Events

Firecracker Pageant – Registration is Now CLOSED

When:  Wednesday, June 18, 2025 – 6:00 PM

Location:  Memorial Park Bandshell (rain location: The Boathouse on Lake Charlevoix)

Sponsored by:  A+ Entertains, & A13 Creative

• Little Firecrackers Ages 5 – 7 Years old
• Junior Firecrackers Ages 8 – 11 Years old
• Firecrackers 12 – 16 Years old

Firecracker Pageant Information & Registration Form

• Each contestant must have an East Jordan, MI Address or attend East Jordan Public School
• Entry Fee for All Age Category will be $ 25.00
• Entry Fee does cover their contestant T-shirt for opening number
• Application will be able to be filled out and submitted to the Pageant Board through the Website as well as mailed out if need be. They are first come first serve and then a waiting list in case someone drops out or cannot make it

Contestant will be in the Youth Parade, Grand Parade and also helping with events throughout the festival and at helping at Chamber events in 2025!

There will be 3 categories;

1. Patriotic Wear
2. Formal Wear (This can be simple or elaborate)
   • Mr. Contestants: khakis and a dress shirt and tie to a suit
   • Miss Contestants: A nice dress with heels
3. Q&A (Age appropriate for their division)

Prizes will be a Crown, Sash, and Flowers for each division winner. Plus a goodie bag for the remaining contestants.

If there are any questions, Dale Henning can be reached at 231-350-2954 (Cell) or littlemissfirecrackerej@gmail.com .

Outdoor Movie

Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Dusk (around 9:30 PM)

Movie: The Wild Robot

Sponsored by:  Charlevoix State Bank and Bill, Shannon, Marcy, & Janice

Grab a blanket, a lawn chair, family, friends, neighbors or co-workers, and head to the Loveday Field (across from EZ Mart) to enjoy a FREE outdoor movie – PG rated. Come down early, stake your ground, and have some fun.

Movie will begin at sundown (around 9:30 pm) and will be shown under the stars on a huge, inflatable screen with a state-of-the-art projection and sound system. The movie is free and family-friendly.

Kid’s Entertainment

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Memorial Park Bandshell – 7:00 PM

Gordon Russ and his Fun Comedy Magic Show

Sponsored by:  Burnette Foods Inc. and KAM Powersports

Special Kid’s Drawings

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Memorial Park – 8:15 PM

Sponsored by: Clean Lifestyle Cleaning, Ernst Construction LTD, TG Plumbing & Heating

Carnival

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 – June 21, 2025

• Wednesday, June 18th 5 – 10 PM
• Thursday, June 19th 5 – 10 PM
• Friday, June 20th Noon – 10 PM
• Saturday, June 21st Noon – 10 PM

Block Party

Theme: Rockin’ in the USA

Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM –  Memorial Park, Spring Street & Harbor Parking Lot

Sponsored By: Mobile Marine Inc.

The Friday Night Block Party in downtown East Jordan. Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM will be an event to remember. There will be Live Music, Food, Games, Prizes and lots more. This is a chance for our local Clubs, Groups, Organizations and Churches to set up a booth and make some money. There is no charge for a booth space for our non-profits. It’s a great time to come downtown and meet up with friends, old and new for a great night of fun.

View Block Party Rules and Registration.

Youth Parade – Registration is at Event

Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Sponsored By: Louis Drapeau Concrete & Monarch Family Chiropractic

This year the theme will be “Cartoons – Old or New”. Build a float, decorate your bike or wagon, dress up in costume and join the fun. The Parade will begin at Sportmans Park turn right on Bridge Street and then turn left on Spring Street and end at Memorial Park.  Awards and refreshments immediately following the parade in Memorial  Park.

View Youth Parade Rules

Button Drawing

Friday, June 20, 2025 at 6:45, 7:45, & 8:45 PM

Purchase your commemorative East Jordan Freedom Festival Button to be entered for a chance to win one of NINE fabulous prizes, plus one very special, once-in-a-lifetime chance to set off the spectacular Freedom Festival Fireworks display on Saturday night. Button drawings will be held on the hour during the Friday Night Block Party on the Bandshell in Memorial Park, Friday, June 20, 2025. Drawings will be at 6:45, 7:45, & 8:45 PM. (Must be present to win) Festival Buttons will be on sale at several East Jordan locations prior to the festival and will also be sold at the Friday Night Block Party while supplies last.

Corn Hole Tournament

Friday, June 20, 2025

Check in – 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Start Time – 6:00 PM

Sponsored By: Foundry Craft Grillery

The East Jordan Freedom Festival Corn Hole Tournament will be on Friday, June 20, 2025 in Memorial Park. The entry fee is $50 per team, two players are allowed per team. Only 20 teams are allowed. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

THIS IS A DOUBLE ELMINATION TOURNAMENT

View Corn Hole Tournament Teams

3-On-3 Basketball Tournament **Weekend following Freedom Festival**

Registration is Now CLOSED

Saturday, June 28, 2025
Start Time:  9:00 AM – Player Check-in 8:30 AM @ East Jordan High School Gym

Sponsored by: Buffman & Sons Excavating LLC

This tournament is an excellent way for both boys’ and girls’ teams to have fun playing 3 – on – 3 basketball in a friendly yet competitive environment. Divisions are determined by the grade students just completed, based on the oldest player.

Kid’s Events in Memorial Park

Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Memorial Park

Sponsored by: Truestream – powered by Great Lakes Energy, 4front Credit Union, Korthase Flinn Insurance & Financial Service, and Whitaker Construction

Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Tattoo Booth, Megan the Balloon Artist, and more.

Megan the Balloon Artist – Sponsored by Okkonen Construction

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Building Photo Backdrop in Memorial Park
• 6:00 PM – Dusk – Balloon Art at Memorial Park

Grand Parade

Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM

THEME: “Rockin’ in the USA”

Sponsored by: Gill Roys Hardware

If it’s Floats, Beauty Queens, Fire Trucks, Bands and Fun you’re looking for then the Freedom Festival Grand Parade is the place for you. Come out and enjoy the parade celebrating with the theme of Rockin’ in the USA. The Grand Parade will be led by the Color Guard.

View Grand Parade Rules and Registration.

Grand Festival Raffle

Saturday, June 21, 2025 – 7:15 PM

Sponsored by BA Accounting LLC

If you’re feeling lucky, be sure to get your Grand Festival Raffle ticket for your chance to win one of 10 $100 cash prizes or the Grand Prize of $1,000.00 in cash. Tickets will be on sale during the festival at the Freedom Festival Information Booth or from any Festival Board Member. Tickets are $10.00 each and the drawing will be held in Memorial Park on Saturday, just before the band takes the stage. You do not need to be present to win.

Fabulous Fireworks

Saturday, June 21, 2025 – Dusk

No festival would be complete without a grand finale of Fabulous Fireworks and the East Jordan Freedom Festival has just that. Launched from a barge in the middle of the Beautiful South Arm of Lake Charlevoix and synchronized to music, you won’t soon forget this fireworks display. The best viewing location is downtown East Jordan in Memorial Park, The Marina Docks, The Old Boat Launch and Bridge Area. Memorial Park will also be the best location to hear the music that will accompany the beautiful fireworks display. You won’t want to miss this perfect ending to a wonderful day at the East Jordan Freedom Festival. RAIN DATE – SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2025

Weekend Entertainment

Friday Night Entertainment from 7-10:30pm is Tom Zipp and the Bullpen

Friday Night Entertainment Sponsors: East Jordan Plastics Inc., & Gosling Czubak

Saturday Night Entertainment from 5-7 pm is RPM

Saturday Night Entertainment from 7:30 pm – dusk is Derailed

Saturday Night Entertainment Sponsors: Bingham Well Drilling, East Jordan Save A Lot Store, Hildee’s Auto LLC, Hilltop Trucking & Excavating, Olstrom Excavating, Hejka and Sons’ Construction, LLC,  and Four Seasons Marina Inc. – In Memory of Doug Stark