Freedom Festival introduces Presenting Sponsor & RibFest

Freedom Festival introduces The Gazette Family of Companies
as 2010 Presenting Sponsor; introduces Freedom Festival RibFest

Cedar Rapids, IA (December 1, 2010) Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival today introduced The Gazette Family of Companies as the Presenting Sponsor of Freedom Festival 2010. The 2010 edition of Freedom Festival will be held June 13 through July 4, and will include several new events as well as return the festival’s popular fireworks to its traditional Downtown Cedar Rapids venue.

“We are extremely grateful to The Gazette Family of Companies for stepping forward to be Presenting Sponsor of Freedom Festival 2010,” said Janet Wilhelm, executive director of the festival. “The support of this outstanding group of companies helps ensure we can deliver the affordable, family friendly festival eastern Iowa residents and visitors have come to expect and enjoy.”

“The Gazette Family of Companies has been a strong community partner for more than 125 years, and continues to be a vital part of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City region of Eastern Iowa,” said Chuck Peters, CEO of Gazette Communications. “To celebrate the return of Freedom Festival to downtown Cedar Rapids, and in gratitude for the continued support of our readers, audience and business partners, The Gazette Family of Companies is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of Freedom Festival 2010.”

“This demonstration of support comes at a very opportune time for Freedom Festival,” added Wilhelm. “Not only are we returning the traditional fireworks display to the downtown venue in 2010, we are introducing Freedom Festival RibFest, June 24 – 27.

“RibFest is an integral part of the Freedom Festival 2010 schedule of events and promises to be a smokin’ hot good time,” Wilhelm explained. “Rib lovers will simply need their value-packed 2010 Freedom Festival button for admission to this sizzling event, which will be held in and around Greene Square Park in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids.”

Eight professional BBQ cookers from the National Barbecue Cookers Association will serve up outstanding BBQ items, accompanied by music, family activities and a fun, family-friendly festival atmosphere.

Since The Gazette’s inception as a single sheet newspaper in 1883 in Cedar Rapids, The Gazette Family of Companies has grown to include several award winning print, broadcast, and online products including KCRG – TV9, Local 9.2, Hoopla, Edge Magazine, The Penny Saver, GazetteOnline.com, KCRG.comIowaPrepSports.com, Iowa.com, and CorridorCareers.com. Each day over 310,000 Eastern Iowans read, tune in, or log onto Gazette Communications products.