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Mayor Matt Zacker previews River Rapids Riverside FreedomFest; city to put $25,000 toward fireworks
Summary
Mayor Matt Zacker told the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Spotlight that Wisconsin RapidsRiver Rapids Riverside FreedomFest will return as a full-day Independence Day celebration with live music, family activities, vendor and sponsorship opportunities, and a city contribution of $25,000 for fireworks.
Mayor Matt Zacker said the River Rapids Riverside FreedomFest will return this summer as a full-day Independence Day celebration, with live music, family activities and expanded downtown sound so events can be heard across the area. "For me, fourth of July has always been the best, celebration of the year," Zacker said during a Chamber of Commerce Spotlight interview.
Zacker said the city convened local partners after last years event to revive and grow the festival after a post-COVID slowdown. He named participants including the City of Wisconsin Rapids, the county, the Farmer's Market, Friends of Music, local high school students and the Wisconsin Rapids City Band as groups who helped plan the event.
The mayor outlined the entertainment schedule and family features. A trailer stage from Sparhawk Trucking will host Polka Pack roughly 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and Grey Cats from about 6:15 to 9:15 p.m.; the national anthem is scheduled before fireworks around 9:30 p.m. Zacker said organizers are planning a kids zone, crafts displays, possible yoga in the park and a dunk tank; he joked the mayor might be in the dunk tank.
Organizers are still recruiting vendors and sponsors. Zacker said there are spaces available on both the east and west sides of downtown and encouraged interested vendors to contact City Clerk Jennifer Gossick to apply. "Please get on the website," he said, urging residents to use the city's event notifications for updates.
On funding, Zacker said the City of Wisconsin Rapids will contribute $25,000 toward the fireworks. He added that organizers have seen an increase in the fireworks cost compared with last year, estimating the show will cost roughly $5,500 more than the prior year. Staffing, speaker systems and expanded sound coverage are among additional logistical needs he cited.
The mayor framed the event as a growing community celebration that the city wants to expand year by year, and asked residents and businesses to get involved through vendor applications and sponsorships. For sponsorship information and the latest schedule, Zacker directed listeners to the city website and city event notifications.
The Chamber interview closed with a reminder to check the city's website for sponsorship and vendor sign-ups and a thanks from both host Abby Underwood and Mayor Zacker.
