The three-day Liberty 4th of July Festival was a breath of fresh air due to the many changes and additions to the weekend celebration. 

Needless to say, the Water Ball Contest among seven area fire departments was a refreshing way to start the weekend event, although a downpour halted fun on the midway and entertainment on the NSK Stage a bit short. 

Saturday morning’s Freedom Run was completed in downtown Brownsville with the first five runners completing the 7.5K course in under 30 minutes. 

Although pie contest numbers were down a bit this year, judging was still a bit tough. 

Judges Brynn Ramadanovic, Brian Bias, and James Rowe awarded Connie Keeton’s peach pie first place, Vickie Crary’s  salted caramel pie second, and Becky Holsinger’s cherry pie third.

Music filled the square for the hula hoop contest (Kinley Paddock first, Carter Bias second, Celia Bias third), freckle contest (Emma Ackerman first, Lilly Schleeter second, Addison Flack third), patriotic baby contest and the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars sharing the beautiful Line of Freedom program on Union Street. 

The Liberty Festival’s 4th of July Parade down Union Street was led by the Liberty Police Department and Union County Sheriff’s Department and parade grand marshal Julie Jolliff and family.   

Sunday was less eventful with the first UTV/golf cart whow and vendors starting the day along with the chalk art contest and midway opening at the noon hour. The afternoon was interrupted by the Circle D Rangers who staged old-time cowboy shootouts near the beer garden and once the smoke cleared, Pavey and Company made a late afternoon visit to the NSK stage with music as vendors began packing up and moving on. 

2022 Liberty Festival Parade 
Trophy Winners
Judges’ Choice - Scecina H.S. Alumni Twilight Twirlers.
Best Non-Musical Unit - Pollitt’s Pitstop.
Favorite Classic Car - Art Bleill.
Best Horse Unit - Shears/Accents.
Favorite Old Truck - Dick & Betty Seibert 51 Chevy 3/4 ton.
Most Patriotic - DNR.
Best Float - Union County Youth League.
Best Kids’ Unit - UC Soccer.
Favorite Farm Implement - Christopher Bryant - 1939 John Deere H.

Best Marching Unit - UCHS Marching Band.
2022 Liberty Festival 

Parade Line-up
Liberty Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office. Grand Marshal Julie Jolliff, American Legion Riders, American Legion Auxiallary, Liberty Fire Department Truck 65, UC Youth Soccer League, Allison Webb, Community Resource Leader 3-Rivers, Duane & Tara Hertel, Donald Hertel, Dick & Betty Seibert “51 Chevy 3/4 ton, Reid Health EMS, Heather & Aiden ‘68 Camaro, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, Liberty Masonic Lodge #58, Jeff Adams Republican Candidate for Sheriff, Todd & Nicole Shepler, Art Bleill, Gary Wilson, Liberty Fire Department Truck 62, Miss Union County Court - Brooke Marcum, Lyllian Pentecost, Cambry Carson, Jeff Franklin for Sheriff, LFD Truck 63-Mark Ross, UC Youth League, Steve Toney, Union County High School Band, Liberty Fire Department Truck 61, Don & Beth Jackson & Grand Kids, West College Corner Fire Department Truck 41, S&B Antique Equipment, Scecina High School Alumni Twilight Twirlers,  1929 General Liberty Fire Department, Pollitt’s Pit Stop, Liberty Fire Department Truck 64, Shears & Accents, Brookville Whitewater DNR.