Those looking for a way to kick off the Fourth of July weekend need look no further: LibertyFest, a full day of food, music, and family fun, will take place Saturday, June 30 at Camp Jordan.
LibertyFest Planning Committee members prepare for the first-ever festival to be held in East Ridge at a recent planning meeting. Front row are David Gysin and Jill Kilgore. Back row from left are Tim Gobble, Erik Hopkins, David Curd, Stump Martin, Tim Boyd, Wendel O'Reiley, Robert Stahl, Linda Stafford and Randy Carpenter.The East Ridge Merchants Association is partnering with the East Ridge City Council and Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd to put on the event, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a fireworks show around 10:30 p.m.
"The event is really the brainchild of [fellow board member] Randy Carpenter, who felt like there was no place in East Ridge that had a real Fourth of July celebration anymore," said Jill Kilgore, an ERMA board member.
The Camp Jordan Amphitheater will feature live music and dancing throughout the day, with acts ranging from gospel to country and bluegrass to soul. The lineup features local and regional acts like headliner Cody McCarver, JoyScout with Chattanooga native Emily Kate Boyd, Roger Alan Wade, Davey Smith, Nathan Farrow, Chris McDaniel and the Stratoblasters.
Several local food and craft vendors will be present, and barbecue items will be available beginning around noon.
Activities and games will be provided for children, including inflatable rides, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo.
The East Ridge Animal Shelter will also be on-site with pets available for adoption at a fee.
Kilgore said the board hopes LibertyFest will become an annual event and will help promote East Ridge businesses and the community.
Camp Jordan will be open only to festival-goers on the day of the event, and admission to the park will be $10 per vehicle with a maximum of six people per vehicle. Attendees should plan on bringing lawn chairs or blankets for seating.