Thousands of people will gather in downtown Greer on Saturday to honor our nation, the military, and our veterans. The 16th annual Freedom Blast event kicks off at 6pm in Greer City Park. We’ve put together this Know Before You Go guide to help you prepare.
Schedule for Saturday, June 28
6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.: Freedom Blast festival
6 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Kids Zone Open (wristband sales end at 9 p.m.; lines cut off at 9:30 p.m.)
6 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Blood Connection mobile blood drive
6 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Food vendors open
6 p.m.: Opening Ceremonies on the Main Stage at Greer City Park
6:15 p.m.: Team Fastrax Skydiving
6:30 p.m.: Military tribute on the Main Stage
7:15 p.m.: Rib-eating contest on the Main Stage
7:30 p.m.: Back 9 Band performs on the Main Stage
9:30 p.m.: Last call for beer sales
10 p.m.: Fireworks (view from Greer City Park)
Plan Ahead
The festivities start at 6 p.m., but you might want to leave early to navigate around road closures and find parking.
Here’s a look at what will be closed:
Poinsett St. & Main St.
Trade St. at Poinsett St.
Victoria St. at Poinsett St.
Depot St. at Poinsett St.
Randall St. & Poinsett St.
Jason St.
Parking
The Jason St. garage will not be available for public parking during Freedom Blast. On-street parking is always free in downtown Greer, but there will be fewer spaces available due to road closures. Take a look at our downtown parking map to locate free public lots.
Shuttles
The city’s free shuttle service will run later than usual Saturday night to assist people who prefer to park and ride.
Public Safety
The City of Greer will have a command center set up to monitor conditions at the festival and keep everyone safe. In the event of an emergency, staff will make an announcement from the main stage to let people know what to do. If severe weather interrupts the festivities, we’ll do our best to resume the event after we get the all-clear from our public safety team.
What to Bring
Chairs and/or blankets to enjoy entertainment and fireworks
Sunscreen
Water
Cash or card
What NOT TO Bring
Pets
Pop-up tents
Hard-sided coolers or alcohol
What's Free
Skydiving show
Military tributes
Live music
Fireworks
Roaming performers
Face-painting
Caricatures
Balloons
What Costs Money
$5 wristbands for unlimited amusement rides
Food and drinks
Freedom Blast t-shirts
Patriotic merch
Veterans Activities
MSG Preston B. Johnson Veterans Walk: Veterans who would like to participate in this tradition should meet up at the small fountain at the City Park amphitheater at 6:15 p.m. This walk is a treasured time during which the community honors veterans and thanks them for their service.
Military tribute: Don’t miss the ceremony honoring our military on the Main Stage in City Park starting at 6:30 p.m.
Veterans support groups: Many organizations take part in Freedom Blast every year. More than a dozen support groups will have tents set up throughout the festival. Boot Print, American Legion Post 115, Vets Helping Vets, Marine Corps League 1105, and VFW Post 12207 are a few of the organizations that will be represented this year.
Where to watch fireworks: Even though the fireworks will be coming from a different location this year, Greer City Park is still the ideal location to catch the show.
Kids Zone: There will be a dozen amusement rides and inflatables in the Kids Zone this year. You can purchase $5 wristbands for unlimited fun. Note: Wristband sales end at 9 p.m.
Food and drinks: Many of Greer’s downtown restaurants will be open during Freedom Blast. We encourage folks to take advantage of the opportunity to pop in, cool off, and grab a meal or a snack. We will also have more than 20 food vendors taking part in the event. Check out the list of vendors here: https://www.freedomblast.org/blank
What's Where:
Freedom Blast is centered around Greer City Park, but some of the activities will be set up on surrounding streets. Take a look at the Freedom Blast map to see what’s where.
New this year: Buy a Freedom Blast event t-shirt to show your patriotic spirit
Sneak peek: Never been to Freedom Blast and want to know what to expect? Check out this video of last year’s event: https://youtu.be/W__XqG-VbxA
Hope to see you tomorrow night in Greer City Park!
