Fireworks, food, fellowship found at Freedom Fest

Celebrating the birth of the nation and enjoying community, the eighth annual Freedom Fest is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday, June 29, on the grounds at First Assembly of God Church on Weston Street. The event has grown from eight years ago with 120 people in attendance to more than 2,000 people attending last year.

A car show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at Pea Ridge City Park, Hayden Road.

"Some churches get a bad rap and people think all we want is your money," Edwin Brewer, pastor of First Assembly of God, said. Brewer, who also owns USA Fireworks, said he and other church members wanted to do something to give back to the community.

"We wanted to do something with no expectations -- just give. One thing led to another and here we are. In all honesty, if someone had told me eight years ago that we'd have more than 2,000 people attending, I wouldn't have believed them.

"It's because of these other churches. There's no way our church could do it alone. The other churches, the businesses, the community all give into this thing. Obviously this is expensive. People just give of their time!"

Beginning at 6 p.m. dinner will be served, free of charge. Dinner will include hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and a chicken wrap with chips and a drink. A team from Sam's Wholesale Club will assist in serving.

There will be music provided, organized by David Austin of The Ridge Community Church.

"We encourage people to bring lawn chairs or blankets," Brewer said.

"We just would like to invite the public to come. We want them to enjoy themselves in a good, safe, Christian family environment," Brewer said.

Parking will be allowed at the Middle School and High School north of the grounds and shuttles will take people to and from their cars to the event, Brewer said. The free shuttle will be provided by members of Northwest Arkansas Weather Watch team.

There will be handicap parking available on site.

"When our parking lot fills up, like it always does, people can park at Westside Baptist Church, the Middle School and the High School," Brewer said.

Many different churches and organizations will have booths providing snow cones, cotton candy, watermelon. There will also be a dunking booth and inflatables in which children can play. There are many, many prizes, Judy Majors said, to give away through drawings.

"We are giving away more than 400 books, CDs and DVDs from Christian authors," Majors said.

Fireworks, donated by Brewer's company, begin at dark. They are set off by members of the Pea Ridge Fire Department from the baseball fields on Weston Street.

"It's about a $5,000 show," Brewer said of the fireworks display, adding that he is extremely with his business because of the Fourth of July and usually leaves to work around the state as soon as Freedom Fest is over.

Contributors to the event include New Life Church, The Ridge Community Church, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church, River of Faith, Nazarene Church, Westside Baptist Church, Cornerstone Church, the Episcopalian Church, Tysons, Pea Ridge Optimist Club, Arvest Bank in Pea Ridge, Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Little Debbies, Sams Wholesale Club, Marvin's IGA, Bright Futures, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8109, Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge, Harps.

Community on 06/18/2014