Freedom Festival Apologizes for 4th of July Fireworks Letdown

While I didn't personally attend this year's Freedom Festival fireworks in downtown Cedar Rapids, I heard plenty of reviews from friends online. The general reaction was one of disappointment. People were expecting more! On Monday, officials with the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival responded to the criticism.

What Happened During This Year's 4th of July Fireworks?

According to a Facebook post, the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival stated that in February, they were notified by the city that construction projects on the bridges during the summer months. At that time, two options were considered to keep the fireworks display in the downtown area. So for the first time in years, the fireworks were shot off from a different location.

So what happened during the display?

The Facebook post from the Freedom Festival stated that despite the new location, J&M Displays insisted that this year's fireworks display would be just as impressive. Unfortunately, there were delays and even a pause during the show, which disappointed fans watching in the downtown area. The post goes on to say that the Freedom Festival is working closely with J&M Displays to find out what went wrong.

Is the Freedom Festival a City Run Event?

The Facebook post points out that despite having 'Cedar Rapids' in its title, it is not a city-run event or part of the city government. The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival is a non-profit organization that has been around for 42 years. It is run by 3 staff members and supported by 23 volunteer board members. The post states that planning the event is a year-round effort.