Main Street Celebration to Coincide with Sept. 23 Homecoming Parade
A celebration commemorating the recent opening of the business district portion of Freeman’s newly-reconstructed Main Street will take place on Friday, September 23. Held in conjunction with Freeman’s homecoming parade at 11:30 in the morning, a ribbon cutting and a variety of other events are scheduled to take place throughout the day, as well. The Freeman Community Development Corporation is serving as the event organizer in collaboration with the Freeman Public School District.
Freeman High School students have chosen “Decades” as the theme for this year’s homecoming parade. The last time the Freeman community celebrated a new Main Street was in the decade of the fifties, with 1953 marking the year when the street was first paved. This year’s parade celebrates not only the new street but also the newly-formed Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix football cooperative.
Local businesses, organizations, and individuals are invited to participate in the celebration with a parade entry. Participants should begin lining up on the north side of the Freeman Community Center along Second Street just before 11 AM on September 23.
On the day of the parade, patrons visiting the businesses recently impacted by the street closure will have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing to win Freeman Bucks. Freeman Bucks can be used just like cash at any Freeman business, with funding for this drawing made available courtesy of Sayre Associates, the engineering team heading up the reconstruction of Freeman’s Main Street. Drawings will be held the following week, with 25 individuals each winning $40 of Freeman Bucks.
While Main Street patrons are once again able to enjoy convenient parking, sidewalks, and front door access to our Main Street businesses from Railway south to Fifth Street, know that Main Street will be off limits for parking beginning at 11 AM on the day of the parade. This will allow for spectators to get a clear view of the parade entries and for children to more safely gather up candy and treats tossed from floats and other vehicles participating in the parade. Note that several side streets adjacent to Main Street will also be under construction during the celebration.
The Main Street business district will reopen and parking will again be made available once the parade has completed its route.
Other events taking place include a Chili Fest hosted by the Friends of the Freeman Public
Library and a tailgate hosted by the Freeman High School Music Department.
A kick-off time for the homecoming football game is set for 2:30 PM, with the Phoenix hosting Colome.