photo by: July 4th Freedom Fest

A poster for the July 4th Freedom Fest

The first-ever “July 4th Freedom Fest: Celebrate and Defend Our Constitution” will celebrate the rights and freedoms under the U.S. Constitution while providing an entertaining outing in Lawrence on Independence Day.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 4, at the East Shelter in Centennial Park, a half-block west of Iowa and Ninth streets.

The highlight of the free festival, according to event organizers, will be a public reading of selected portions of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights by local community members at 11:15 a.m. Amii Castle, a University of Kansas law professor, will act as emcee for the 20-minute program.

“The Constitution provides that we are a democracy and guarantees us certain rights,” said Pat Willer, co-organizer of the July 4th Freedom Fest, in a news release Wednesday. “Our democracy, and many of our rights, are under attack. So, we thought on this Fourth of July, let’s speak and hear the words of the Constitution in a family-friendly environment.”

“July 4th Freedom Fest is the result of a broad coalition of community groups and individuals who are concerned about the erosion of our democracy,” Willer added. “With this event, we are joining together to celebrate and defend the rights of our families, friends and all members of our community.”

The Constitution reading will be preceded by a spoken-word performance by Barry Washboard Barnes at 11 a.m. Other entertainment includes Lady Liberty singing “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley; a ventriloquist performance by Bonita Yoder; “Imagine” and “For What It’s Worth,” performed by Mike Yoder, Terry Moore and Greg Pelligreen; storytelling by Priscilla Howe; and “The Times They Are A-Changin,'” a singalong led by Ardys Ramberg.

Kid-friendly activities will be available throughout the festival, including storytelling and play stations. Food trucks will be onsite. An information fair will feature tabling by social justice organizations and political candidates running in the upcoming election for City Commission and school board seats across Douglas County.

Sponsors for the July 4th Freedom Fest are Arc of Justice; Lawrence Indivisible; League of Women Voters — Lawrence Douglas County; Douglas County Democrats; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lawrence; We the People; and Women for Kansas. Additional sponsors are welcome.