Coralville’s 4thFest ‘a way to bring the people together’

CORALVILLE - The Fourth of July festivities kicked off early on Friday for Matthew Pollock and his son, Hayden.

Pollock, of North Liberty, brought his two-year-old down to Coralville's 4thFest carnival, where the adventurous boy took on some of the festival's rides.

'We heard about the carnival for the Fourth and thought it'd be something to check out,” Pollock said. 'I think it's awesome … It's fun.”

The annual Independence Day celebration features a carnival, parade, fireworks and musical performances, including a free performance Friday night by Loverboy. The festival, now in its 32nd year, looks quite a bit different from the first 4thFest in 1983.

Coralville City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said 4thFest started as a parade to mark the completion of the remodeling project at the old two-room school on Fifth Street in Coralville. The parade was organized by Margaret Morgan, who was on the committee responsible for restoring the school; and former Coralville mayor and council member Dick Meyers.

'They wanted to do something big for the opening and wanted to have a parade,” said Hayworth, who has been with the city since 1988. 'That was the first really big celebration for the Fourth of July (in Coralville).”

The festival has 'grown significantly” since then, Hayworth noted. They added a carnival, fireworks and the free concerts.

'It's a way to bring all of the people together,” he said. 'That's really important to us.”

This year's 4thFest has the added significance of being part of the countdown to Coralville's 150th anniversary in 2023. The countdown started in 2013 with another renovation at the old schoolhouse. This year, the Coralville Public Library is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Each year leading up to the 150th anniversary will recognize a different facet of the community's history, Hayworth said.

'It's just a good way for the community to come together and meet each other and just have a fun time,” he said.

Patrick Naick and his 6-year-old son Ellis were part of that fun time Friday afternoon, as well. Naick said he and his son planned on checking out the carnival rides and games.

'It's nice,” he said. 'It's fun. It's fun for the kids.”