FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, May 7, 2008) – On June 27 and 28, 2008, Pizza Hut Park will host the 18th Annual 94.9 KLTY/Interstate Batteries CELEBRATE FREEDOM®. Featuring evangelist Luis Palau, Celebrate Freedom® is an event for the whole family, with live performances by over 40 artists on three stages; a free style motocross, BMX, and skateboard show; a children’s area, family fun zone, Internet Café, and plenty of on-site food vendors.
For the first time in twelve years, 94.9 KLTY Celebrate Freedom has changed venues, moving from Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas, to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco. The essence of Celebrate Freedom is a place for families to come and spend the day, enjoying music, fellowship, exciting attractions and most importantly having fun with each other.
FRIDAY, JUNE 27: Friday will feature Texas-bred and six-time Dove Award winning David Crowder Band. Shane & Shane, who also come from the Lone Star State, will appear. Also performing will be Stellar Kart, Sanctus Real, Phil Wickham, Connersvine, Tenth Avenue North, Dizmas, and Jared Wood, Worship Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.
SATURDAY, JUNE 28: Saturday’s lineup features some fresh faces to Celebrate Freedom as well as some veterans. Five-time Grammy Award Winner Kirk Franklin, Hawk Nelson, Lincoln Brewster, Fee and Addison Road will take the Celebrate Freedom® stage for the first time in 2008. Also making their inaugural appearances are American Idol favorites Mandisa and Chris Sligh. Seasoned Celebrate Freedom® performers include Skillet, Salvador, Jaci Velasquez, Aaron Shust, Anthony Evans, Mark Harris, Chris Rice, Caleb Rowden and Scott Riggan. Meredith Andrews will be hosting the 94.9 KLTY/Interstate Batteries Celebrate Freedom Live Cam, and will perform during the day, as well.
The weekend will also include appearances by Luis Palau, Brigadeer General Tommy Franks (Ret), Major General Bob Dees, Jack Graham, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dr. Tony Evans, Oak Cliff Bible Church, Dallas Desperadoes Dancers, Professional Kickboxing Champion Jonathan Spinks, Comedian Nazareth, The Texas Aggie Wranglers, Harley Davidson Ride In from Riders for Christ, and Andrew Palau.
TICKETS: Tickets for the two-day event are free, though everyone must have a ticket in order to enter. Tickets will be available starting May 31 at official Celebrate Freedom retail outlets that are announced on 94.9 KTLY starting May 15, 2008. If not all the tickets have been claimed by June 22, they will be available online at www.klty.com on Monday, June 23 at 9 a.m. CT. Gates will open at 3:30 pm on June 27 and 8:30 a.m. on June 28. For more information, visit: www.klty.com/celebratefreedom/index.htm
Please check www.pizzahutpark.com for parking and stadium information.
ABOUT CELEBRATE FREEDOM
In 1991, 94.9 KLTY was the only mainstream adult contemporary station in America that played Christian music. To celebrate the country and soldiers that served in the Gulf War, the station decided to host a free concert and aptly named it Celebrate Freedom. On July 4, 1991 the first-ever Celebrate Freedom took place at Williams Square in Las Colinas, Texas, drawing over 3,000 fans. In 1996 the event was moved to Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas, to accommodate the ever-growing and enthusiastic audience.
Interstate Batteries partnered with 94.9 KLTY in 1997, and together the two have ushered Celebrate Freedom through several stages of development. Celebrate Freedom 1999 was the first time in the event's history that it did not take place on the Fourth of July. Because July 4th was on a Sunday, the station and its partners wanted to be respectful of the Lord's Day. On Saturday, July 3, 1999, Celebrate Freedom became one of the largest events in America with an estimated 114,000 people in attendance. Future events would take place on the Saturday before the Fourth of July. The event continued to grow, and Celebrate Freedom 2001 was broadcast nationwide on to 6.5 million homes – providing all of America an opportunity to experience this "relatively unknown" event - which drew a crowd of over 200,000 people that year.
www.pizzahutpark.com