Alcoa will accept vendor applications to join its annual Independence Day celebration, FreedomFest, until March 31. City staff said vendors will know whether they have been accepted by April 2.
The event, scheduled for June 27, promises visitors music, entertainment and a professional fireworks show. Emily Assenmacher, public information officer and event coordinator for Alcoa, said a core group of vendors returns every year.
“From what I understand, most people sell out by the end of the evening,” she said, although she noted that the city does not track vendor sales data.
Alcoa requires separate applications for food and craft vendors. For craft vendors, the fee to operate a single 12-foot-by-12-foot booth is $100. A double booth is $175.
Pricing for food vendors varies based on location. Spots on Springbrook Road, which come with electricity, are $450. Marconi Boulevard slots are $300 and require a generator.
Food vendors can also purchase an additional cart or walking option with their stationary location for $225.
Attendance at the annual celebration has varied through the years, but Assenmacher said on-site estimates usually range from 5,000 to 8,000 people. Total attendance, including off-site viewing areas, reaches as high as 20,000.
Vendor count increases by three or four each year. In 2025, the festival accepted 29 food vendors, although only 26 opened. It also included 15 craft vendors. Assenmacher said application volume this year is trending higher than in previous years, with 15 applications already submitted and a month remaining.
She said Alcoa may limit duplicate offerings after seeing multiple vendors selling the same items last year.
