
- Friday: Picnic, noon to dusk, Orem City Center Park.
- Friday: The Heritage family history, noon to 7 p.m., Orem City Center Park.
- Friday: Circus, 1 and 4 p.m., 5000 N. University.
- Friday: Stadium of Fire, 8:30 p.m., BYU Cougar Stadium.
- Saturday: Balloon Festival; Arts Festival; Circus at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; picnic and fireworks, dusk, Orem City Center Park.