With July 4th just around the corner, Fort Polk is gearing up for the largest fireworks display in the region – FreedomFest 2008, which kicks off at 5 p.m., Friday, July 4, at Headquarters Field, located across from the Warrior Community Center and adjacent to Building 350.  
FreedomFest begins with free, live musical entertainment beginning at 5:30 p.m. from Bayou Katz followed at 8 p.m. by national country music recording artist Neal McCoy. At dusk, the air will resonate with the sound of our National Anthem and the roar of a cannon salute in honor of each state. The night sky will light up with the best fireworks display in the area.  
Bring your appetite as plenty of great food will be available. Hickory Hut has expanded its menu to include pulled pork sandwiches, rib platters and ice cold watermelon.  
Tropical Chiller Thrillers will be offering a variety of smoothies, milk shakes, fried Oreos®, candied apples and carnival foods, fresh squeezed lemonade and funnel cakes.  
Swing by ZIL, Inc’s booth for lemonade, funnel cakes, corn dogs, and frozen strawberry delight.  
Dawn’s Concession is returning to Fort Polk with an expanded menu of chili dogs, hot dogs, corn dogs, frito pies, nachos, and Cajun fried potato curls.  
For a cold treat stop by the Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream booth.  
The big POW/MIA Eagle trailer is back. Lil’ Debbie’s will be serving up an assortment of carnival foods to include nachos, Frito® pies, foot-long hot dogs, corn dogs, chopped BBQ sandwiches, pop corn shrimp baskets, chicken on a stick, bloomin’ onions, fried Oreos® and much more. They will also be bringing along their snow cone booth to quench your taste buds with flavored ice treats.  
Domino’s Pizza will be serving up piping hot pizza all day long, while your drink needs can be satisfied by Morale Welfare and Recreation’s new Mulligan’s Restaurant and Bar serving from four convenient locations throughout the festival.  
Nell’s Country Kitchen is a new food vendor to Fort Polk’s quarterly festivals. Her specialty includes meat pies, hamburger platters and hot dogs. Make sure you stop by for some authentic Louisiana meat pies.  
There will be an ‘Outdoor Deck Party’ with DJ music on Mulligan’s Patio following the fireworks from 10 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.   
Parking for the event is offered at the following locations with shuttle bus transportation departing every 15 minutes beginning at 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. after the fireworks from the following locations:  
Library/Education Center
Perez Field
BJACH South Parking Lot
North Polk Elementary
AAFES Mini-mall
There will be no through traffic on Corps Road. Patrons who live nearby are encouraged to walk over and check out all of the activities:
 5 - 10 p.m.    Food Vendors, Climbing Wall, Ricky’s Games open
5 - 9 p.m. Picerne Kids’ Area with Fort Polk’s Family Readiness Groups are creating a carnival midway. Families can take their children through the friendly gauntlet of games and activities such as face painting, temporary tattoos, bean bag toss, target time, can toss, craft table, ring toss, lucky duck, bake sale and dunking booth. There will also be plenty of glow necklaces and festive Americana trinkets to go around. The National Guard display will also open during this time.
5:30 p.m. “Bayou Katz” performs
8 p.m. “Neal McCoy” performs
About 9:15 p.m. Fireworks
Admission to the event is free and open to the public.