Fun for everyone at the 4th Annual Freedom Fest

The Goodridge Freedom Festival is gearing up for another round of fun and celebration. It was up in the air for a while, given the current situation with the COVID-19 threat, but the day is a go – with precautions in place. 

The 4th Annual Freedom Fest will be at the Goodridge Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday, July 25th, and rest assured, it’s the place to be! With numerous vendors set up, featured artists on display and free entertainment under the band shell all day, the event is sure to be another hit with young and old alike. Consider checking it out with some of the top picks back on the schedule, along with plenty of new additions added to the day. 

Funded in part by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and local sponsors, the hard work of many has resulted in a day-long event filled with music, art and activities for all ages.

Event Line-Up

7:30am: Freedom Run 5K Registration

8:45am: Freedom Run 5K Race

10am: Freedom Fun Run – kids age 10 & under

10-10:30am: Eric Mickelson, Singer/Emcee

10:30-11am: Freedom Run Awards Presentation

11-11:30am: Tami Lee and the Northern Lights

11:30am: Parade

12:30-1pm: “National Anthem” vocal performance by Jordynn Johnsrud; Red, White & Blue Presentation to Veterans, “Travelin’ Soldier” vocal performance by Jordynn Johnsrud and Carter Lee Johnsrud; Reading of POW/KIA Names by Larry Eurek, “Taps” by Jeremy Wiskow

1-5pm: The Holy Rocka Rollaz

5-5:30pm: Cornhole Tournament Registration

5:30pm: Cornhole Tournament

5-9pm: Corey Medina & Brothers

7:45pm: Live Auction with Walter Jones

9-11pm: Tami Lee and the Northern Lights

Dusk (10pm): Memorial Sky Lantern Send-Off

Freedom Run 5K/Freedom Fun Run

Help raise awareness for PTSD and run for a good cause. Race day kicks off with a 7:30am registration and the 8:45am Freedom Run 5K Race. At 10am, another running event will take place, but this time a more casual Fun Run! This is for kids ages 10 and under, who will run down a street route just for fun. All proceeds from the 5K race will be donated to Mission 22, which is a non-profit that combats the ever-rising veteran suicide rate by raising awareness and providing treatment to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and any other issues they might be facing. The event is sponsored by Sanford Health Wellness Center and the Goodridge Area Fire & Rescue Department. Registration information can be found on the Goodridge Freedom Festival Facebook page or by contacting Jena Johnsrud of Goodridge. Folks had to register by June 30th to receive a free t-shirt. 

Red, White & Blue Quilters Presentation

This year, five veterans will be honored at the Goodridge Freedom Festival and presented with quilts made by the Red, White & Blue Quilters out of Thief River Falls. They are Gary Aandal – US Army 1968-1970 Vietnam; Rodney Hoffman – US Air Force 1965-1969 Vietnam; John Lovly – US Army 1968-1970 Vietnam; Roger Pittman – US Army 1966-1968 Germany; David Schlofer – US Army 1966-1968 Vietnam. This program will run from 12:30-1:00pm that Saturday under the Band Shell.

Memorial Sky Lantern Send-Off 

Light the sky with love and well wishes! Be a part of this very personal and emotional moment to memorialize a loved one or honor a special person in your life. It is a chance to be surrounded by the love, understanding and support of others who are experiencing the same feelings and emotions. Pre-order your lantern today. It can be picked up at the Goodridge Veterans Memorial Park Committee table the day of the Freedom Festival. There will also be a limited quantity available for purchase that day. Deadline for Pre-ordered lanterns is July 17, 2020. More information can be found on the Freedom Festival Facebook page or by contacting one of the committee members.

Featured Artists

Not only are there some great musicians lined up for the festival, there is also going to be a number of impressive artists there throughout the day. Check out some of the artists below.

Caricaturist Trevour, of Exaggerated Entertainment, is from Moorhead, MN. He will be back again this year to draw his caricatures that everyone so much enjoyed!

Face painter, Kathy Bauck, of “The Painters Den,” is from New York Mills, MN. She is a three-dimensional artist who specializes in custom work and wants to be a step above the rest in everything she does. She does face painting, body painting and more! She paints on feathers, saw blades and just about anything. Her artwork can be seen on her Facebook page called The Painters Den.

Debbie Aune will be at Freedom Fest. She is a Watercolor Artist from Gatzke, MN, along with artist Cindy Kolling and her Murals.

Free Music 

Get ready for some small town family fun with music all day until midnight in the Veteran’s Memorial Park Band Shell! Emcee/Singer/Musician Eric Mickelson and his wife Patty will be performing. Music will also be provided by Tami Lee and the Northern Lights, Jordynn Johnsrud, Carter Lee Johnsrud, The Holy Rocka Rollaz and Corey Medina & Brothers!

Vendors/Crafters in the Park 

Many vendors are scheduled to set up in the park on Saturday, July 25th, from 10am-4pm. There is sure to be something for everyone. The line-up includes over 30 vendors with a full list coming soon and available on the Freedom Festival Facebook page. A few will include: Ellie’s Boutique, Skoolie Art, Jodi’s Countryside Crafts, Blue Horse, Pretty Dirt Pottery, Pawsitive Creations, Rouge Soprano, Barbara Unboxed, Lynette Jelle, Twin Arrow Leather, Lyn Miller - Author, Rivers Edge Studio, 31 Bags by Bridget, Usbourne Books, Tupperware, Color Street and more!

Food Vendors

And if you get hungry? Hit up the following food vendors: Wally’s Pub Grub, Smoke On Wheels BBQ and The Donut Shack. Beer Gardens will also be available.

Activities for kids

As if all of that wasn’t enough!? There will also be lots of fun activities for the kids, which include a Quad Bungee Jump, Bounce House, Pony Rides, Inflatable Archery, Kids Welding, Carcicatures, Painter’s Den and more!

Live Auction with Walter Jones

Grygla High School Junior Walter Jones will be auctioneering off items that include a Pointer 28 Guage Over Under Shotgun, a Rossi 357 Lever Action Rifle, a Portable Basketball Hoop/Basketball, plus more!

Sponsors of Freedom Fest

This event is funded in part by a grant from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. 

Other local sponsors include Goodridge Area Development, Salo Signs & More, Goodridge Lion Tamers, Prairie Planting Plus, Hruby Road Service, American Legion Post 117, Tamarack Landscaping, Electronics Plus of TRF, Farmer’s Union Oil Company/A&W of TRF & Goodridge, Grygla Seed & Services, Hunts Creek Ag & Trucking, Jay Swanson Agency

Freedom Festival Committee

The Freedom Festival Coordinators are Berny Vraa and Trudy Hyland. Committee members include Donnie Vraa, Aldon Hyland, Donnie Jensen, Bob Homme, Dawn Hanson, Lynn Hanson, Clayton Johnsrud, John Lovly, Carol Lovly, Michael Lovly, Craig & Twyla Race, David Jones and Rob Blankenfeld. 

Freedom Festival COVID-19 Preparedness Plan

Due to the current pandemic, the Freedom Festival Committee has created the following Preparedness Plan for the event. The 4th Annual Freedom Festival will be based on the guidelines from the Executive Order 20-74 and the Pennington County Emergency Management Director. 

Tables will be spaced according to distance guidelines throughout the park; gloves, masks and sanitizer will be available; sanitizing/wiping down tables; portable restrooms will be available with hand sanitizer in each unit.

Come on out to the 4th Annual Goodridge Freedom Festival on Saturday, July 25th! The day’s festivities start right away in the morning with free admission. It’s definitely an event you won’t want to miss out on.