@MetraPark Billings For Immediate Release June 19, 2024 Headline: New at Celebrate Freedom this year: guided line dancing! Subhead: Harvest Church plans evening filled with fireworks, free family activities, and more food trucks than ever! Billings — June 19, 2024— The annual community party hosted by Harvest Church is back for a 23rd year. Celebrate Freedom starts at 6 p.m. at MetraPark with activities for kids, instructed line dancing, Yo-Yo extraordinaire Zaylen Munn, local cover band Day Old Donuts, and a wide array of food truck fare. Harvest is donating to the city a lengthy professional fireworks show paired with patriotic music, provided by Big Sky Fireworks, a different company than in years past. The owner of Harvest's previous partner, Pyro F/X, has retired. "We enjoyed many years of breathtaking shows made by Todd Reichenbach and his company." Celebrate Freedom Director Darian Armer said, "We solute his hard work, and we look forward to working with Big Sky this year." The show will be visible from many vantages in Billings. For anyone viewing outside the MetraPark complex, the music be broadcast on radio stations KGHL AM 790 and 94.7 FM. An energetic, step-by-step line dance experience will kick off the evening's activities from 6 to 7:30 p.m. No experience needed! Geno Savini, with Treasure State Country Entertainment, will guide anyone who wants to participate near the pond. He will teach for beginners and mix in songs experienced line dancers will enjoy. Geno is an avid country dancer whose goal is to bring the best music, presence, and energy to country dance and line dance across Montana. At 8 p.m., local band Day Old Donuts will take the stage to entertain with fun and familiar radio hits until the fireworks begin around 10 p.m. Day Old Donuts plays a wide variety of music spanning multiple decades and genres, including artists like Queen, Cake, and ... Ryan Gosling? You are sure to hear some old favorites along with some new ones. Throughout the evening, families can enjoy free activities including lawn games, face painting, balloon animals, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and inflatables. Harvest will also give out free water, glow gear, flags, temporary tattoos, and other goodies while supplies last. Beer and wine will be sold by the Breakfast Exchange Club and at MetraPark Concessions. “We were excited to bring back some of the things people loved about the event when it was at Castle Rock Park, to the Metra. We took what we had last year and worked to improve it to help cut down on time spent in lines,” said Armer. “We were so excited to see some activities return last year for the event. We want to improve on the experience for this year.” Armer said the event is designed to be family-friendly and inexpensive. Admission is free, and although food truck fare and concessions are available for purchase, outside food and drink are allowed. There are grassy areas to sit, but chairs and rain-or-shine gear are encouraged. The fireworks launch zone is the old grandstand/racetrack area on the southeast side of the property. Loudspeakers will pump music to the upper and lower MetraPark parking lots, the plaza, and nearby business lots. Guests may park for free in all MetraPark lots. Nearby business lots will also be open, first come, first served. “Last year we had some issues with people lighting off personal fireworks in the parking lots.” Armer said, “It’s super dangerous and prohibited on MetraPark grounds, so we’re strongly suggesting people not bring those this year.” MetraPark security will be enforcing the ban. Parking on the Rims is also prohibited by the city. Years ago, when the city could no longer afford to host a fireworks show for Billings residents, Harvest stepped in to help fill the community’s need for a pyrotechnic celebration and good, old-fashioned fun. It’s only grown each year since then. Harvest’s Lead Pastor Adam Barton says the event is a source of joy for the church each summer when it arrives. “We love our country, and we love our city. We are honored to serve the people of Billings and surrounding areas and hope everyone has a safe and fun-filled day celebrating.” Details What: Celebrate Freedom: An evening of fireworks, live entertainment, family activities, freebies, and food trucks. The fireworks show, by Big Sky Fireworks, is paired with a selection of music and will be pumped through loudspeakers aimed at the upper and lower MetraPark parking lots and surrounding area business parking lots. A radio broadcast of the music will be available at KGHL AM 790 and 94.7 FM. Where: MetraPark’s Chiesa Plaza, the outdoor pavilion and midway near the pond. Fireworks launch zone: MetraPark’s old grandstands/racetrack area. Where to park: Parking is free in the upper and lower MetraPark lots, and nearby business parking lots after closing hours. Parking on the Rims is prohibited by the city. When: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. – or whenever fireworks end Cost: Free admission, free parking, and free activities. Food truck fare and concessions for purchase. More info: CFBillings.com ### Photos of past Celebrate Freedom events can be found here (OK to publish): https://harvestchurch.smugmug.com/Events For more information, press only: Darian Armer – Local Outreach Director 406-259-5648 darian.armer@harvestchurch.tv For more information on Celebrate Freedom and Harvest: CFBillings.com harvestchurch.tv