Freedom Festival celebrates patriots

The idea for the Oregon Freedom Festival was first scrawled out on napkins by a couple of friends.

Glenn (Colangelo) and I sat down three years ago in a Subway, said Kim Ullfers. We started mapping out a dream of what we want to do.

Ullfers and Colangelo formed Vision Corps and still pull out those napkins sometimes to make sure they are staying true to their original vision.

Our goal is to do things like this freedom festival, Ullfers said.

The two have known each other for 15 years. Both have military backgrounds and their events have been patriotic in theme. Vision Corps held Memorial Day ceremonies in Salem and Hillsboro in 2011 and 2012.

Sept. 1 will be the first Freedom Festival the group is putting on.

The flavor of the event is a family Fourth of July picnic, Colangelo said.

A watermelon seed spitting contest, bouncy houses, and a puppet show are among the kid-friendly activities.

Shelly Garrett, executive director of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, will emcee the evening activities, which include performances by the Victory Voices choir and a tribute to the victims of 9/11.

Pyrotechnician Norm Rose worked on synchronizing the Lights of Liberty fireworks display, which will finish off the night.

Read more here:
Freedom Festival celebrates patriots