CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A long-standing highlight of the Freedom Festival will make a move this summer.
The Freedom Festival Parade, typically held in downtown Cedar Rapids or in the Czech Village/New Bohemia District, is moving to Hiawatha. The parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026.
A new event, Stars and Stripes Chalk Fest, will be held after the parade from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Guthridge Park, 704 Emmons St., in Hiawatha.
See photos from the 2025 parade
“We’re excited to partner with the City of Hiawatha to bring the parade to a new location that offers a great route, strong community support, and room to continue growing this tradition,” Freedom Festival Executive Director Brittany Barnhart said in an email.
The Freedom Festival, now a plus-week-long event, began with a fireworks display in 1984.
This year’s theme is “Party Like It’s 1776!”, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
More: See photos from the 2024 parade
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