Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC.
Jessie Pitts
Jessie Pitts owned the stage during The Voice’s blind auditions. She said she waved to the crowd, worked the audience and felt like she was where she was meant to be.
Freedom Fest
July 4
5 p.m. Gates Open
6:30 p.m. Music by Jessie Pitts
7:30 p.m. Music by Native Run
9 p.m. Fireworks
Hoover Met
It won’t be long until it’s time to get your red, white and blue gear and join Hoover’s Freedom Fest, the city’s bang-up celebration of Independence Day.
City events coordinator Erin Colbaugh said more than 13,000 folks of all ages are expected to join in the free, July 4 festival at the Hoover Met.
“But don’t be concerned with the crowd,” Colbaugh said. “There will be plenty of excellent seating with vendors featuring food with a barbecue flare, plus restrooms convenient for all.”
Gates open at 5 p.m. and, as festival goers make their way to the entrance, they’ll have the opportunity to peruse a display of privately owned vehicles of various makes, models and years. Auto owners don’t have to pay a fee or pre-register to take part in the car show but must arrive by 4:30 p.m., Colbaugh said.
For this, the third year for Freedom Fest, children’s activities will be doubled, stretching along both the stadium’s first and third baselines.
Fun for the kids will include inflatable, face painting and balloon twisting, plus Home Depot representatives will be on hand to lead participants in special hands-on projects,” Colbaugh said.
“The ZOOperstars will make a return appearance. They’re inflatable characters that perform all kinds of crazy dance routines and skits,” she said. “We had such an overwhelming response to their antics last year, we couldn’t wait to bring them back.”
The country music duo Native Run will perform a 75-minute set beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Native Run can be seen at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Paste Magazine has called them “The Best of What’s Next.”
Spain Park High School graduate Jessie Pitts, who competed on The Voice, will open for Native Run at 6:30 p.m., Colbaugh said.
At precisely 9 p.m. the big booms will begin with a fireworks display “that will surpass that of last year’s,” Colbaugh said. The accompanying music will be available on WDJC radio, 93.7 FM.
Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey said this year’s in-stadium attendance is expected to be a record, but “there will probably be at least 5,000 more observing from various surrounding areas and parking lots.”
“It’s the perfect time to get the entire family out to join in the fun,” Ivey said. “In addition to all the activities and entertainment, ours will be the biggest fireworks show in the state as far as we know, and you don’t want to miss it.”
