The 34th Army Band of the Iowa National Guard marches through Hiawatha during the Freedom Festival Parade on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Mary Day didn’t have to go far to watch this year’s Freedom Festival Parade.

She and her friend, Vivian Baier of Cedar Rapids, sat outside of Day’s condo in Hiawatha on Saturday, June 27, 2026, to watch the floats, bands, trucks and other entries wind past her driveway.

This was the first year the long-running tradition has been held outside of Cedar Rapids.

Temperatures in the 70s and a light breeze made for a perfect parade morning, in advance of predicted sultry weather later this weekend.

And while some Cedar Rapids residents, and organizations, opted to stay home, thousands of parade-goers from Marion, Palo, Hiawatha and beyond watched more than 50 entries in the hour-long parade as part of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, leading up to the Fourth of July.

More: Freedom Festival Parade moves out of Cedar Rapids

Mary Day, right, and Vivian Baier, watch the Freedom Festival Parade just outside of Day’s condo in Hiawatha on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

“Many people won’t be able to attend this years Freedom Festival parade because of transportation, the decision to move it from downtown CR after 42 years is so unfortunate,” one commenter wrote on the city of Hiawatha’s Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

“This was an easy decision to not attend this year,” wrote another.

Typically held in downtown Cedar Rapids or in the Czech Village/New Bohemia District, organizers decided to move the parade to just over a mile of residential blocks in Hiawatha this year, including passing by the Hiawatha Care Center, where some of the residents watched outside.

Freedom Festival Executive Director Brittany Barnhart noted that organizers have spent the past 43 years growing the festival and creating opportunities for families across Linn County to celebrate together.

“As the Freedom Festival continues to grow, we are working hard to incorporate all of the communities within our footprint,” she wrote in an email. “We are excited to continue partnering not only with Cedar Rapids, but also with surrounding communities to bring fun, exciting, and family-friendly Fourth of July activities throughout the area. Our partnership with Hiawatha this year is a wonderful step in continuing that vision and helping bring festival events into everyone’s backyard.”

The Freedom Festival, now a plus-weeklong event, began with a fireworks display in 1984.

This year’s theme is “Party Like It’s 1776!”, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

See photos from last year’s parade and more from the 2026 parade, below: