Cottage Grove, Tenn.–For the first time in decades, the Cottage Grove Freedom Festival has been cancelled for this year.
Cottage Grove Volunteer Fire Chief John Weiher announced the decision was made last night at a fire department board meeting. The July 4 Freedom Festival is a main fundraiser for the department each year and always includes live music, concessions, games, fireworks and a parade.
Weiher said the decision was made due to complications stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, including current meat shortages which would affect acquiring supplies for the vendors of the concessions.
He also said the state guidelines of no more than 10 people gathering in one place also impacted the decision to cancel.
“It was a hard decision to make,” Weiher said. “We didn’t want to do it but that’s the way things stand now.”
As for the Paris Landing State Park 4th of July fireworks, Paris Landing Park Manager Zach Tinkle said there has not been a definite decision made. “We haven’t made a decision 100 percent yet, but we will in the coming days,” he said.
Photo: At the 2019 parade, members of the Cottage Grove United Methodist Church hand out bottled water to everyone. (Shannon McFarlin photo).