Freedom FEASTival of food trucks returns to Cedar Rapids for second year

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new addition to the Freedom Festival launched last year is making a return to kick-start this summer’s festivities.

The Freedom FEASTival’s second annual return to Greene Square park is set for Friday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This year’s event has grown to offer a few more food options and a bigger area for children’s activities.

There, 15 food vendors will gather around the square for the public to support Freedom Festival in a tasty way. The free event will have food available for purchase from trucks lining the streets around the park, including:

Patrons can enjoy lunch, an afternoon snack, or dinner set to live music and entertainment, including activities for children. Local artists will perform throughout the day, finishing the evening with 42 Romeo from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

The ensemble, whose members are part-time military members and part-time musicians, is one of many that comprise of the Iowa National Guard’s 34th Army Band.

“They pride themselves on their eclectic music selection, improvisation, and most importantly their fun-loving and high energy performances,” Freedom FEASTival advertises.

The annual event serves as a fundraiser for Freedom Festival’s annual summer schedule. Organizers hope to raise a few thousand dollars from the event.

“This festival takes a full year of planning and organizing, and it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to be able to pull this together each year,” said Brittany Barnhart, executive director of Freedom Festival.

The Gazette is a media sponsor of the 2025 Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.

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