Council approves I Will Go Ministries’ Fall Freedom Festival at Garvin Park

The Augusta City Council voted June 15 to approve a request from I Will Go Ministries to hold a Fall Freedom Festival at Garvin Park on Oct. 2–3, 2026, subject to working with staff to meet insurance and facility requirements.

Jona Permaine (S6), who identified herself as a board member of I Will Go Ministries, said the event would be a fundraiser and community event with a Friday disc-golf tournament and a Saturday program including a 5K fun run, a softball tournament, live music, food trucks, family-friendly games, a farmers’ market and possibly inflatables and a dunk tank. Permaine said the organizers hoped to make the festival annual.

Staff flagged a potential scheduling conflict with Ignite Augusta, which historically begins setup in the October timeframe; parks staff said Ignite Augusta had previously been authorized to begin setup the second weekend of October. Staff recommended approval be contingent on organizers coordinating with staff on insurance coverage (specific concerns about bouncy-house endorsements and food-truck coverage), restroom availability and stage-use fees. Council noted an estimated total attendance of 1,000–1,300 spread across two days and asked organizers to work with staff on parking and route details for the 5K run.

Councilmember (S5) moved to approve the event request form with conditions that organizers work with staff on insurance and operational requirements; after a second, the motion passed by voice vote. Organizers said Freedom Church would provide insurance coverage and that they would coordinate details such as route markers for the 5K and restroom needs. Staff said they would verify certificates of insurance, review stage-fee waiver requests and consider porta-potty rentals if restrooms are winterized.