Jackson Freedom Festival returns to Jackson for July 4 fireworks show

The 11th annual Firefighters Freedom Festival is set to return on the Fourth of July.

Per a previous announcement made in March that the festival would not be taking place this year, Madison County Fire Department officials announced on Thursday that community feedback sparked second thoughts.

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In years past, the festival has drawn between 8,000 and 12,000 people.

Fire Chief Eric Turner said Thursday at an informational press conference that the outpouring of calls and messages from both individuals and companies prompted the decision to move forward with hosting the festival.

"We all got phone calls, and we were pleasantly surprised with the support we were getting," Turner said.

Held at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, gates will open at 4 p.m. where attendees can experience live music, rides, and a firework show. Additional details will be released as the event gets closer.

Aside from fun and games, Turner says having a controlled and designated location for a fireworks show allows the department to combat fires started by illegal fireworks and, hence, why the festival was started in the first place.

The department is still looking for additional corporate sponsors and volunteers and anyone looking to get involved is encouraged to do so.

Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to The Jackson Sun Daily Briefing here.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson 11th annual Freedom Festival fireworks show to be July 4