Events · Every July 4
Freistadt 4th of July
A patriotic church service, a small-town parade, the Alte Kameraden Band, and a full day of living history — a Freistadt tradition since 1845.
Trinity Freistadt has been celebrating the Fourth of July in various forms since 1845 — and the church band has been part of the celebration for most of those years. It is a family-friendly, old-fashioned Independence Day in the community where a group of Pomeranian families found the religious freedom they had crossed an ocean for.
How the day unfolds
The day begins with a patriotic outdoor church service at 10:00 a.m. (bring your own chairs), often preceded by a sing-along. A picnic with music and dancing follows, featuring the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band and the Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt folk dancers. The band is rooted in the “Pommern” culture that emigrated to southeastern Wisconsin, carrying on a musical heritage that is literally hundreds of years old.
The parade steps off at 1:00 p.m. — and everyone is welcome to watch or join in. Kids with decorated bikes and wagons line up in the church parking lot south of the church on Granville Road by 12:30.
From 11:00 to 4:00, the historic village is open to explore — thirteen buildings of living history, including:
- Blacksmith demonstrations at the forge
- Woodworkers, weavers, and other live historical demonstrations
- Rotating exhibits from Trinity’s vault — vintage cameras, handkerchiefs, and almost 100 years of confirmation photos have all been featured
- Children’s games and hands-on activities
- Historical book sales
The food
Fresh grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, chips, soda, and water — plus ice cream sundaes, fresh baked cookies, and homemade bread with jam.
The perennial plant sale
A Freistadt favorite: the perennial plant sale begins at 1:30 p.m., after the parade, on the historical grounds. Plants are usually $3 each, and the proceeds support the society’s work.
