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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato speaks at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
A woman competes in a dance competition for a free year of Finley Center walking membership at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Mackrel Jordan performs a small skit with a member of the sound crew during Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Mackrel Jordan plows through the Cinncinnati Centipede during a small performance at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The guitarist for the Blinf Boys of Alabama tunes his guitar as the band beings their performance at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Families from the Hoover and surrounding communities enjoy inflatable bounce houses at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Addison Mercer, 4, gets her face painted at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Aiden Merver, 4 shows off his newly painted shark at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Meiyi Richards, 12 shows off her face painting and flower balloon bracelet at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Balloon animals, hats, and swords were given out to kids Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Kids slide down the inflatable slide at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Kids slide down the inflatable slide at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Hoover and surrounding community members enjoy a performance by the Blind Boys of Alabama at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Antique, vintage and specialty cars sit on display in the parking lot at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Antique, vintage and specialty cars sit on display in the parking lot at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Antique, vintage and specialty cars sit on display in the parking lot at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Antique, vintage and specialty cars sit on display in the parking lot at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Antique, vintage and specialty cars sit on display in the parking lot at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Hoover and surrounding community members enjoy the fireworks display at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
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Sarah Finnegan
Freedom Fest 2017
Hoover and surrounding community members enjoy the fireworks display at Freedom Fest on July 4, 2017 at the Hoover Met.
An estimated 10,000 people turned out at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium Tuesday night to celebrate the Fourth of July at the 2017 Freedom Fest, city officials said.
The Blind Boys of Alabama were the music act for the night, filling the air with their soulful and gospel sounds in a 75-minute show.
The highlight of the performance came when the Grammy Award-winning group’s leader, Jimmy Carter of Birmingham, left the stage and took a (guided) stroll through the grandstands near the end of the show as the group sang an extended version of one of their songs.
“They were very energetic, and it was awesome to be able to see a group perform that has been performing over 70-some years,” said Erin Colbaugh, the city of Hoover’s events coordinator. “Artists are lucky if they have a few good hits, let alone that may hits, to perform.”
People enjoyed seeing their energy and enthusiasm to continue to perform, Colbaugh said.
The ZOOperstars, a group of mascot-like characters in inflatable costumes that dance to music, also entertained the crowd before and after the Blind Boys.
Other activities at the fifth annual Freedom Fest included a classic and sports car show and children’s activities that included inflatables, a building station, face painting, balloon twisters and a photo booth.
Colbaugh said it was a great night as the city continued to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
“It was a bit hot, but the weather was great for people to come out and enjoy the fireworks,” she said.
The night ended as usual with a 20-minute fireworks show. See the final few minutes of the fireworks:
Traffic was extremely heavy afterward. It took some people more than an hour to get out of the Hoover Met parking lot.
