Folds Of Freedom Fest Attendees Celebrate Holiday, Wait For Fireworks

Fireworks began to light up the sky for the 2015 QT Folds of Freedom Fest but abruptly ended shortly before 10 p.m.

A technical glitch halted the show and the pyrotechnics production team worked quickly to get the rest of the show back up and running.

About 10:30 p.m., the rest of the fireworks lit up the sky and the show ended.

The fireworks show glitch was just one the day's inconveniences.

Due to construction projects and road closures, the parking situation was quite different compared to years past.

This year's fest was moved from its original spot at the River West festival park and moved here to the Veterans Park. But even a shortage of parking, as is evident with this crowd, hasn't kept people away.

The Folds of honor Freedom Fest, is just about that, freedom, with a little bit of fun sprinkled in.

"At the end of the day, it is about us gathering as Americans and paying tribute to the independence we have in this great nation," said Army veteran Maj. Ed Pulido.

It's Army veterans like Pulido that are shown appreciation today for their service.

“My husband is in the military and we enjoy our freedom because of the military and so it makes it extra special for us to be able to celebrate our freedom," fest attendee Sheri Cooper said.

Aside from the appreciation for what the military has done, street closure, construction and a new location threated to make it a challenge for people to get here. With street being closed off as early as 10 a.m, the potential for major problems finding a place to park and extensive walking was real.

"We were prepared to walk five ten blocks, something like that and we were even willing to pay to park closer," Shelly McGloffin said.

McGloffin lucked up though, despite getting here around 7, she found a close spot. However she says when you have men and women dying to keep moments like this alive, a little walking is nothing.

“It is a small sacrifice to walk a few blocks in the heat for this wonderful Fourth of July celebration," she said.

So while people sit in their folding chairs, under the shade of these trees free. They can thank the people who aren't here for making celebrations like this possible. 

Since there were so many street closures, the fireworks display was heightened to allow it to be seen farther away. The street closures will stay closed until 11 p.m.