Altough rain cut short Saturday’s Freedom Fest, organizers still said it was a huge success.
Carlton Thornhill, who planned the entertainment portion, said the crowds impressed him.
“It was spectacular to see,” he said. “There were all of the familiar faces and new faces. There were young people, couples with strollers, people walking their dogs. It was such a sense of community.”
Thornhill said as the rains came in they could see from the stage that they needed to call things for safety’s sake. Flood waters rose downtown as nearly 2 inches were dumped in a short period of time. That led to cancellation of the feature performance by Bullet Proof and the fireworks.
However, the festivities before that had drawn a good crowd. Nearly 200 cars, trucks and motorcycles participated in the cruise-in, and more than 80 vendors and booths lined Second Street.
Mayor Justin McKenzie said some of the downtown businesses he visited said they had been busy.
“Despite the forecast, nearly 200 cars showed up and many of them came from out of town. The people who came to town were real excited. The hotels were booked up,” he said. “I’m very happy about that. As a community, anything we can do to promote Columbia is beneficial.”
And there are plans to make up for the portions that the rain thwarted.
Thornhill said he’ll have a “rain check concert” at the Church on Main soon, and McKenzie said he and Main Street Columbia Manager Nik Ingram are working on plans for the fireworks that had been donated by local businesses.
“We may have something for New Year’s or for the city’s bicentennial in 2019,” he said. “We’re also already planning for next year’s Freedom Fest. It will be on July 6, 2019.”
On Saturday, opening ceremonies featured the American flag that survived the Dec. 23, 2014, tornado and will be restored by Hearts of Hope.
The People’s Choice winning vehicle was a 2007 Big Dog Mastiff motorcycle owned by Scott Broome of Carson, and the barbecue competition benefitting the Columbia Fire Department drew 12 entrants. CARS (Care At Residence Services) of Columbia won the People’s Choice voting and also won for decorations.
“We had an awesome time,” Mamie Brown, a CARS team member, said. “This was our first time doing something like this. The judges picked us 10th in chicken, seventh in ribs and sixth in pulled pork. It was a lot of fun. We set up the tents the night before and we were up at dawn cooking. We can’t wait till next year to do it again.”
The barbecue cook off, which was sponsored by Ferguson Federal Credit Union and the Columbia Fire Department, raised more than $1,300 for the fire department, which included the CARS team donating its roughly $200 in winnings.
Other sponsors included Corner Oaks Bed and Breakfast, Pearl River Farm and Garden, Custom Trophy and Engraving, Michael’s RV Center, Main Street Columbia, Sunshine Foods, Foxworth Insurance, Robbie Rogers Alfa Insurance, Moree’s Florist, Wise Buys, Columbia Outdoors LLC and Webb Forestry.
Fire Chief Jeff McKenzie said the funds are greatly appreciated.
“We can put the money to good use,” he said. “I’m so thankful to CARS for donating back, too. The fire department appreciates it. I really want to thank Ferguson, Kathy (Morgan), Kim Gingell, Nik Ingram, Mayor McKenzie and everyone who made this a success. We had so many sponsors that helped with everything. Walmart donated a tent, several coolers, tables and drinks, they really helped us out.”
The “All Fired Up” competition will again be on the list of activities next year, according to Chief McKenzie.
The Grand Champion in the barbecue competition was Tyler Cannon of Cannonball Express BBQ of Glen Rose, Texas.
The Reserve Grand Champion was Jason Moree or Crossroads Grillin’ of Columbia.
First-place in pulled pork went to Juan Moncivieas of Bubbalicious BBQ. Moree and his Crossroads Grillin’ team were tops in ribs and Cannon and his Cannonball Express team finished first in the chicken category.
Pictured Above: Before the rains came Saturday, downtown Columbia was filled with people attending Freedom Fest. The event drew thousands of visitors and had more than 80 booths and nearly 200 vehicles on display. Photo by Mark Rogers
