If you’re still making your Fourth of July plans, here's an idea to consider: Freedom Fest downtown at Market Square.
“We’ve been having this for years and years and years," said Mark Jenkins, who manages Market Square, which you may also know as El Mercado.
“We usually do it for three days and this year we’re doing it the 4th, 5th and 6th,” Jenkins said.
Freedom Fest features a lot of live music.
“This year we have Erica Gonzaba, The Spazmatics, of course, Stephani Montiel, La Cima, Nic Dante," Jenkins said. "We’re particularly excited to have the Air Force Band of the West Ensembles Top Flight and Sky Country, they’re opening the show on Saturday and Sunday.”
Jenkins said the events are all family friendly, and as he detailed, yes, there’s food.
“We always have food vendors out on the plaza, we have our working artists program, arts and crafts vendors, and of course we have our La Margarita [and] Mi Tierra," he said. "Our event is 12-6 p.m. on Friday, 12-8 p.m. on Saturday and 12-6 p.m. again on Sunday. So it gives you plenty of time to enjoy some good music, then get to Woodlawn Lake to watch the fireworks.”
I asked Jenkins about availability of parking.
“We do have a parking garage right here, there’s parking all around," he said. "We’ve got lots under I-35. Plenty of places to park; you have no excuse not to come down and celebrate the fourth with us!"
