FORT POLK, La. -- FreedomFest explodes at Fort Polk in a flare of fireworks and fun July 3 at the Polk Army Airfield beginning at 3 p.m.
Country music star Trace Adkins returns to his roots when he visits Fort Polk for FreedomFest. Adkins is from Webster Parish in Louisiana and studied at Louisiana Tech University. He is famous for country hits like, "No Thinkin' Thing," "Every Light in the House" and "Ladies Love Country Boys." Adkins crossed over into pop fame with "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" and "You're Gonna Miss This."
Already a highly successful country music recording artist, Adkins grabbed the national spotlight in 2008 while earning the respect of Donald Trump as the runner-up on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice." Throughout the season, he starred in some of the show's best moments, including the season finale, when more than 14 million viewers tuned in as he performed his No. 1 hit, "You're Gonna Miss This."
A long time supporter of the U.S. military, Adkins has traveled overseas for two USO tours, performing for troops stationed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007, he was honored with the USO Merit Award in recognition of his dedication to assisting others through charitable works. His 2009 Academy of Country Music performance with the West Point Cadet Glee Club was made available for download at iTunes, raising more than $100,000 to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization providing extensive support to Soldiers who have been severely wounded in combat.
Other entertainment lined up for FreedomFest:
Aca,!Ac MoJeaux, the official band of the New Orleans Saints, will open for Trace Adkins. The band is made up of eight seasoned musicians and they play everything from classic rock to oldies to Motown.
Aca,!Ac The "Salute to the Nation" features 50 Soldiers paying tribute to their home state, patriotic music and, of course, the cannons.
MoJeaux will take the stage at about 5:45 p.m., followed by the "Salute to the Nation." Trace
Adkins takes the stage at 8 p.m. and the fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
The largest fireworks show yet, this year's display will be set up on a hillside just to the right of the airfield.
The Army's Silver Wings parachute team from Fort Benning, Ga., will jump onto the airfield as part of the "Salute to the Nation."
If you get hungry at FreedomFest, you can exercise your right to choose whatever food you want from 20 food vendors. Here's just a taste of what will be offered:
Aca,!AcIf you can put it on a stick, it will be there -- shrimp-on-a-stick, chicken-on-a-stick, even gator-on-a-stick. And when you finish those, (if you still have room) you can even order cheesecake and strawberries on a stick.
Aca,!Ac If fried food is more your style, check these out -- "chicken fried" bacon, fried green tomatoes and fried Oreos, to name a few.
Aca,!Ac Southern sweet tea, crazy taters, catfish, crawfish, Cajun pork sandwiches, root beer floats and cheesecake burritos are included in the menu items.
Aca,!Ac If the temperature isn't hot enough, you can even buy a warm cup of hot chocolate.
Ready for midway action' Fort Polk Family Readiness Groups will help you have fun while raising a little money for their worthy cause:
Aca,!Ac You can "pick a duck, win a prize," get your face painted or have your hair dyed.
Aca,!Ac You can decorate a sun visor, make some jewelry or get a (temporary) tattoo.
Aca,!Ac Enjoy the always-popular dunking booth - times two. This year, multiple FRGs have signed up to run a dunking booth.
Most games cost a suggested donation of a dollar. Some are a little more.
Fireworks won't be the only thing blowing up at FreedomFest -- fun inflatables will keep the kids jumping and so will the Kid's Fun Center, Robo Surfer, Extreme Challenge obstacle course, turbo slide and more. There will also be a mechanical bull and bungee jump vendors (small fee required for these activities).
Do you have off-post friends that would like to attend FreedomFest' Visitors without a Department of Defense decal on their vehicles will need to park at Honor Field and ride the shuttle bus to the event. No gate passes will be given out for FreedomFest.
Parking at Honor Field opens at 2 p.m. and shuttles will begin taking guests from Honor Field to the airfield at 2:30 p.m. Non-decal vehicle parking is limited.
Vehicles with a DoD decal may park at Polk Army Airfield.
Airfield gates open at 3 p.m. and concert seating at Polk Army Airfield is first-come, first-served. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket.
No coolers, pets or weapons allowed. All vehicles and visitors may be searched. For more information call 531-1787 or 531-1860 or go to www.fortpolkmwr.com. Updates are also available on Fort Polk's Morale, Welfare and Recreation Facebook page: Fort Polk MWR.
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