116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Freedom Festival Military Tribute Banner Program returns to Cedar Rapids to honor veterans, active duty military in 2026
Banners that go on display in downtown Cedar Rapids expected to sell out by mid-January
Jan. 2, 2026 5:30 am, Updated: Jan. 2, 2026 8:07 am
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — The Freedom Festival — best known for putting on Fourth of July festivities in Cedar Rapids — is continuing its effort to serve those who make freedom possible throughout the year.
The return of the Freedom Festival’s annual Military Tribute Banner Program in 2026 will bring back 51 banners to the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids to honor active duty military and veterans who have served their country in all branches of the armed forces.
The banners, available for $250, allow families or organizations to honor loved ones on a 96-by-29-inch banner hung on light poles around the city with a name, color photo, details of the person’s service and a QR code to learn more about each person’s story.
The popular program, continuing after five years, typically sells all its banners by mid-January, according to Brittany Barnhart, executive director of the Freedom Festival.
“The community absolutely loves it. We sell out every single year, and always have a waitlist,” she said. “We just have so many veterans and military people in our community, so it’s such a great program to be able to honor all of them. People truly love being able to get out and see their family members.”
Banners are hung outside from Memorial Day weekend through August before moving to the inside of the coliseum of the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids for display from Veterans Day (Nov. 11) until December.
“It’s a walking tour where people can scan the QR codes and read little bios and stories about each of the veterans,” Barnhart said.
The cost of each banner includes design, printing, installation, maintenance and shipping at the end of the display period. Banners are returned to purchasing families and organizations by Christmas, and often are used as gifts.
The Honor a Veteran Fund also continues this year to fund banners that ensure every eligible person has the opportunity to be honored, regardless of their financial circumstances. Last year, Freedom Festival partnered with Willis Dady Homeless Services to honor veterans served by the nonprofit.
And as America plans to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, Freedom Festival’s programming takes on an even greater emphasis. Whether the banner features a recently lost loved one or a relative who has made awe-inspiring sacrifices, Barnhart said the program always evokes emotions in the community.
“The one reason we continue to do it is because it aligns with us so well. We celebrate our freedom every year leading up to and on the Fourth of July,” she said. “It’s a great (way) to tie in that reason why we’re able to do what we do today.”
To learn more or purchase a banner, visit freedomfestival.com/military-tribute-banners.
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
Daily Newsletters