Music fills the air, food abounds and fireworks are the finale.
About 3,000 people are expected to mingle at the annual Freedom Festival in LaFayette's Municipal Park. This year's event is slated for Friday, June 28 from 5-11 p.m. The park is next to LaFayette Recreation Center.
Everyone is welcome to bring a chair to the outdoor family-friendly event. Freedom Festival is sponsored by the city of LaFayette and the LaFayette Woman's Club. No animals will be permitted except working animals.
"It has always been a Fourth of July celebration," said LaFayette Recreation Center Director Patti Scott. "The city tries to host it the Friday before the Fourth of July because a lot of our city workers take off the following week. It's a celebration for our town."
Originally the event was a Walker County festival, but the citye began running it seven years ago, said Scott.
Every year, vendors from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama set up at the event selling food and homemade wares. People can also purchase barbecue, hamburgers, snow cones, ribbon fries, blooming onions and ice cream as well as soft drinks.
Children can play on an inflatable bouncy house and slide. A plastic bucking bull ride, bungee jump, glow-in-the-dark toys, temporary tattoos, a pie eating contest and face painting are also part of this year's entertainment. In addition, the LaFayette Pool is hosting free swimming from 7-9 p.m. during the event for those wearing proper swim attire. Karaoke is being held in the gym from 7-9 p.m. An old-timers baseball game also begins at 7 p.m.
The band lineup begins with local singer Vince Stalling at 6 p.m. Following him is Black Cat Moon at 7 p.m. Ending the night's entertainment are The Beaters, who take the stage at 9 p.m. The grand finale fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m.