Join us June 21 – June 25, 2023 East Jordan Freedom Festival!

Often referred to as the pride and joy of the East Jordan Community, the Freedom Festival truly is one of the area’s favorite summer events. Freedom, family and friendship are celebrated during the five day event. The festival features a “home-town” old-fashioned Friday Night Block Party with food, music and games for all ages, a Youth Parade, Grand Parade, Kids Activities, Carnival, a multitude of entertainers and musicians, food booths and a spectacular fireworks display shot from a barge on the beautiful South Arm of Lake Charlevoix on Saturday evening at dusk. 

The festival is organized by an all volunteer board of directors who meet monthly to plan and organize this renowned event for 10,000 plus people to enjoy over the 5-day June celebration. This year’s dates are Wednesday, June 21 through Sunday, June 25.

Schedule of Events

JUNE 21 – WEDNESDAY

6:30 PM Miss & Mr. Firecracker Pageant – Location: Memorial Park Bandshell (rain location – The Boathouse)

Little Miss & Mr. – Ages 5-8 years old, Junior Miss & Mr. 9-12 years old, Miss & Mr. Firecracker 13 – 16 years old. Contestants must have an East Jordan, MI address. Please see East Jordan Freedom Festival website for full pageant details, rules and registration form.

Sponsored by: Castle Farms, 1918 Cellars Tasting Room and Bistro, A+ Entertains & Kay Marie Photography

JUNE 22 – THURSDAY

10AM-2 PM – Farmers Market – Tourist Park

5-10PM – Carnival – Family Fun Tyme, LLC (Main & Esterly Street)

6PM – Youth Parade Registration & Check-in – Main Street (near Penzien Funeral Home)

6:30PM – Youth Parade – Theme: “Hippie Me”

South on Main Street, Right on Hammond Street to Spring Street.

– Sponsored By – Monarch Family Chiropractic & Louis Drapeau Concrete, Line up by: East Jordan Helping Hearts

6:50PM – Youth Parade Awards – Memorial Park Bandshell 7:15-8PM – Magic by Jania – Magic Show – Sponsored by: Burnette Foods, Inc. & T&R Yamaha. Rain location Harvest Barn Church

8:15PM – Special Button Drawing by – TG Plumbing & Heating

8:15PM – Special Kid’s Drawings by – Clean Lifestyle Cleaning 9PM - Special Button Drawing By – Ernst Construction LTD (At Loveday Field)

9:30PM – Outdoor Movie “Sonic 2” Loveday Field - Sponsored by: Charlevoix State Bank & Bill, Shannon, Marcy & Janice

JUNE 23 – FRIDAY

2-10PM – Carnival (Main & Esterly Streets)

5:30-6PM – Corn Hole Tournament Check-in / Registration

(Memorial Park near restrooms)

6PM – Corn Hole Tournament – Sponsored by: Foundry Craft Grillery, Hejka & Sons Construction & Dogman Baggers - $20 per team, Cash Prizes, only 16 teams

6-9:30PM – Friday Night Block Party (Memorial Park, Spring Street & Harbor Parking Lot) Sponsored by Mobile Marine, Inc. – Food/Game booths by local non-profits ~ Button Drawings. Rain Location Harvest Barn Church

6:30-9:30PM – Live Entertainment on the bandshell featuring “Derailed” – Sponsored by East Jordan Plastics Inc.

7 PM, 8 PM, 9 PM – Button Drawings BIGGER & BETTER

JUNE 24 – SATURDAY

10:30AM-1:30PM - Kid’s Events in Memorial Park – Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Tattoo Booth, Make & Take Craft and more– Sponsored by: Whitaker Construction, Jordan River Arts Council, Okkonen Construction, Korthase Flinn Insurance & Financial Service, Hilltop Trucking & Excavating, SpartanNash

Megan the Balloon Artist – Sponsored by Okkonen Construction

8-11AM – Building Photo Backdrop in Memorial Park

5:30-9:30PM – Balloon Art near Memorial Park

8AM – 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament Check-in - Community Basketball Court (behind Murphy Field) –Must pre-register, registration available on Freedom Festival website or Chamber Office 8:30AM – 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament play begins – Community Basketball Court (behind Murphy Field) - Sponsored by Marty’s Dairy Grille & Buffman & Sons Excavating LLC

Noon-2:30 PM – Grand Parade Line-up check in by South Arm ORV Club at the East Jordan Family Health Center, 601 Bridge Street

11AM-10PM - Food Vendors (Memorial Park)

Noon-11PM – Carnival (Main & Esterly Street)

3PM – Grand Parade – Sponsored by Gill Roy’s Hardware Grand Marshall – Jerry Olson Route: West side of the bridge to Main, Main to Division end at Watson Field

5-6PM – Lip Sync Contest – Sponsored by: The Inner Structure 6-6:45PM – Live Entertainment “Midnight Cattle Callers” See Saturday Entertainment Sponsor List

7-8:15PM – Live Entertainment “OZZ” See Saturday Entertainment Sponsor List

8:15PM – Festival Grand Raffle Drawing (Memorial Park) One

$1,000 prize/ ten $100 prizes, Ticket Sponsor BA Accounting LLC 8:30-10PM Live Entertainment Michael Allman “Like Father Like Son” performing Allman Brothers Music featuring Kenny Olson on Guitar (Memorial Park)

Dusk (10:30) – Fabulous Fireworks by Great Lakes Fireworks

– Shot from a barge in Lake Charlevoix, Synchronized to music –

88.9 FM Best viewing – Memorial Park, City Harbor area *Rain Date Sunday, June 26 – Barge - Partially Sponsored by: Lyons Marine Construction. The bridge will be closed for a short time following the fireworks for safety – per East Jordan Police Department

JUNE 25 – SUNDAY

7:00 AM – Noon – Freedom Lovers Breakfast Sponsored by

East Jordan Trailblazers, @ Clubhouse – Mt. Bliss Rd. ORV Radar Runs & Obstacle Course. Riders must be 18 YO or older & wear a helmet.

East Jordan Freedom Festival

BUTTON DRAWINGS

MORE PRIZES TO WIN

Cost $5.00 each

* Must be present to win

Drawings held at Memorial Park Bandshell

Friday, June 23, 2023 at 7:00, 8:00 & 9:00 PM

Button art by: Priscilla Kibbe

Buttons sponsored by THE INSURANCE SHOP

FESTIVAL GRAND RAFFLE!

Drawing Sat., June 24 at 8:15pm

Memorial Park • only $10.00 Per Ticket

BIGGER PRIZES: Grand Prize - $1,000 / 10 - $100 Prizes

Carnival Arm Band Pre-Sale

Saturday, June 17 • Community Park, 10am-Noon

(while supplies last) In the soccer concession stand Cost $15.00 ($25 at the carnival)

Festival Date: June 21-25, 2023

Location: Various locations in East Jordan

Click here for more information