FreedomFest

Celebrate Independence Day early with us! Open to the public!*

By JBLM MWR Marketing on June 30, 2024

After a few years hiatus, festival goers are revved up and ready to celebrate. Freedom Fest is returning to JBLM! On Saturday, June 29, revel in a full day of pre-Fourth of July festivities at Memorial Stadium and surrounding areas.

Freedom Wheels Car Show

First up, the Freedom Wheels Car Show, will be steering crowds toward automotive admiration. Displayed throughout the day, cars brought in from community members will vie for coveted awards, which will be announced later in the afternoon.

Memorial Stadium, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Roving entertainers and main stage

Freedom Fest attendees can also expect roving entertainers such as juggling clowns and balloon artists, carnival rides, food trucks, vendor booths, free bounce houses and on-stage entertainment. On the kids' stage, you'll find it tricky to hold back your "oohs and aahs" during the magic show and have plenty of fun during the interactive game show. On the main stage, take in live music including performances by America's First Corps Band's Rock Group and the event's headliner band, Switchfoot. 

Carnival
The carnival is back! They'll have eight to ten major rides, as well as six kiddie rides and two game booths. Major rides will be chosen from Twister, Roundup, Tilt-A-Whirl, Ferris Wheel, Scrambler, Double-Loop, Bumper Kars, Astro Liners, Merry-Go-Round, Zumur, Spider, Paratrooper, Rock-O-Plane, Dark Ride or Giant Slide.

Ticket Cost: Start at 60¢ each, but drop in price the more you buy. Rides cost between 12-13 tickets each.

Main Stage

Army Band (Rock Band) 3-4 p.m.

Car Show Awards 4-5 p.m.

Opening Act 5-6:30 p.m.
Darin Jones & The Last Men Standing 

Memorial Stadium headliner SWITCHFOOT, 7-8:30 p.m.

SWITCHFOOT has sold almost 10 million copies worldwide of their twelve studio albums (including their 2003 double-platinum breakthrough The Beautiful Letdown and 2009's Grammy Award-winning Hello Hurricane), racked up a string of Alternative radio hit singles, and performed sold-out tours with over five million concert tickets sold in over 40 countries around the world. 

Fireworks, 10:15 p.m.

Roaming entertainers

11 a..m.-1 p.m.            Eric Haines (One man band)

11 a.m.-1 p.m.             Alex Zerbe (Juggler)

11 a.m.-1 p.m.             Leapin Louie (Comedy Cowboy Show)

1-3 p.m.                   Eric Haines (Unicycle comedy)

1-3 p.m.                   Alex Zerbe (Juggler)

3-5 p.m.                   Duck Rogers (Giant duck)

3-5 p.m.                   Janet Rayor (Stilt dancing)

5-7 p.m.                   Stretch Elvis (Elvis on stilts)

5-7 p.m.                   Charlie the Juggling Clown

5-7 p.m.                   Matt Henry (Trained human)

7-9 p.m.                   Bubble Man (Bubble show)

7-9 p.m.                   Bill Robison (Prop comic)

7-9 p.m.                   Sarah Foster (Stilt walker)

Kids World Stage

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.         Master Pae's Tae Kwon Do demo

1-1:45 p.m.                 Kevin Wolfe (Magic)

2:15-3 p.m.                 Rowdy Refs (Game Show/Comedy)

3:30-4:15 p.m.              Kevin Wolfe (Magic)

4:45-5:30 p.m.              Rowdy Refs (Game Show/Comedy)

6-6:45 p.m.                 Kevin Wolfe (Magic)

7:30-8:15 p.m.              Rowdy Refs (Game Show/Comedy)

Access Information
Non-DoD ID card holders, ages 18 and older, attending the event without a DoD ID card holder sponsor in the vehicle must be vetted online prior to attending the event. Shortly after submitting the form, you should receive a text message confirming or denying your access to the event. The driver's license used during submission will become your Freedom Fest event pass, valid for the event only. Visitor Pre-Registration Link. Event CodeRN922PW0

Attending with your family? A separate registration for each individual is not necessary. You can add your other attendees to your registration, by hitting "Add Attendee."

All adults 18 years and older will have their government-issued ID scanned at the gate prior to admission to the event. (Ages 17 and younger do not have to show ID.)

There is a Real ID Act exemption for Freedom Fest; a regular WA state driver's license will suffice for access.

Foreign nationals will require a DoD ID card holder sponsor and are required to stop at the Visitor's Center before proceeding to the event.

While riding the shuttle bus to the event site is no longer required for the general public, parking is limited around the event. Due to this, we will offer free rotating buses from the DuPont Gate satellite parking area to the event site. After enjoying the event, return to the bus drop off point and catch the bus back to your vehicle. 

Questions about access to the event? Please email usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.des-aie@army.mil.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a U.S. Government federal installation.

Law enforcement will be present, and everyone will be subject to search. Prohibited items found will be confiscated and will not be returned. Also, no political activity (campaigning, handing out literature, etc.) is allowed. Finally, no social protests or demonstrations are allowed on a DoD military installation.

PROHIBITED ITEMS:

PERMITTED ITEMS:

*Non-DoD ID cardholders, without a DoD sponsor in the vehicle, must register online before entry. Due to limited parking around the event, the general public are encouraged to use DuPont Gate, park at the satellite parking area and take the shuttle to the event site.