ALCOA, Tenn. (WATE) — After being cancelled last year, the city of Alcoa’s FreedomFest made its return on Saturday. In 2024 a tax rate change forced the city of Alcoa to make budget cuts, and one of the casualties was FreedomFest. But this year, despite that same tax rate difference, the city was able to find room in the budget to bring the popular event back.“People from all around come out so like people from like 25, 50 miles away come to see this firework show. So, it just really, one: we get to show off Alcoa, but two: we get to show that hometown community feel that we have,” explained Emily Assenmacher, the City of Alcoa Public Information Officer.
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FreedomFest featured a 20-minute firework show, along with food trucks, craft vendors, music, and endless activities for everyone to enjoy. Residents were thrilled to see the event return, giving them a chance to reconnect and celebrate America’s independence.“It gives us time to be out with the local community as well to enjoy and hang out with everybody, meet new people,” said Maryville resident Jonathan Pirtle.Assenmacher, who grew up in Alcoa, says seeing FreedomFest come back and what it means to the community makes it all worth it.
“It is my favorite part about my job, seeing everybody come together and just enjoying something that you don’t get to see very often. It’s one of the only events that the city has, as of right now, that brings the community together, and you can really tell when you’re here. The atmosphere just overall changes once you get on site. You can tell that people want to be here, that they enjoy the festival, they enjoy the area,” said Assenmacher.Assenmacher shared with 6 News they have already allocated room in the budget to hold FreedomFest next year as well…