Hundreds celebrate Independence Day at Valley Freedom Festival in Palmer

PALMER — On Independence Day, Alaskans celebrated July 4 with a parade through downtown Palmer.

Approximately 500 people gathered along the sidewalks to watch a parade with 11 businesses that entered floats, eight classic cars and six political candidates. Event organizer Haylee Kurka served as emcee of the parade and her husband and candidate for State House in District 7 Chris Kurka sang the national anthem at the start of the 19-minute parade. Haylee Kurka got a reaction from the crowd as floats made their way down Alaska street by poking fun at Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, as masks were not required at the Valley Freedom Fest.

“No offense to those of you who may be joining us from Anchorage, we’re very happy that you decided to come and celebrate the 4th of July in the alley and breathe a little bit of our air of freedom out here,” said Kurka.

Mayor Edna DeVries also got a reaction from the crowd of parade watchers as she took the microphone before the parade began.

“Thank you for what you’re doing. We trusted you and you have stepped up to the plate and you have done what the naysayers said you wouldn’t do and so thank you for doing that,” said DeVries to the crowd.

Premier Janitorial Services shared the top prize for float entries with the Cathy Tilton for House and Shelley Hughes for Senate combined float. Hughes is running for reelection in Senate Seat F and though she did not attend, combined her float with Tilton who is also running for reelection in House District 12. Among the other candidates that marched in the parade at the Valley Freedom Festival on Saturday were Seat D Senator David Wilson and Challenger Stephen Wright, Kevin McCabe running for House District 8, Luke Howard running for House District 9 and Alex Fetta running in House District 11.

“We’re proud to be Americans and we want to show our support for those that protect and sacrifice for our country so this is one of the events out there that allows us to do that this year,” said parade watcher Jeff Morganflash.

Organizers of the Valley Freedom Fest also put together a vendor fair at the MTA Events Center parking lot that dozens of food truck vendors and booths participated in. Hundreds gathered to support local businesses affected by the cancelations of many other gatherings including the Colony Days Parade and the Alaska State Fair.

“We really publicized that people would have personal responsibility, especially for folks that are more vulnerable that they would know that there aren’t any mandates there are going to be people here and if that was a concern that they wouldn’t be really close to people, those types of things. We also published the CDC recommendations,” said Kurka. “There are no mandates so we’re not going against anything, it’s just people doing what their responsibility is and ultimately our health is our own responsibility. You’ll see people walking around with their masks on you’ll see people not walking around with masks on and that’s kind of what freedom’s about.”

Kurka said she got positive reactions from vendors inquiring about the Valley Freedom Festival that was organized in just three weeks in response to Wasilla canceling its customary 4th of July parade. Hundreds of people filtered through the groups of vendors offering food and activities to Freedom Festival attendees.

“This is the day that we celebrate independence and in the people that I run with my circle, we were all just wanting to put on a big party for the community really is what we wanted to do, and decided it kept growing a little bit more and a little bit more, but it is what it is, and it turned out really great. Whether or not we do it again that is something that is yet to be determined,” said Kurka. “Emotionally I’m kind of on a high. It’s very rewarding now after all the work that we put into it to see the turnout and see people enjoying themselves and celebrating independence.”

The 24 floats marched down South Alaska Street celebrating freedom on Independence Day, and many later participated at the gathering of vendors at the ice rink. Grand prize co-champion Premier Janitorial Services gave out rolls of toilet paper to the delight of the crowd.

“I thought it was really ingenious regarding the toilet paper, I mean that would’ve been a bigger hit, he probably would’ve given out a ton of toilet paper two months ago but that was a very creative thing,” said DeVries. “I was very happy when the people stepped up and to be honest with you most of the people that organized that actually are from Wasilla.”