Canton Township celebrates 31st Annual Liberty Festival
Visitors to Canton’s 31st Annual Liberty Fest are in store for plenty of family-friendly activities this weekend as Heritage Park comes alive with live music and entertainment, exciting carnival rides and Midway games, arts and crafts, festival food, and a Beer Garden, as well as the Annual Liberty Run, a special Juneteenth Community Celebration and Friday night fireworks.
Canton Liberty Fest, presented by Neehee’s and Pizzawala’s, will take place from 1 until 10 p.m. today, Thursday, June 13, from 1 p.m. until 11 Friday, June 14 and from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, June 15 in Heritage Park, located adjacent to the Canton Administration Building. Additional major sponsors of the community event, include: Schoolcraft College, Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, Michigan Army National Guard, and WeatherGard.
As always, admission to the weekend celebration is free.
Carnival rides, games and attractions will be joined by concession stands and gourmet food trucks offering traditional festival foods, special dishes, beverages, and snacks.
The Canton Township Partnership for the Arts and Humanities will be hosting a Beer Garden, sponsored by West Side Beer Distributing, from 4 until 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday. Visitors can cool off with a cold beverage near the Amphitheater, where a selection of craft beers, domestic beers, and seltzers will be available.
Volunteer support at the Beer Garden will be provided by members of the Plymouth-Canton Optimist Club, Rotary Club of Canton, Canton Chamber of Commerce, Relay For Life of Canton and Plymouth, and St. Thomas a’Becket Catholic Church. Festival-goers must be 21 years to purchase these adult beverages.
There will be activities and entertainment on both the Schoolcraft Collage LIVE! Stage and the Amphitheatre stage all three days of the event.
Canton Leisure Services is again joining forces with Running Fit to host the 10th Annual Liberty Run, including 5K, 10K, and One Mile events. Participants are encouraged to register at www.cantonlibertyrun.com and run, walk, or stroll in these events. Participants will also receive finisher medals, as well as a race T-Shirt. Plus, running-theme awards will be handed out to the best “Red, White, and Blue” running outfit.
Added to the festival this year is Family Fun Day, sponsored by Trinity Health IHA Medical Group, set for the Fun Zone on the north side of the park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Hydration stations will be available throughout the park giving festival-goers a chance to cool off and organizers have suggested visitors bring a refillable water bottle.
Walk on the Wild Side, featuring Oasis Animals will be available all day Friday and Saturday to provide visitors of all ages a chance to get up close and personal with some barnyard and exotic animals.
KultureCity sensory-friendly Rest & Relax Tents will also be available on the north and south side of Heritage Park, which will be a safe space for those with sensory challenges in which to rest. Parent Tents, will be available to serve as changing or feeding tents with furniture sponsored by IKEA.
The Liberty Fest Marketplace will be open from 4 p.m. until dusk on Friday and from 11 a.m. until dusk on Saturday and will feature merchandise from local artisans, crafters, businesses, and vendors. Booths will be set up around the large pond.
Other returning Liberty Fest attractions include the Scholastic Book Fair and LEGO Station provided by MichLUG (Michigan LEGO Users Group). In addition, Canton Lions Club members will be offering simple, free children’s eye screenings during the festival, as part of their Lions KidSight USA, which is a nationwide program.
The Canton Liberty Fest mobile app for Apple and Android users will also be available prior to the event. Here festival-goers will be able to access everything about the event, including entertainment schedules and performer information, Carnival Zone information and festival food and drink information. Users will also receive news and updates during the three-day festival.
Event organizers strongly discourage visitors from bringing pets onto festival grounds. However, dogs that attend the festival must remain on a leash, be under their owner’s control, and be on their best behavior at all times. Festival-goers are reminded that all bikes must be parked in a bike corral. In addition, a convenient Uber, Lyft, or parent drop-off/pick-off spot has been designated on Civic Center Boulevard in front of the Canton Public Library’s main parking lot. For more information, visit www.cantonlibertyfest.com or call (734) 394-5360.
