Local citizens have formed a group to plan for a new Fourth of July celebration in Junction City. Spokesperson Ashley King confirmed they met Monday evening and determined the name for the celebration, July 1-4, will be Freedom Fest JC.
King said the celebration will be held in Heritage Park. "We're going to have fireworks, looking at a carnival, maybe a car show, interacting with some of the businesses downtown doing sidewalk sales, closing off Washington Street and just making it a huge downtown community event. " King added that they are still working on nailing down the carnival.
King said their group consists of longtime Junction City citizens who know about the economic impact of such an event in the community. "We had a great Oktoberfest and so we're going to feed off of that. " The board and officers for the Freedom Fest JC committee will be announced in the near future.
There will have to be fundraising for the event, and there are plans for band performances and a concert stage downtown. More children's events will be added to the lineup than what existed in the past with the Sundown Salute celebration.
This move follows the controversial decision by the Sundown Salute committee to move much of that celebration to the City of Milford. Bands and vendors are planned there along with a carnival, while fireworks would be shot off where they could be seen by those on boats at Milford Lake. They plan to leave their traditional parade and Veterans ceremony in Junction City. King did note that the new group would leave the parade to the Sundown Salute organizers.