LIBERTY — Liberty has reworked its festival schedule for 2025 in addition to a busy time for the town’s parks and recreation department.
There was a spring festival and fall festival in 2024, but both have been set aside this year. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department, said it’s about finding the right balance.
The summer gathering, scheduled this year for July 12, remains in place.
“That’s our biggest one,” Riddle said.
The festivals generally feature food trucks, vendors with arts and crafts and baked goods and a kidszone.
Inconsistent attendance, often related to the weather, had hindered past spring events. Riddle said there tended to be a decline in the number of vendors for spring festivals.
Plus, a highly notable Antiques Festival, which was held last weekend, is on the spring calendar.
“It was competing in a way,” Riddle said.
The fall festival is being replaced by “Fit for Liberty,” which is overseen by the parks and recreation department.
In conjunction with Fit for Liberty, a turkey trot was held in 2024. It will be held again this year, with Fit for Liberty to be designated for either the third or fourth Saturday in November. The event focuses on health and wellness.
“It kind of fits our mission a little bit better,” Riddle said.
The recreation department is already planning for 2026 events. There’s an anticipated May grand opening for the splash pad at Freedom Park, even if the project is completed later this year.
A new amphitheater at Freedom Park also should be in use by that time next May. Work on the area has been ongoing, with lights removed from where the tennis courts had been positioned. Riddle said repaving some areas at the park might also take place.
Attendance at Liberty’s parks has been rising.
“We’re definitely seeing an uptick,” Riddle said. “There’s an increase in foot traffic.”
Funding for the splash pad and amphitheater comes in part from a grant in addition to the town’s $150,000 cost and Randolph County’s $200,000 contribution.
