Freedom Festival

There will be dancing in the streets at the second Freedom Festival, Live Oak’s own Fourth of July celebration, with live music at Millennium Part, fireworks, five jump houses, food vendors and an opportunity to honor our veterans.

Roads surrounding the event will be closed at 4 p.m. Saturday so vendors can start setting up.

“We will probably kick off around 5,” explained Keith Mixon, Live Oak City councilman and Live Oak Community Redevelopment Agency chairman.

This year’s event is expected to be bigger and better than the first.

“We had about 2,500 people last year,” said Mixon. “I’m expecting more than 3,000 people there this year.”

Live music will be the main attraction. The event website lists a number of performers including Eric Swart, Wild Azalea Brothers and Late Night Session.

The Freedom Fest 5K Glow Fun Run will be held at 8 p.m. It will start and finish at 302 Pine Ave. SW (across from the county jail). To register visit https://www.raceentry.com/races/freedom-fest-5k-glow-walk-run/2015/register.

Veterans will be honored from the stage at this year’s event at around 8:30 to 8:45 p.m., explained Mixon. 
“We honor them and we respect them. It’s all about the U.S.A. and those veterans. It’s very important we keep this in focus,” said Mixon.

Live Oak will light up the sky when the sun goes down Saturday night.

The fireworks display will be about 22 to 25 minutes long, explained Mixon.  
“It’s going to be incredible, the best it’s ever been,” he said.   

This event has been made possible by Live Oak’s CRA.   

“Freedom Festival is funded by CRA. Live Oak Police Chief Buddy Williams is taking a big role in that part. I am assisting Buddy in making this come together,” said Mixon. “There is a committee of six to eight different folks out there who work vigorously to put this together and they do an outstanding job.”  

These events are just the beginning of great things to come for Live Oak, Mixon stated. A large part of the progress it is due to the increased involvement of local residents.  

“Leadership has got to be strong. If you start leading, people will definitely get in there and get involved. We’ve got people coming to us saying, what can I do to help. Live Oak’s got great folks. The city is blessed,” said Mixon.