The Freedom Festival is excited to announce the winning design and artist for the 2023 Freedom Festival Button. The design that represented both celebration and nostalgia to the Staff and Board of Directors was designed by Denise Venteicher of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Denise has worked as a Graphic Designer, both in the corporate world and freelance, for the past 17 years. She recently moved to Cedar Rapids this past summer so she could be closer to family. She has been a teacher for the past 7 years and currently teaches Digital Arts at Xavier High School.

In preparation of the Festival’s 40th anniversary, the button design contest was announced back in October. Reviving a tradition from the festival’s past, community artists were invited to submit their designs for consideration to be presented as the official button design of the upcoming festival. The Freedom Festival received dozens of design submissions for consideration which came in all sorts of different mediums, from hand drawn to the most detailed digital designs.

“We are grateful to the community for sending in so many wonderful submissions. It truly showed us the passion that the community has for this long standing organization.” says Marnie Schultz, Events and Marketing Coordinator of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. “We are thrilled that the winning design reflects the Freedom Festival’s celebration of its 40th anniversary with an artistic nod to the past.”

The winning designer will receive artwork recognition, a “VIP Experience” to select Freedom Festival events, be honored as a Grand Marshall in the 2023 Freedom Festival Parade, and a Festival Prize pack of buttons and shirts.

In 2023, the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival will take place beginning June 14th and run through July 4th, 2023.