Morgan Hill Freedom Fest turns 150
By Jordan Hubert -April 30, 2025 | Morgan Hill Times
TRADITION The Morgan Hill Freedom Fest parade, pictured July 4, 2024, is one of the longest running parades in the U.S.
Through pandemics, wars and depressions, Morgan Hill has held continuous July 4 celebrations every year for 150 years! To commemorate this milestone, nonprofit organization Morgan Hill Freedom Fest has chosen as its 2025 theme “Stars, Stripes and Stories: Celebrating 150 years” in recognition of the July 4 traditions that have been a part of Morgan Hill since 1876 and in continuing that tradition long into the future.
“For 150 consecutive years, the City of Morgan Hill has been celebrating the Fourth of July through a variety of events to bring the community together to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day,” said Matthew Stein, Freedom Fest President. “While our mission remains focused on providing family-oriented events and activities and celebrating our incredibly diverse and special community, Freedom Fest is also looking to dial everything up to mark this historic year.”
Because this is the 150th year of Fourth of July activities (presented without charge to our community), Freedom Fest is making its 2025 events bigger and better than ever! This includes: the largest land-based fireworks show in Northern California, now with 60% more shells this year to illuminate the sky like never before; an expanded essay contest to include not only elementary school authors, but middle and high school writers as well; a record-breaking Freedom Run with more entertainment, special commemorative shirts and massive participation medals; the Patriotic Sing, looking to bring alumni from 35-plus years to now to join the current kids in song; the largest privately organized parade in Northern California—and one of the oldest and longest-running parades in the United States—adding more professional floats and some truly historic and amazing acts; and much, much more!
As the largest annual event in Morgan Hill, put on entirely by volunteers, Freedom Fest remains free of charge to our entire community and is dependent on donations, the generosity of the community and community businesses and sponsorships for 100% of its funding to ensure this celebration takes place each year.
“To make this momentous year for our event special, we are going to need more help, not just the day of, but now as part of our planning,” said Cheri Brown, Freedom Fest Sponsorship Chair. “We are dedicated to keeping this a free event open to everyone in our community regardless of their economic status. So please consider giving if you are in a position to do so.
“There are more than 22,000 households in Morgan Hill and San Martin, yet fewer than 200 people donated last year. If everyone who lived here gave just $7 a person, the event would be completely paid for! Yet, as someone who once struggled as a single mom, I understand not everyone can donate. If you can give, please go to our website today and commit to make this year’s event special.
“If you can’t donate, please buy your beer and wine from our booth to support the event or volunteer at the event.”
Special note: ANY donation of $100 or more gets a commemorative 150th year pin that you can wear with pride! If you are interested in donating to the year’s event, visit: morganhillfreedomfest.com/donate This is a year that cannot be missed—and you could be a huge part of it. See you this July 3-4 at Freedom Fest; let’s make it one for the ages!