FORT POLK, La. - Fort Polk will soon play backdrop to a major musical event. Rock legends .38 SPECIAL and country music superstar Gretchen Wilson will headline FreedomFest 2012 July 4 at Headquarters Field. Gates open at 4 p.m. This duo is a big catch for the installation, which started working to secure a top entertainer almost as soon as the smoke had cleared from last year's fireworks.
In addition to music, FreedomFest also offers a treat for your taste buds. If you can fry it, smoke it or roast it — throw it on a bun, sandwich or stick — and eat it, drink it or slurp it, you'll find it July 4. Nearly 20 vendors are traveling to Fort Polk from across the Southeast for FreedomFest 2012. They'll be serving up gator and shrimp on–a-stick, hot dogs and chili dogs, frog legs, gyros, pizza, wings and turkey legs just to name a few of the tasty dishes. If all the smoked and slow roasted food leaves you parched, pick up a smoothie, lemonade or an Italian ice. Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream, funnel cakes and sno-cones. You should probably wait until all that food settles before jumping on the eight inflatables that will be set up to entertain children of all ages.
More than 20 Family Readiness Groups will set up games, dunking booths, face and hair painting stations to raise money for their organizations, so you can entertain the kids and help a good cause at the same time.
FreedomFest 2012 is free and open to the public. There is no on-site parking available, so shuttle service for vehicles with Department of Defense decals is provided from Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, the Battle Combat Training Center, Library/Education Center and the Exchange and Commissary. All vehicles without a DoD decal must park at Honor Field on La. Hwy 10 and ride the shuttle bus onto post.
Gretchen Wilson will take the stage at 6 p.m., followed by a 50-gun Salute to the Nation. At 8:15 p.m., as the sun starts to set, .38 SPECIAL will take the stage to rock festival goers into the night. At 9:15 p.m. the sky will light up with the biggest and best fireworks display in West Central Louisiana.
Bring blankets or lawn chairs to mark your place in front of the stage. Don't bring pets, weapons, coolers, tents, alcohol or glass bottles. This is an outside event and it will be hot. Young children, the elderly and anyone with special medical concerns should take precautions to make sure they don't get overheated. Call 531-1787 or go to www.fortpolkmwr.com and www.facebook.com/fortpolkmwr for more information.
