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Mission & History
The mission of the Fishers Freedom Festival is
to encourage fellowship through civic partnerships and citizen involvement by
creating a safe environment, developing needed community services, promoting
family integrity and striving to improve the quality of life for every Fishers'
resident by investing in human potential.
Would you like to be a Festival
sponsor? If so, please click
here.
Festival to Celebrate
20th
Year
Newcomers to the Fishers
area might ask, "What is the Fishers Freedom Festival?" But those of you who
have been here awhile might agree that it is as close to Uncle Sam and homemade
apple pie as you can get!
Nineteen years ago, the
founders of the Fishers Parade and Festival decided to have a community
gathering to celebrate Independence Day. With the help of a few volunteers, this
one-day community picnic with a parade and a few games for the children turned
into an epidemic. This festival fever spread rapidly and quickly turned into a
two-day event with so many activities for the entire family, everyone wants to
catch the "fever."
Through the eyes of a
child, it is a time when they can run and play all day, eat so much that they
can’t eat anymore, and never become bored. Imagine that! It is a safe
environment with many educational opportunities, and the best part is the
children don’t even realize they are being educated. We offer many things
for parents too!
The Fishers Parade and
Festival was incorporated as a volunteer not-for-profit private corporation in 1991, became a
member of the Fishers Chamber of Commerce in 1995, and a member of the
International Festival’s Association in 1998. In 1998, Fishers Parade and
Festival Inc. d.b.a. Fishers Freedom Festival became a 501C-3 not-for-profit
charitable corporation, and in 2000 the Fishers Freedom Festival became a member
of the Hamilton County Visitors Bureau, and the Indiana Festival Association.
Responsibility for the festival is in the capable hands of Jennifer Kehl, as
Executive Director, and 40 volunteers who serve as event coordinators,
co-coordinators, and currently have five members on the Executive Board of
Directors. During the actual festival weekend, an additional 250 or more
volunteers are hard at work.
Many committee members
donate up to thirty hours per week for at least three or more months of the year
to make the festival a success. Several other committee members donate time
during the entire year to provide the community with a safe and fun-filled
family-oriented weekend with a strong Americanism flavor.
The Festival is supported
one hundred percent by fundraising events, sponsorships, booth space rentals, grants, and
contributions from area businesses and residents. The Town of Fishers Council is
a strong supporter of our festival and provides the necessary police, fire, and
parks and public works manpower necessary to keep our event safe and successful.
A budget of $306,700 was
set for the 20th annual event.
Donations are always
welcome and can be mailed to: P.O. Box 930 Fishers, IN 46038. You can receive
additional information by calling the Festival Hot Line at 595-3195.
The committee is always looking for volunteers who can donate as much or as
little time as possible. The committee is always looking for suggestions to
improve our annual event.
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