LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Thousands of Southern Maryland residents filled the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds Friday evening to celebrate Independence Day as St. Mary’s Freedom Fest returned with live entertainment, family activities and a fireworks finale honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The free community celebration brought together families, veterans, community organizations and local businesses for an evening designed to celebrate both the country’s history and the community that continues to shape Southern Maryland.
Held as part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration, this year’s Freedom Fest featured live entertainment, food vendors, children’s activities, stunt shows, tractor pulls and community exhibits before concluding with a fireworks display after sunset.
Despite temperatures topping 100 degrees when the gates opened at 5 p.m., attendees filled the fairgrounds throughout the evening, seeking shade between attractions while gathering with neighbors and celebrating local traditions. Organizers prepared for the extreme heat by providing cooling centers, misting stations and a large contingent of emergency medical personnel who circulated through the crowds all evening.
Celebrating America 250
Nick Simonds, organizer of St. Mary’s Freedom Fest, said this year’s event carried special significance as part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration. He said the semiquincentennial celebration offered Americans a unique opportunity, and his organizers wanted to create an event that reflected the county’s strong patriotic identity and military heritage while remaining free and accessible to the community.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing to be able to be a part of that, and we are a patriotic county,” Simonds said. “We have the U.S. Navy base right here, and we want to show people through this event — a free community event — we’re just celebrating this country.”
Simonds said he hoped visitors leave with memories created alongside family, friends and neighbors. While fireworks remained a centerpiece of the evening, he believed many children would remember experiences such as the freestyle motocross show, antique tractor pull, watermelon eating contests and other attractions that create lasting family traditions.
“A lot of these kids are here, they’ll remember this motocross stunt show,” Simonds said. “They’ll go home tomorrow, and they’ll be thinking about seeing dirt bikes flipping upside down, and the fireworks, and just the whole ambiance of the festival, not to mention a tractor pull. There’s nothing more American than that.”
Local Businesses Make The Event Possible
Simonds emphasized that St. Mary’s Freedom Fest operates entirely through community sponsorships, with every sponsorship dollar going directly back into producing the free event. While St. Mary’s County government and the fairgrounds association were important partners, he said businesses throughout Southern Maryland — including defense contractors with local offices — provided the financial support that allows residents to attend at no cost.
“This event is 100% funded through sponsors, so every dollar that comes in goes back into the event,” Simonds said. “Everything here today is from St. Mary’s County businesses. Businesses in the county say, ‘We’re going to support where we live, our neighbors and our coworkers.’”
The unusually high temperatures became one of the biggest challenges facing organizers this year. Temperatures remained above 100 degrees at 6 p.m. Friday.
Simonds said event staff established an air-conditioned cooling center, added fans and misting stations, and worked closely with local fire and EMS agencies to help visitors stay safe throughout the evening. Despite the weather, attendance early in the event exceeded his expectations.
“We just want people to be safe at the end of the day, enjoy themselves, and go home with memories,” Simonds said.
What Freedom Fest Represents
Having organized dozens of large festivals over the past two decades, Simonds said St. Mary’s Freedom Fest remains one of his favorites because it focuses on patriotism and bringing people together. He believes Independence Day offers an opportunity for residents to set aside differences and celebrate both their community and their country.
“At the end of the day, I think everybody likes to see the community come together and celebrate each other in the county and the country together,” Simonds said.
Reflecting on the nation’s 250th anniversary, Simonds said communities like St. Mary’s County represent the foundation of the country. While large cities often receive the most attention, he believes small communities collectively define what America is.
“It’s the little communities like St. Mary’s County, Charles County and Calvert County and Southern Maryland as a whole that make up this larger country that we call America,” Simonds said.
A Veteran’s Perspective
Ryan Daniels, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and candidate for St. Mary’s County commissioner, district 4, said serving in the U.S. Marine Corps changed the way he views national holidays, particularly Independence Day. While many Americans celebrate the holiday through patriotism, fireworks and family gatherings, he said veterans often see it through the lens of protecting the freedoms those celebrations represent.
“The holiday feels different after you’ve served because you’re not just celebrating your country anymore,” Daniels said. “You helped protect it.”
Daniels said military service created a lasting bond with the country and a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made to preserve American freedoms. He compared that feeling to the pride experienced upon graduating from U.S. Marine Corps boot camp, saying the connection remains long after active service ends.
“There’s just a different level of pride when you’ve worn the uniform and served your country,” Daniels said.
Drawing from his travels overseas, Daniels said living and serving abroad gave him a greater appreciation for opportunities many Americans take for granted. He said the country’s quality of life, diverse communities and natural landscapes were just a few reasons he remains proud to call the United States home.
“We live in one of the greatest countries in the world,” Daniels said.
Celebrating Freedom Together, Looking Toward The Future
Daniels said he attends community events like St. Mary’s Freedom Fest because they provide an opportunity to celebrate the nation’s history while connecting with neighbors who share a sense of patriotism. He said events centered on Independence Day help strengthen community ties while honoring the country’s founding principles.
“I love my country, and I enjoy being around other people who love it too,” Daniels said.
Despite record-setting temperatures during this year’s celebration, Daniels said the strong turnout reflected the community’s commitment to celebrating together.
“The heat’s been tough,” Daniels said. “But people still came out because they love this county and they wanted to celebrate.”
Asked what he hopes people remember about the nation’s 250th anniversary, Daniels said he hopes future generations remember the sense of unity demonstrated by communities gathering to celebrate together despite differences.
“I hope people remember communities coming together and celebrating what makes America special,” Daniels said.
Preparing The Night’s Finale
Managing the fireworks display for the evening, Pete Kay, with Hughesville-based Innovative Pyrotechnic Concepts, said a fireworks display the size of St. Mary’s Freedom Fest’s finale typically takes a crew of three or four people about four hours to set up under normal conditions. Extreme heat, however, slowed the process as crews took additional breaks and repeatedly moved canopies to stay out of the sun while loading shells and preparing equipment throughout the afternoon.
“If we were hustling, we could set up a display of this size in three to four hours,” Kay said. “With this kind of weather, it takes quite a bit longer.”
Kay said each display requires careful programming and sequencing before the show begins. Every shell is assigned an individual firing cue that is loaded into a computerized firing system capable of launching thousands of effects in a predetermined order. He said larger pyrotechnic productions can involve thousands of individual firing cues synchronized into a single performance.
“We electronically fire everything,” Kay said. “Every one of these tubes has an individual cue set to go at a certain time during the show.”
Kay said he wanted to see large crowds come together to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. He described the milestone as a significant moment and said he was excited to see communities continue celebrating Independence Day through local traditions like Freedom Fest.
“I hope this crowd is huge,” Kay said. “I think this is a monumental year.”
Creating Family Memories
Anna Frazier attended St. Mary’s Freedom Fest with her son and several members of her extended family. She said the evening provided an opportunity to spend time together and introduce her son to a large community fireworks celebration.
“I’m here with my family — my sister, cousins, great-nieces and nephews, and my son,” Frazier said. “It’s really about letting them see the fireworks.”
Frazier said she was eager to experience a traditional Independence Day fireworks display. She said it had been a few years since she attended a large public show and hoped to relive memories of past Independence Day celebrations.
“I haven’t seen one in years,” Frazier said. “I just want the whole works, like back in the day.”
While waiting for the fireworks, Frazier said her son spent much of the evening playing with other children and watching the entertainment. She said the freestyle motocross demonstrations were among the highlights and left a lasting impression on him.
“He enjoyed the show — the bikes,” Frazier said. “I think that was a highlight for me, he was amazed.”
Three years after bringing St. Mary’s Freedom Fest back to the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Simonds said organizers hoped to continue building on that momentum by providing a free community celebration where neighbors, families and visitors can gather each Independence Day. With another successful event in the books, organizers are already looking ahead to continuing the tradition next year.
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