Freedom Fest a blast

America’s 250th birthday was celebrated in style in Warren County thanks to the Freedom Fest Celebration presented by First National Bank of Middle Tennessee, Ben Lomand Connect and the City of McMinnville.

Freedom Fest, held at Milner Recreation Center, began at 5 p.m. Saturday and featured food vendors, a Family Fun Zone presented by Happy Feet Sky Jumpers and giveaways from FNBMT and BLC. Thanks to a partnership with Main Street McMinnville, the event served as a special night and venue for Main Street Live which featured August Lows and the Joe Harvey Band. Gilley Pool provided welcome relief from the heat until its closing at 7 p.m.

The night culminated with a 21-minute-and-30-second fireworks show presented by Crisp Springs Fireworks. The pyrotechnic display attracted an overflow crowd, prompting some creative parking around the Milner Recreation Center which resulted in vehicular damage for some adventurous drivers.

The partnership between FNBMT and BLC has continued and built upon a Warren County tradition established by the Milner family at Dr Pepper Bottling Company.

“We’re just excited and happy to partner with Ben Lomand to put this on for the community,” FNBMT President/CEO Pieter van Vuuren said. “It’s a holiday staple that Dr Pepper started many years ago. Especially for the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, it makes this even more special.“

“I concur with that,” BLC GM/CEO Greg Smartt said. “It’s very special to be here and to give back to our community. The Milners started all this with Dr Pepper. As we joined forces with First National Bank, we just wanted to bring something a little more unique to the event. What a great night this is for the 250th anniversary of the United States. Hats off to our military, police department, fire department, EMS and all those who serve.”

The partnership with Main Street Live was a welcome addition to Freedom Fest, drawing a crowd of music lovers and providing the soundtrack for the festivities up until the start of the fireworks show. The fireworks were synced to a soundtrack provided by The Sound Machine and broadcast live on Star 107.7 FM.

“We’ve seen this event grow just in the last couple of years we’ve done it, and thanks to the Ben Lomand employees and First National employees who do the hard work to make this as great as it is,” van Vuuren said.

“We’re only as good as our team, and that’s what has brought this all together,” Smartt added. “We appreciate Main Street McMinnville bringing the concert to us. It allows everyone to gather in one place. It started this morning with the Fun Run and everything Rotary put on, and we’re going to wrap it up tonight with the fireworks. We couldn’t do this without the City of McMinnville. Parks and Rec have been going since 6 this morning and they’re still at it.”

The night closed with a bang thanks to Crisp Springs Fireworks.

“We have 305 total cues and 400 - 500 individual fireworks,” Chris Cope said. “It will last 21 minutes and 30 seconds. It has music set to it and we control it all from here.”