*  If possible, walk; don’t use a car.  If you must use a car, carpool, and park as far away from the stadium as possible.  Avoid parking in neighborhoods with narrow streets.  It will likely save you time in the end.

*  When walking, stay on the sidewalks and cross at intersections with traffic lights. Jaywalking is not only illegal and unsafe, it also causes others unnecessary delay.  Pedestrians can significantly reduce traffic congestion after major events by following regular pedestrian safety rules.

Typically about 50,000 people attend the Stadium of Fire, and thousands more gather nearby to watch the fireworks from outside the stadium, creating traffic challenges at the end of the event.  ”We’ve looked at this issue from every angle,” explained Provo City Mayor John Curtis.  ”What it comes down to is the volume of people.  There’s no way around it.  What will help most is the patience and cooperation of the public.”

For the first time this year, the Stadium of Fire will include a post-show street dance on the west side of the stadium, which is expected to help by giving Stadium of Fire attendees a reason to leave more gradually.  ”They can enjoy and dance to a wide variety of popular music while waiting out the traffic,” stated America’s Freedom Festival Executive Director Paul Warner.

Provo, Utah – June 29, 2010 –

“The public’s enthusiastic response for this year’s Stadium of Fire has been tremendous,” said Carl Bacon, the show’s Executive Producer. “Our team is releasing more tickets, from as low as $30, to meet the swelling interest in seeing headliner Carrie Underwood perform, as well as superb talent like The Five Browns, Jenny Oaks Baker, The Osmonds Second Generation, and now, Lou Diamond Phillips.”

New seats released by the Freedom Festival are now available at byutickets.com.

Hardly a stranger to music, theater, film and television, Lou Diamond Phillips first came to the public’s attention when he starred as Richie Valens in ‘La Bamba.’  He then solidified his reputation in ‘Stand and Deliver,’ for which he won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor and received a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination. Phillips also co-starred in Ed Zwick’s critically acclaimed drama, ‘Courage Under Fire,’ where re received strong reviews and a Blockbuster Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Recently he starred in ‘CHE,’ alongside Benicio Del Toro and Benjamin Bratt.  Other notable film credits include ‘Supernova,’ ‘Hollywood Homicide,’ ‘Young Guns,’ ‘The Big Hit,’ ‘Brokedown Palace’ and ‘El Cortez.’

Phillips earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor, for his performance as the King of Siam in the Broadway production of Roger & Hammerstein’s, “The King and I,” which received six Tony nominations in all.  He recently starred in the national tour of “Camelot,” as “King Arthur.”

But Phillips has a more vested interest in the July 4^th holiday that goes deeper than music and fireworks. He was born at Subic Bay US Naval Station in the Phillipines, the son of a US Naval Officer. And Phillips was named after legendary US Marine, Lou Diamond.

Phillips can currently be seen on the SyFy series ‘Stargate: Universe’ alongside Robert Carlyle and Ming-Na and Lou also continues appear on the hit series ‘Numb3rs’ as Agent Ian Edgerton. A few of his other memorable television credits include: ‘Psych,’ ‘Law and Order: SVU,’ ‘Wolf Lake,’ ‘The Beast’ and ‘The Triangle.’

As a director, Phillips most recently helmed the Hallmark Channel movie ‘Love Takes Wing.’  He made his directorial debut with ‘Dangerous Touch,’ a psychological thriller that he co-wrote for HBO.  Lou has also directed episodes of ‘Resurrection Blvd.,’ ‘The Outer Limits,’ and ‘The Twilight Zone.’

Phillips, originally born in the Philippines, was raised in Texas.  He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Yvonne. He has four daughters, Indigo, Grace, Isabella and Lili.

Provo, Utah – June 23, 2010 –

Classical violinist Jenny Oaks Baker, actor and singer Alex Boyé, and the Utah National Guard’s renowned 23^rd Army Band will contribute to the evening with outstanding musical presentations. Steve Young, the former quarterback for the BYU Cougars and San Francisco 49ers, will share his insights of the significance of U.S. citizenship.

“Our particular emphasis on patriotic music and narration will make this year’s service quite different from those in previous years,” said Paul Warner, Executive Director of America’s Freedom Festival. “More time will be allocated to musical solos, duets and other artistic performances. We believe the Patriotic Service will be an outstanding evening that will successfully usher in the July 4^th season.”

Additional performers during the event include solo artist and musical theater favorite George Dyer, classical and pop singer Jenny Jordan Frogley, and the incredibly talented and musically versatile Kendra Lowe.

Word and song throughout the Patriotic Service will honor Utah veterans, American casualties of war, and the preservation of human rights and religious freedom. Cameron Partovi, winner of the Freedom Festival’s Speech Contest, will also be recognized.

All are welcome to attend the Patriotic Service. Admission is free.

Provo, Utah – May 28, 2010

Mortenson, an internationally recognized writer and humanitarian, is the co-founder and executive director of Central Asia Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes and supports community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson has received widespread acclaim from numerous foundations, universities and national governments for his devotion to building schools and educating children in Central Asia. The Freedom Festival is pleased to present Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” and “Stones into Schools”, with the Freedom Award.

“The Freedom Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary devotion to the cause of liberty at home and abroad,” said Vicki Garbutt, organizer and chairperson of the Freedom Awards Gala. “Some of our recipients this year, including Greg Mortenson, have significantly risked their personal safety and well-being to help assure the freedom of others.”

Additional recipients of this year’s Freedom Award include Elizabeth Howell, who lost her husband on 9/11 and subsequently devoted her life to humanitarian work, Jeffrey Olsen, a Chicago trash collector that regularly saves American flags he finds improperly disposed of, and the Louis and Anna Henderson family, who represent five brothers sent overseas simultaneously during World War II.

The Freedom Awards Gala will be held Friday, July 2, 2010, at 6:30pm in the BYU Wilkinson Center Ballroom. Tickets for the event are $50 per person ($40 per person for obstructed view tickets) and will be available June 1 at the BYU Marriott Center Ticket Office. Tickets go quickly.

Residents are encouraged to join the Freedom Festival’s email database to receive future updates about event ticket opportunities. A link to join can be found at www.freedomfestival.org.

Provo, Utah – May 26, 2010 – America’s Freedom Festival is pleased to announce that several internationally-recognized Utah musicians will perform at Stadium of Fire on July 3^rd, including The 5 Browns, Jenny Oaks Baker and The Osmonds Second Generation. The Utah talent appearing this year, in addition to superstar headline performer Carrie Underwood, creates a diverse musical presentation beyond anything seen at previous Stadium of Fire events.

“For Stadium of Fire’s 30^th anniversary, we are going to celebrate the great musical talent that Utah continuously generates,” said Carl Bacon, senior executive producer of the event. “Utah is a national stronghold of world-class music, dance and entertainment, and we’re thrilled to have several of those notable performers with us for Stadium of Fire.”

The 5 Browns, a classical piano quintet consisting of five siblings from Utah, is one of the most celebrated and distinguished classical musical groups in the world. The quintet, consisting of Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae, became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously to the legendary Julliard School in New York City.

The 5 Browns performance will include selections from their latest best-selling album, In Hollywood, using five grand pianos at one time during Stadium of Fire, a rare and unique musical display. The famous group has previously released three albums that each went to No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Classical Albums chart, and has garnered extensive coverage from media outlets like Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Today and The View.

Jenny Oaks Baker, one of America’s most accomplished violinists, will also add a fresh, distinctive flavor to Stadium of Fire. Ms. Baker was born in Salt Lake City, earned a music degree from the Julliard School and has performed with symphony orchestras at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and many other distinguished venues around the world. In 2005, she made her solo debut with Washington, D.C.’s National Symphony Orchestra, with whom she was first violinist for seven years.

Ms. Baker’s latest album, Then Sings My Soul, recently hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Traditional Classical Albums chart. She has released nine albums since 1998 which have sold more than 150,000 copies, garnered numerous Pearl Awards and, in 2008, Ms. Baker was awarded the Governor’s Mansion Artists Award for Excellence in artistic expression by Governor John M. Huntsman, Jr.

The Osmonds Second Generation is a pop group of eight brothers, renowned in Utah and around the nation for their tight harmonies and family musical blend. The sons of Alan Osmond, the boys were given their start at a very young age by Bob Hope. The Osmonds Second Generation has spent the last 25 years traveling the globe performing in over 14 different countries.

In addition, all eight brothers in the pop group are Eagle Scouts. Their shared Boy Scout heritage is a fitting tribute as the Boy Scouts of America celebrates 100 years in 2010. In honor of the Boy Scouts Centennial, The Osmonds Second Generation will add an important musical component as Stadium of Fire hosts the largest Eagle Scout Court of Honor in history.

Additional acts occurring during Stadium of Fire include a performance by Southern Utah country music star Eric Dodge, a special choreographed performance by the Stadium of Fire Dancers and, of course, the headline concert performance by Grammy and CMA Award winning artist, Carrie Underwood. The largest land-based Independence Day fireworks show in America will bring Stadium of Fire to a close.

Though many Stadium of Fire seats sold out quickly within the first few days of announcing Carrie Underwood as headliner, a host of previously unavailable seats have just been released by the production team and are now available for purchase at stadiumoffire.com. Seats from all price ranges, from $30 to $120, are again open to the public.

Stadium of Fire will be televised to America’s troops and their families for the eighth consecutive year on American Forces Television Network. The telecast is donated to the military by Stadium of Fire organizers, America’s Freedom Foundation.

Beginning Monday, May 3, the Freedom Festival will release clues on its Facebook and Twitter pages that lead players to a specific location in Utah County where “treasures” or artifacts can be found and collected. Only the first thirty players that arrive at each secret location will receive an artifact.

A new clue will be released online every few days for three weeks. After all clues have been released, the first player to reach a designated finish point with the most artifacts will win two pre-show tickets to a private reception featuring Stadium of Fire performers on July 3^rd in Provo. The Freedom Hunt winner will also receive two tickets to attend Stadium of Fire, as will the runner-up.

“This is a great way for people to get outside and have some fun this spring,” said Paul Warner, Executive Director of America’s Freedom Festival. “The clues released online will tie in with American history and some of our local landmarks and institutions, so it will be really interesting to watch players learn and explore their way to the grand prize.”

Clues will only be released on the Festival’s Facebook page at facebook.com/FreedomFestival and its Twitter page at twitter.com/FreedmFestProvo. Clues will appear online every Monday and Thursday until May 20, though the exact times will not be disclosed.

All residents of the Wasatch Front are welcome to participate in the Freedom Hunt.

“Eric has a very loyal following in Utah, and we think he’ll add to the excitement of our celebration this year,” said Carl Bacon, America’s Freedom Festival trustee and senior executive producer of the event.

Eric began his professional country music career in 2003, and will release his fourth studio album on April 24. An avid and popular participant in Utah’s music scene, Eric has also performed in dozens of venues throughout the United States and Canada with country music stars such as Chris LeDoux, Diamond Rio, Collin Raye and SHeDAISY.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to perform at Stadium of Fire this year,” said Eric Dodge. “I’m so grateful to my dedicated fan base in Utah and around the country for this opportunity.”

The Freedom Festival also wants to publicly congratulate this year’s Stadium of Fire headliner, Carrie Underwood, for her unprecedented wins at last Sunday’s 45^th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Carrie Underwood made history by becoming the first woman to win Entertainer of the Year twice. She also won the rare Triple Crown Award, a special honor for her outstanding career accomplishments.

“Carrie Underwood’s career continues to soar, especially after her extraordinary success at the Academy of Country Music Awards” said Bacon. “We’re simply delighted she’s coming to spend her Independence Day weekend with us here in Utah.”

Tickets to Stadium of Fire on July 3rd are still available. Customers should visit stadiumoffire.com or byutickets.com to purchase.

Provo, Utah – March 31, 2010 –

The Freedom Festival is looking for a T-shirt design with an Americana theme that reflects the spirit of Independence Day. Members of the community are invited to submit their designs to the festival’s Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/FreedomFestival, by uploading their image to the Facebook wall. All members of the public are welcome to participate.

“The winning design from our T-shirt contest will be seen by hundreds of thousands of people throughout the spring and summer,” said Paul Warner, Executive Director of America’s Freedom Festival. “We want a design that’s simple, but also creative and memorable. We want something that really encapsulates the spirit of America.”

In addition to having his or her design featured on countless T-shirts, the winner will also receive two free tickets to the Stadium of Fire.

The deadline for the contest is April 15^th, when a judging panel at the Freedom Festival will choose the winning design. T-shirts with the design will go on sale to the public in May.

Designs should use no more than three colors and utilize a white background. Designs must be centered on the front of the T-shirt. The design should not focus on any specific Freedom Festival event, but be generally applicable to the spirit of July 4^th. Additional contest rules and details can be found on the Freedom Festival’s Facebook page and website.

Provo, Utah – February 27, 2010 –

Underwood is a five-time Grammy Award winner, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner. Carrie Underwood has amassed more than 11 million in U.S. album sales since her debut CD in 2005, more than any other American Idol winner. Along the way, she has consistently broken new ground and became the first country artist in history to achieve eleven consecutive #1 singles.

“I am really excited about being invited to Stadium of Fire’s 30th anniversary celebration! Our country has a lot to celebrate this Independence Day, and I want to do my part to make it unforgettable,” said Carrie Underwood.

“We’re sure that this year’s Stadium of Fire will be seen by the biggest audience in our history, so we’re working hard to make it the most memorable,” said Carl Bacon, America’s Freedom Foundation trustee and senior executive producer of the event. “Carrie is a big part of that.”

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Stadium of Fire in 2010, tickets will be available this year for as low as $30. Traditional elements of Stadium of Fire will continue and expand, including the spectacle of the Stadium of Fire dancers, a military flyover as only Stadium of Fire does them, and the largest Stadium fireworks show in America.  There will also be a special feature celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

For an unprecedented eighth consecutive year, the Pentagon has invited Stadium of Fire to televise the celebration to US military men and women and their families in more than 100 countries around the world.

“We have so many spectacular surprises planned for the 2010 Stadium Fire,” said Brett Walker, this year’s Freedom Festival president. “We’ve worked diligently to make it the greatest Independence Day celebration in the country and we’re confident it will be the most outstanding show Utahns and our guests from around the nation and world have seen in years.”

For the sixth consecutive year, the event will be created, produced and directed by the award-winning production team of Wayne Baruch and Chuck Gayton. “Each year they have set a higher standard of quality and excitement,” said Bacon.

Tickets for Stadium of Fire will go on sale to the general public on Friday morning, March 5th, at midnight and will be sold simultaneously online at www.stadiumoffire.com, www.byutickets.com and at the BYU Marriott Center ticket office in Provo. Members of the Freedom Festival’s email list will have the option to purchase tickets before the general public, so fans are encouraged to visit www.freedomfestival.org to sign up for advance ticket opportunities.

The Stadium of Fire event, now in its 30th year, is the initial creation of Alan Osmond, the original lead singer of The Osmonds. Over the years it has grown to become one of the United States’ premier patriotic celebrations, attracting an average attendance of 50,000 people.

Stadium of Fire is presented by America’s Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization supporting educational programs and events that promote freedom and democracy.

Over one hundred boys, chosen throughout Utah and the Western United States, will be honored for achieving their Eagle Scout Rank, the highest rank in Boy Scouting, and will receive the Eagle Scout Charge in a brief Centennial Eagle Court of Honor. Witnessed by approximately 50,000 people in LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Centennial Eagle Court of Honor will be a unique and rare event, unparalleled in the history of Scouting.

All Boy Scouts that earn their Eagle Scout Award between January 1 and June 1 of 2010 are eligible to apply to participate in the ceremony. Scouts should visit www.utahscouts.org/freedomfestival to complete an application. They must have completed their Eagle Scout requirements before applying online, including completion of their Board of Review. Those chosen to participate in the ceremony will be notified soon after applying.

“This is a special year for the Boy Scouts of America, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary,” said Carl Bacon, executive producer of the Stadium of Fire. “Because of our shared values with the BSA, we felt it would be special to have a segment during the Stadium of Fire honoring these Eagle Scouts. And we have some great surprises planned for the Scouts participating in the Court of Honor and for those watching inside the stadium.”

Dignitaries from the Boy Scouts of America will be present at the Court of Honor, including Tico Perez, National Commissioner for the BSA, and Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive for the BSA. Eagle Scouts throughout the stadium will also be recognized in history’s largest Eagle’s Nest, a tribute to all Eagle Scouts attending a Court of Honor.

Applications to participate in the Centennial Eagle Court of Honor will be accepted through June 1, 2010, or until all available spots are taken. Eagle Scouts involved in the special program may still hold a separate, private ceremony to celebrate their individual accomplishments.

Eagle Scouts taking part in the ceremony will receive a free ticket to enter the Stadium of Fire and will be seated together in a special section. Family members of the Scouts may purchase tickets at www.stadiumoffire.com when they become available, though family members will not sit with the Eagle Scouts during the Stadium of Fire.

The Centennial Eagle Court of Honor is organized by America’s Freedom Festival at Provo and the BSA’s Utah National Park Council, though Eagle Scouts in other councils are welcome to apply to participate. Involvement in the ceremony is subject to limited seating and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.