ANNUAL FREEDOM FEST ESSAY CONTEST

Informational Text

2026 Parade Theme:

"America: Celebrating 250 Years of Dreamers, Doers and Believers”

It’s time for our Freedom Fest Essay Contest once again!

Sponsored by Morgan Hill Freedom Fest and Morgan Hill Kiwanis

For the past 32 years, Morgan Hill Freedom Fest has given the youth of Morgan Hill and San Martin an opportunity to write essays reflecting the annual theme of our local 4 th of July activities. This year’s theme is: “America: Celebrating 250 years of Dreamers, Doers, and Believers”. These essays are patriotic, not political. Children in Grades 2 through 8 who are homeschooled, or attend public or private community schools are invited to submit essays. Essays are due April 17 and may be submitted at Booksmart, Morgan Hill, or online to karencrane2025@gmail.com.

This special contest is part of the celebration of America’s 250th Birthday, honoring the people—past, present, and future—who dream big, take action, and believe in a better tomorrow.

Young writers are invited to reflect on questions like:

What does it mean to be a dreamer, a doer, or a believer?
Who inspires you to make a difference?
How can kids today help shape America’s future?

The annual contest is proudly sponsored by Kiwanis, an organization dedicated to supporting children and strengthening communities.

Prizes are be awarded for the most creative and thoughtful essays. Open to children of all skill levels who enjoy writing and sharing their ideas.

All prizes will be presented at the Freedom Fest Annual Patriotic Sing to be held on July 3 at the Morgan Hill Amphitheater at 6 p.m. Our winners are guests of honor as they ride in our award-winning parade.

Dream it! Believe it! Do it! Write about it! Share it!

Thanking you,

Karen Ann Crane
Morgan Hill Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing and Essay Contest

allthecranes@netzero.com -or- karencrane2025@gmail.com

Essays are due Friday, April 17th:

Essays should be no longer than one page in length for students in Grades 2 and 3, and no longer than two pages for students in Grades 4 and 5.
Students should place their name, school, grade level, teacher’s name, and parent email on their essays.
Entries may be submitted via email to allthecranes@netzero.com.
Classroom teachers who use this as an assignment may submit class entries.
Essays may also hand-written and submitted at Booksmart or mailed to:
- Karen Ann Crane
  15860 Walter Breton Drive
  Morgan Hill, California, 95037
  allthecranes@netzero.com -or- karencrane2025@gmail.com

Prizes:

Winning essays will be published on our Freedom Fest Website and in Freedom Fest’s 4th of July Program of Events.

$100 1st Prizes to Winners in Primary and Upper Grades.
$50 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners in Primary and Upper Grades.
All six winners will receive trophies and T-shirts, and will be our Guests of Honor in the Freedom Fest Parade.

Winning essays will be published on our Freedom Fest Website and in Freedom Fest’s 4th of July Program of Events.

Annual Essay Contest Flyer-English

Annual Essay Contest Flyer-Spanish

Read Prior Essays

Congratulations to Stratford School whose students submitted the largest number of entries!

Thank you to the Kiwanis of Morgan Hill for sponsoring this year's contest, and to our teachers for encouraging all of our young authors. Thanks, too, to Booksmart for their continuing support of our community's children and to Jordan Hubert for his social media posts. You may read the winning essays on our Freedom Fest Website and in our Freedom Fest Program of Events.

Karen Ann Crane, Patriotic Sing and Essay Contest Chairperson