148th annual birthday bash theme is ‘America: Red, White and You’

 Members of the AAUW ride in their float and wave to the crowd during the 2023 parade. This year’s parade begins at 10 a.m. and travels through downtown Morgan Hill. Photo courtesy Susan Brazelton

By Marty Cheek

Morgan Hill Life file photo The crowd watches the firework show at the Outdoor Sports Center during a previous Fourth of July.

Morgan Hill’s beloved American birthday bash tradition continues for its 148th consecutive year, promising two days of celebrating liberty on July 3 and 4. The local Freedom Fest events stand as a testament to our unity, bringing people together in the spirit of patriotism and community.

The Independence Day parade, according to organizers, traces its roots back to 1876. It stands as the largest Independence Day celebration in Santa Clara County.

“While it takes place in Morgan Hill, it’s an event for the entire county, for everyone in the area,” said Matthew Stein, president of Freedom Fest, a nonprofit staffed entirely of volunteers dedicated to putting on the various events. “And we are thrilled that we are able to host it year after year.”

This year’s theme, “America: Red, White and You,” is captured in the event program’s cover illustration by Morgan Hill artist Mark Hoffman. The whimsical design features diverse children, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the celebration.

“We tried as much as possible to reflect the environment that we live in, which is a wonderful diverse environment,” Stein explained. “We want everyone to feel included at this event.”

The festivities kick off 5:30 p.m. July 3 with the cherished Patriotic Sing comprised of children sharing their love of country through music led by Karen Crane for 36 years. Usually held at 7 p.m., it was moved earlier this year to accommodate families with young children.

A boy demonstrates his American pride during the Patriotic Sing. Photo by Marty Cheek

The Family Music Fest follows, featuring an expanded kids’ zone, food trucks, and live entertainment. Country Cougars will perform, and Suzi Sellers of U-JAM will lead a flash mob line dance. Line dance lessons will be taught by Bev VanderWeide.

As July 4 dawns, Independence Day festivities kick off with the 27th annual Freedom Run. This will be followed by a classic car cruise featuring 145 vehicles following the parade route. At 10 a.m., one of Northern California’s largest community parades starts through downtown Morgan Hill. This year’s procession boasts 96 entries including more than 30 floats, marching groups, bands, and a record 85 horses. Leading the parade are the 2024 Grand Marshals: Phil Peterson, Eddie Bowers, Carolyn Burkhardt, and Amanda Banta, chosen for their quiet but significant contributions to the community.

According to the Freedom Fest program, Peterson, a resident for more than 50 years, is involved in the Scouts Troop 799 as a scout master and as a “special assistant” to Santa Claus, riding on the Magic Ship of Christmas in the Holiday Parade.

Eddie Bowers, a resident for more than 70 years, as a U.S. Army soldier fought in Vietnam. In 1991, he designed and with two friends built the Veterans Memorial in the median of downtown Monterey. He organizes the Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremony there.

Carolyn Burkhardt, a resident for more than 12 years, created the Mama Bears Facebook group. It provides resources for moms and kids in unsafe situations, serving as a lifeline for many local families.

Amanda Banta, who moved to Morgan Hill more than 10 years ago, started the Morgan Hill Mom Community, a Facebook group by moms and moms. During COVID-19, it helped families find critical items like baby formula and toilet paper.

The Outdoor Sports Center gates opens at 3 p.m. July 4 for the Fireworks on the Green event. Admission is free but parking is $15. Many families come early and enjoy the late afternoon on the grass playing games or just relaxing.

Food trucks, wine and beer will be available for purchase. Live music by The Hit Men starts at 5:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. there’s a pie-eating contest with Gizdich Ranch pastries getting gobbled down by contestants in five minutes or less. At 7:30 p.m., youngsters in the Patriotic Singers group will perform songs of American pride. At 7:45 p.m., the Wise Girls, a trio, will perform songs, followed by music by Soucano at 8 p.m.

As night falls, all eyes turn to the skies over the Outdoor Sports Center for what Stein calls “the largest land-based fireworks show in Northern California.”

The display, created by a Fireworks America, a San Martin pyrotechnics company, begins about 9:30 p.m. if wind conditions allow.

To put on Freedom Fest costs $305,000 this year. Despite the scale of the two-day event, it remains free to attend, relying on volunteers and donations to operate.

“It’s a lot of responsibility to make sure that we don’t let this tradition go away,” Stein said. “It’s important to the community. It’s important to a lot of people. And arguably it’s important to the country. At the end of the day, we’re all part of one country.”

For more information or to volunteer or donate, visit the Freedom Fest website at www.morganhillfreedomfest.com.