INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM FESTIVAL

 

Event.

The International Freedom Festival was a joint, annual, several days long celebration between Windsor and Detroit in late June that commemorated both Canada Day on July 1, and American Independence Day on July 4. The event drew up to 3.5 million people at its peak, and always culminated in a beautiful fireworks display over the Detroit River.

The event began in 1959, and for most of its existence it was sponsored by the J.L. Hudson Company. The festival consisted of various fairs, carnivals, concerts, and shows. In 2007, Windsor and Detroit decided to stop their collaboration, and the International Freedom Festival separated into two different manifestations – the Detroit Riverdays Festival, and the Windsor Summerfest.

 

Sources:

http://www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/?page_id=47761

http://www.summerfestwindsor.org/main/aboutus.html

http://www.riverdays.com/

Acharya, M. (1996, Jun 21). International border blurs for two-week freedom fest. The Windsor Star.

Craig, S. (1992, Jun 25). International freedom festival: Tuggers fall in fest border war. The Windsor Star.

Croley, R. & Lajoie, D. (1988, Jun 27). Freedom festival swings into high gear. The Windsor Star.

International freedom festival: After dark; come one, come all to the festival carnival. (1999, Jun 30). The Windsor Star.