Celebrate America’s Independence Friday, July 1 and Saturday, July 2 during the 2022 Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival in Lawton’s Elmer Thomas Park, located at NW 3rd and NW Ferris. The festival, with free admission and no parking fees, is a project of the Freedom Festival Committee chaired by the Lawton City Council, the City of Lawton Arts and Humanities Division, City staff and community volunteers. The two-day festival will kick-off Friday, July 1 with food trucks and activities. The festival will conclude the evening of Saturday, July 2 with live music and one of the largest fireworks displays in Oklahoma choreographed to music.

Freedom Festival Schedule of Events

Friday, July 1
4 - 9:30 p.m. – Food Trucks, Zip Lines, Bounce Houses, Street Performers

Saturday, July 2
7-8:45a.m. – Parade Parking McMahon Memorial Auditorium & ETP
9:15 a.m. – Parade in the Park, “Let Freedom Ring”
4:00 p.m. – Food Trucks, Zip Lines, Bounce Houses, Street Performers
7:00 p.m. – Live Music: Featuring Emily Faith & the 77th Army Rock Band
9:30 p.m. – Fireworks (music broadcast through Magic 95)
Parade in the Park, “Let Freedom Ring,” Parking

Patrons are encouraged to park within the McMahon Memorial Auditorium parking lot, 801 NW Ferris Ave, or within the designated areas within Elmer Thomas Park prior to the road closures for the parade at 8:45 a.m. After 8:45a.m., patrons are encouraged to park in the Lawton High School east parking lot or the 2nd Street shopping area. Roads in and around the park, to include NW Ferris Ave, will be closed from 8:45 a.m. until the parade ends at approximately 10:15 a.m.

Other Freedom Festival Amenities

Children’s Playground with shade covers
Picnic tables
Elmer Thomas Park Splash Pad
Park & Ride - Shuttle from Lawton High School and McMahon Memorial Auditorium to drop off near the playground in the park
Restroom facilities
The Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival Committee is pleased to present the 77th Army Band and country music singer Emily Faith – both will perform at the lake side amphitheater stage.

The festival will conclude with one of the largest fireworks displays set to music in Oklahoma with live broadcast on Magic 95, 95.3 FM, after the sun sets, approximately 9:45 p.m. Saturday, July 2. Viewers can also listen via Magic 95's website, magic953.com and through the station’s Apple and Android apps and Amazon Alexa.

The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, umbrellas/sunscreen, insect repellant, flashlights and picnic baskets. Please no pets, service animals only, and no personal fireworks, alcohol or drones. Pop up tents are allowed but must be taken down by 8 p.m. For the public’s safety, a portion of the lake’s walking track/trail will be closed from 11 a.m. Saturday, July 2 till 8 a.m. Sunday, July 3. The patrons of the park’s walking track are invited to stroll through the festival grounds.

There are multiple opportunities to volunteer at the 2022 Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival. For more information on volunteering, contact City of Lawton Neighborhood Services Supervisor Corey Bowen via email at corey.bowen@lawtonok.gov or by phone at 580-581-3592.

For more information, contact the City of Lawton Arts & Humanities Division at 580-581-3470 or 580-581-3471 or visit the City of Lawton’s website, lawtonok.gov. Stay up to date with the 2022 Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival by following the festival’s Facebook page: facebook.com/LawtonFreedomFestival.

This event would not be possible without the festival’s Gold Sponsor the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as the festival’s Silver Sponsors, which includes Arvest Bank, Great Plains AMBUCS and Pam & Barry’s Team @Remax. The festival is also made possible thanks to its Bronze Sponsors, which include BancFirst, Fort Sill Credit Union and Liberty National Bank.

If citizens or businesses would like to inquire about being a financial or in-kind sponsor for this year’s festival or if they are interested in purchasing a VIP Package for the 2022 Lawton Fort Sill Freedom Festival, which comes with several festival perks, please reach out to Jason Poudrier, Arts and Humanities Administrator, via email at jason.poudrier@lawtonok.gov or by phone 580-581-3470.