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North Carolina Freedom Fest
2023 NC Main Street Award: Promotion
Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series
NC Freedom Fest, Inc.
City of Goldsboro
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation
United Way of Wayne County
Goldsboro Elks
North Carolina Freedom Fest is a military and first-responders’ appreciation festival designed to bring those groups together with the community to thank those who serve, in a family-friendly setting in Downtown Goldsboro.
This family-friendly event includes a car and bike show, art contest, craft vendors, kid’s zone, food trucks, static displays, an F-15 flyover, military appreciation awards and live music performed by five bands on two stages. The event embraces the “One Community Model” which brings together a group of partners including the NC Freedom Fest non-profit, the City of Goldsboro, Seymour Johnson Airforce base, Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, United Way, Goldsboro Rotary, the Elks, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the Military Affairs Committee, Kriquette’s Kids, corporate sponsors, and a network of volunteers that work together to host the event.
In 2022 Freedom Fest received the United States Department of Defense, Spirit of Hope award for the event. Each branch of the military makes one nomination worldwide. This event attracts an average attendance of 11,500 that generates $166,000 dollars in merchant sales and an economic impact of $400,000
dollars.
North Carolina Freedom Fest also complements the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation’s Economic Development strategies of promoting quality of life downtown with an emphasis on families and expanding engagement with Seymour-Johnson Air Force base.
