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Friday, June 3, 2005

Freedom Festival plans take shape

By MORRIS SULLIVAN | News-Journal Correspondent

DELAND — Despite at least one setback, plans are coming together for the West Volusia Freedom Festival 2005. And despite the withdrawal of Deltona from the event, this year’s festival promises some surprises.

This year’s Freedom Festival begins at 11 a.m. July 2 with a patriotic picnic in Orange City and continues through July 4, with fireworks and other entertainment at the Volusia County Fair and Expo Center in DeLand. In between, there are fireworks, a parade, old-fashioned games, a horse show in Lake Helen and an old-fashioned Fourth of July family fun day at DeBary Hall.

“We’re looking forward to having a good festival, despite Deltona deciding to do their own,” said DeLand assistant city manager Michael Pleus, who coordinates the event, which this year is produced jointly by DeBary, DeLand, Lake Helen, Orange City, Pierson, and Volusia County.

The decision by the Deltona City Commission to pull out of the Freedom Festival did throw a small wrench into the works.

“They did it in the middle of planning,” Pleus said. “That definitely created a budget concern. It forced us to get additional sponsors.”

The added sponsor dollars came forth fairly quickly, however, and the festival will not suffer as a result. On the contrary, there are several positive changes to the event lineup, beginning with the opening event in Orange City.

Kristina Wright, leisure services coordinator for Orange City, said the Patriotic Picnic in the Park: A Salute to Iraq War Veterans and Their Families will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dickinson Park at Graves Avenue and U.S. 17-92.

“We’re going to have a free picnic,” Wright said. Along with hot dogs, curly fries, and ice cream, the event will include live music by HB & The Country Classics and a speech by State Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis. Plans aren’t yet completed, but Wright also hopes for an appearance by the Navy band and an honor guard.

Festivities continue Sunday in Lake Helen. The city has traditionally had Fourth of July fireworks each year, and the tradition continues, with fireworks at dusk in Royal Park, the first of two Freedom Festival fireworks displays. The fireworks display will be accompanied by music, food and other festivities at the park, beginning early evening.

The city’s participation in the Freedom Festival continues on Sunday morning, with an old-fashioned Fourth of July Parade through Lake Helen, followed by a horse show and old-fashioned games and entertainment.

A much-anticipated change should come to the Lake Helen festivities, too.

“The West Volusia Saddle Club does traditional opening ceremonies and their big event of the year,” which includes barrel races and other equestrian competitions, said Mayor Mark Shuttleworth. “We hope this year that will be in the new equestrian center,” which began construction earlier this year.

The festival in the park begins around 11:30 a.m. with lots of children’s games, a greased pole climb, egg tosses, music and a talent show on a stage in the park.

Also on the Fourth, DeBary Hall will conduct an old-fashioned family celebration, said Amber Osmun, DeBary Hall site manager. “It will be like we did last year, from 10 to 2,” she said. At 6 p.m., activities move to the Volusia County Fair and Expo Center for more entertainment, food and fireworks. Also at the fairgrounds, the Volusia County Cattlemen’s Association will have a barrel-race event.

Last year, the event was conducted by the Pierson Saddle Club. “We’d never held a jackpot before,” said Cattleman Bill Johnson. “But we’ve done two since then and they went well, so we’re doing it this year.”

During the afternoon, there will be games and activities for children and music on two stages.

Two bands, the Bravemen and the Montereys, will perform during the festival.

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