The Kansas City Freedom Festival at Penn Valley Park (Pershing Road and Main Street) has one clear mission: to celebrate, honor and strengthen the city. "The festival is really stressing on hometown," says John Koop, festival organizer. Koop hopes that this event reincarnates the old festival, which last took place in 2003. While Freedom Festival has new management and a new name, its concept is the same. "The festival's vendors and overall feel harness the Fourth of July mentality," Koop says. The three-day festival (which began at 4 p.m. Friday and ran from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday) takes place today from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The festival features Dionne Warwick (on Friday), Eden's Edge and Kellie Pickler, along with local musicians and a variety of concessions and vendors. Purchase a $25 weekend pass or a $10 day pass (get $5 off when you bring five nonperishable donations for Harvesters). Children 12 and younger get in free. For more information and a schedule of performances, see kcfreedomfest.com.
816- 871-5600.
