Freedom Fest brings star-spangled celebration to Longboat Key
The 15th annual event was held at Bicentennial Park on July 4.
By
Katie Johns
| 1:10 p.m. July 4, 2017
Longboat Key
Neighbors
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It was an all-American celebration on Bay Isles Road July 4.
As 9 a.m. approached, Longboat Key residents and visitors started to line Bay Isles Road in their best red, white and blue attire.
The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce hosted its 15th annual Freedom Fest Tuesday morning.
Grand Marshal David Miller led the parade around the quarter-mile loop. He was followed by the Rotary Club of Longboat Key and their Hot Diggity Dog costume contest participants, the Longboat Key Garden Club aboard their red, white and blue and butterfly clad float, businesses competing in the Cannons Marina best float contest and bike-riding kids.
This was the first year that Cannons Marina had to pay up in its best business float contest. Ten businesses participated, and the winner was Longboat Island Chapel. Congregation members waved from a red bug convertible clad with American flags and red, white and blue garland.
Despite the sweltering heat, Chamber President Gail Loefgren said this year saw the most people in attendance in the history of Freedom Fest. But despite the large crowd, one age group stood out more than the rest.
“I think the kids,” Loefgren said. “The way they dress and the way they ‘ooh and aah’ with the parade. It’s fun to watch.”
Following the parade, festival-goers gathered in Bicentennial Park for more fun. The Longboat Key Garden club organized its annual butterfly release. Kids gathered in the butterfly garden and squealed with delight as their butterflies took flight.
Later, kids scrambled around the park playing games, getting their faces painted, making sand art and feeding horses from Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc. Blue Dolphin Cafe was on hand with Belgian Waffles.
Grand Marshal David Miller and Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mike Doll wave to the crowd.
Hunter and Thomas McAdams and Kaylynn Stewart
Barbara and Bruce Rosene and Freedom Fest Grand Marshal David Miller
Payton and Teagan Portale
Carly Hagedorn and Susan and Sandy Sharik
McRae and Hadley Sigmon
Zach, Lyla and Brooke Raimonde
Steve Branham drives a tractor pulling the Longboat Key Garden Club float.
JoAnne Schwencke of the Longboat Key Garden Club waves to the crowd on Bay Isles Road.
Longboat Key Garden Club President Susan Phillips waves to the crowd on Bay Isles Road.
Debbie Shaffer of Veteran Air waves to the crowd.
Irina LaRose waves to the crowd lined on Bay Isles Road.
The Rotary Club of Longboat Key makes its way down the parade route.
Royal rides his horse down Bay Isles Road.
Ruby makes her way down Bay Isles Road.
Longboat Key Garden Club members wave to the crowd during the 15th annual Freedom Fest parade.
Grand Marshal David Miller’s dog, Gnarly, made a special appearance at the parade.
Matteo Laganella enjoys a wagon ride during the Freedom Fest Parade.
Longboat Island Chapel members wave to the crowd on Bay Isles Road. The Chapel was the winner of the $500 cash prize from Cannons Marina for the best business float.
Makenzie Wasniewski feeds a horse from Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc.
Isabella Shelton, Sophie Knight and Camille Shelton release their butterflies. Each year, the Longboat Key Garden Club sponsors a butterfly release following the parade.
Each year, the Longboat Key Garden Club sponsors a butterfly release following the parade.
Will Piazza watches his butterfly fly away.
Isabelle Strulson smiles as her butterfly fly away.
Katie and Emily Stansbury make sand art after the Freedom Fest parade.
Joey Montague takes a shot at one of the games following the parade.
Barbara Kuzmich and her dog, Bonnie, won Most Patriotic in the Hot Diggity Dog costume contest.
Ruby and her owner won Most Creative in the Hot Diggity Dog costume contest. Ruby’s wagon was turned into her own personal pool.
Grace Gerling and her dog, Sailor, won Best Owner and Dog Combo.
Freedom Fest Grand Marshal David Miller and Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren
David Miller represented a check for $500 to members of Longboat Island Chapel, who won the prize for best business float.
Dave Brenner and commissioners Jim Brown and Randy Clair
Riley Ferrari feeds a horse Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc.
Gavin Ferrari feeds a horse Sixteen Hands Horse Sanctuary, Inc.
Riley and Gavin Ferrari
Brooke Raimonde gets her face painted following the Freedom Fest parade.
Corbin Merson plays a game after the Freedom Fest parade.
Marin Walters gets ready to throw the ball during a game after the Freedom Fest parade.
Hal, Devon and Gayle Logan
Colin Heintz played the drums throughout the parade.
Sam Heintz and his brother, Alex, rode segways along the parade route.
