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PROVO — Journey headlined Provo's Stadium of Fire concert Saturday night as part of the city's Freedom Festival to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Journey is celebrating 50 years of music since its first performance in 1973. The band is in the top 25 best-selling bands in American history and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Journey also headlined the 2015 Stadium of Fire.
Stadium of Fire has been a staple for many Utah families' Independence Day celebrations. The patriotic concert and extravagant fireworks show every year features hundreds of performers, including a major music artist, and has been happening at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo since 1980 except for when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notable past Stadium of Fire performers include the Osmonds, who created Stadium of Fire, the Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins, Kurt Bestor, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Miley Crus, Brian Regan, the Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, the Blue Man Group, David Archuleta, Tim McGraw, One Republic and Keith Urban.
After the fireworks, a free family street dance was scheduled on the west side of the stadium.
Besides Stadium of Fire, the Freedom Festival has other events happening for families to celebrate the holiday.
- Balloon Fest: About 25 hot air balloons will fly each morning on Monday and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at Fox Field, 1100 N. Freedom Blvd. Monday includes a "balloon glow" from 9:30-10:30 p.m.
- The Colonial Heritage Festival and Military History Days: Visitors can go to a village apothecary shop, blacksmith, cooper, broom maker, gunsmith, spoon maker, potter, various fiber artisans, chandler, baker, Isaiah Thomas Print Shop, frontier life, school and more. People can play colonial games, visit gun displays, experience the cannon firing on the green, watch military demonstrations from the Continental & His Majesty's Forces and walk through interactive World War II displays. It will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Scera Park, 600 S. State in Orem, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Patriotic Service: A patriotic Sunday service at BYU's Marriott Center at 7 p.m. will feature guest speaker President Steven J. Lund, general president of the Young Men of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and music from the One Voice Children's Choir.
- Freedom Days: Food vendors, shop booths and live entertainment will be available along Provo Center Street on Monday and Tuesday for Freedom Days. The booths will be open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
- Fine Art Show: The Fine Art Show gives people the opportunity to meet nationally acclaimed artists, see live art demonstrations, and purchase original and printed works at the Historic Utah County Courthouse, 51 S. University Ave. More than 22 artists were invited to this year's show. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
- Freedom Run: The annual Freedom Run on Tuesday at 7 a.m. includes a 10K, 5K and a Mayor's One Mile Fun Run. All of the races will end at Kiwanis Park in Provo.
- Grand Parade: The biggest event of the Freedom Festival is the Grand Parade on Tuesday, one of the largest parades in the Western U.S. The parade will have large self-propelled floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, equestrian units, celebrities such as the cast of "The Chosen" and local performers. An entertainment pre-parade starts at 8 a.m. and the Grand Parade starts at 9 a.m. The 2-mile parade route starts at 1000 N. University Ave., proceeds south to 200 South then heads east to 200 East. From there, the parade will turn north and move toward Center Street where the route will turn onto Center Street and head east until 900 East.
