The America the Beautiful Festival—The Sound of Liberty (America TheBeautifulFestival.com) presented by The Epoch Times and local event space New Century in Deerpark, New York, was kicked off on July 1 to celebrate Independence Day.
Festivities included historical reenactments, BBQ and food vendors, educational presentations on the U.S. Constitution and the history of the country and Deerpark, a classic car show, and live performances. The two-day music lineup includes artists like Billboard Top Ten Recording Artist Danny Griego, Zach Myers of Shinedown, and Platinum Country Singer Julie Roberts. The event runs through July 2, ending with a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
“God placed me here tonight for a reason,” said Julie Roberts. “He put the dream in my heart a long time ago, well, before I was even born, when Mama was driving around South Carolina, listen[ing] to this country music that I talked about on stage tonight. I knew then that’s what I wanted to do.”
Roberts said she was grateful and proud to be a part of the festival, which is honoring veterans for their service, as her late father had also served in the armed forces and she felt he was watching her tonight.
“I know that he would be proud that I was here, playing here and just celebrating the United States and our Independence Day.”
Roberts said her family came from nothing, but with hard work and faith, she was living her dream tonight, and that’s what America is all about.
“The American Dream is being able to figure out how to live your dreams ... that’s the beautiful thing about the United States, you can chase your dreams,” she said. “I’m proud of this country, I’m proud to be here.”
“Everyone here was amazing. I love them. And I just feel like I have a connection with them.”
“It means a lot,” said Craig Dodge, member of the music duo Liquid Paperboys that performed on July 1. “The freedoms that we enjoy here in America, like the right to free speech, I can write whatever song I want to about any topic I want to.”
“The freedoms that our Founders intended are very special to me,” he said. “It’s personal liberty, freedom, with still a conscience for the community as a whole, that’s what our Founders intended, personal liberty but also a commitment to our communities as well.”
Al Beers, a small business owner based in Orange County, New York, attended the festival with his wife and two children. “It’s great,” he said. “There’s all kinds of very interesting food, the music is good, a very nice, relaxed atmosphere.”
Schedule
Gates open at noon all weekend.July 1 kicked off with a ceremony by the color guard at 1 p.m., followed by “The Star Spangled Banner” performed by vocalist Mika Hale.
The Any Night Ramblers played at 1:35 p.m., Liquid Paperboys at 3:15 p.m., Julie Roberts Trio at 5:45 p.m., and Keith Anderson at 7:30 p.m.
On July 2, the Liquid Paperboys return to open at 1 p.m., Cold Weather takes the stage at 3:15 p.m., Danny Greigo at 6 p.m., and Myers & Moore at 7:45 p.m.
Sunday closes out with a 20-minute fireworks display at 9 p.m.
