Hundreds Flock to Lake Silver for Rockin Freedom Fest 2023
by James Coulter
Winter Haven celebrated the Fourth of July early with its annual Rockin Freedom Fest on July 3. Hundreds of residents and visitors flocked to the shores of Lake Silver on blankets and lawn chairs in anticipation of the fireworks that evening.
Several food trucks and vendors, including K&E Little Smokers, Wing King, Sweet Spot, Pelicans Snoballs, lined the street to offer a bite to eat during the festivities. The Big King played a live musical performance, and the Cypress Gardens Ski Team hosted a ski show featuring dazzling stunts with their aqua maids. Even the Winter Haven Fire Department attended to allow visitors an up-close look at their fire rescue vehicles.
City Commissioner Tracey Mercer commended the turnout, which she considered to be the largest ever for an event like this. She was especially relieved that the weather proved ideal, even despite the weather forecast calling for rain earlier.
“I enjoy that it isn’t raining,” she said. “It looked like earlier that it was going to rain for a while, and that would have ruined the festivities…It makes me proud to see so many people who are interested in our community, and it makes me proud to be proud of Winter Haven.”
