BYU NewsNet - Light the Fuse

The Freedom Festival, one of Utah's biggest Fourth of July Celebrations, will be holding events for all ages starting today and ending on Saturday.

The Balloon Fest, a Freedom Festival favorite, will be launching 25 hot-air balloons today, Friday and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at Fox Field, 1100 N. Freedom Blvd. Spectators will have the chance to watch as these giant balloons inflate and rise into the air.

"There is a sense of empowerment as you are lifted up above the earth," said Wayne Ross, co-chair of the event. "It is truly humbling to observe this great country from the sky and reflect on our role in its greatness."

As a tradition of more than 20 years holds, pilots of the balloons will compete in the Hare and the Hound competition. This competition challenges pilots of the "hound" balloons to drop beanbags onto a target laid out by the "hare." In previous years, pilots from all around the country have come to participate in this event. Representatives of the event encourage spectators to arrive on time.

"It is incredible seeing the sun come up over Heritage Mountain," said Bill Talbot, Balloon Fest representative. "Once the balloons are standing up, it's like a canyon of color."

Freedom Festival's Freedom Days will also start today at 10 a.m. and will run until Saturday afternoon. Vendors from all around the area will set up booths around the courthouse and the tabernacle in Provo selling food, jewelry, paintings, quilts and more. There will be activities for kids and adults, local live entertainment and food.

The Freedom Village, which will be set up on the Tabernacle grounds, will have face painting, bounce houses, a reptile exhibit, hair braiding, a rock wall, a sand pit and a craft area. Freedom Days will wrap up with the Celebration Car Show on Saturday. Cars can be entered in the competition the morning of the show.

Another Freedom Festival event will run through Saturday. University Avenue and Center Street will be transformed into Colonial Avenue. Men and women will be dressed in Colonial period clothing. Live encampments will be set up with candle making, leatherworking and butter churning demonstrations. Stage productions will occur periodically throughout the day.

The Freedom Festival and Roots of Freedom will join together to create a simulated experience of Ellis Island today through Saturday at SCERA Park. Participants have the chance to experience what it would be like to come to America as an immigrant and feel the determination and willingness that these immigrants had to have to become an American, representatives said.

For more information about all the events visit www.freedomfestival.org.