Freedom Days Celebration Fires Up in Apple Valley

Forty-five years ago, Apple Valley's —or rather, Day—started out as a small parade on July 4, organized by the city's fire department.

Today, a committee of 10 and many other volunteers help organize Freedom Days events that happen across a two week span, said Pat Schesso, the Freedom Days committee chairwoman. This year's celebration begins on Friday, with a car cruise, a car show and dance (the event's biggest fundraiser) and a musical performance by GB Leighton.

Events are scheduled from Friday through July 10, and include music, a kids fishing derby, carnival, petting zoo, parade, tennis tournaments, fun run and more.

Schesso, who has worked on Freedom Days for the past 27 years, said when she moved to Apple Valley in 1975 the celebration was still a one-day event, with a parade, fireworks, a lip-synch contest—the popular activity of the day, she said—and a beer and chicken dinner. Fireworks were shot off from .

Schesso said she took her kids to festivals in different communities that had more activities.

"It just used to drive me crazy that Apple Valley didn't have that kind of stuff," she said.

So, when Schesso—who said she is an organizer at heart—took over as event chairwoman, more residents got involved and the event grew. The car show is in its 12th year, and the newest incarnation of the carnival has appeared at Freedom Days for the past three years, she said—there used to be one long ago.

It was "a lot of work, but it was fun work," she said. "It's paid off."

The committee solicits sponsorships to help pay for some of the attractions and groups who march in the parade to keep the cost down for residents; the and the City of Apple Valley also provide some funds, Schesso said.

While there aren't any new events this year—though the music in the park has moved from Hayes Park to —the 100-unit parade had to be rerouted off Cedar Avenue due to construction, Schesso said. She also said Freedom Days has been affected by rain the past three years, which she hopes will improve this year.

Of all the Freedom Days events, the parade represents Schesso's love and labor, she said. But she attends and enjoys all the activities.

"It's great fun," she said. "I love every part of it."

See the attached schedule for complete information about all the Freedom Days events.