HERMANN — The county seat will be abuzz with activity this weekend as Hermann celebrates Freedomfest 2024.

While most communities will be packing events into Independence Day, Hermann is opting to fill up Friday and Saturday with fireworks, concerts, kiddie activities and a 5K run to benefit the local VFW Post.

Tomorrow will not be completely devoid of activity, however. The movie “Independence Day” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Showboat Theatre on South 4th Street.

Riverfront Park will be home to many activities beginning late Friday afternoon. Food vendors will set up with items offered by the Hermann Lions Club and the Boy Scouts. At 6 p.m. organizers will conduct the annual parade with a theme of Celebrating Unity and Freedom. The parade will step off from Washington Street and work its way along 6th Street, Market, 4th Street, Schiller, 1st Street and Gutenberg.

The Hermann Municipal Band will perform a concert at the Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Visitors will return to Riverfront Park a dusk settles to enjoy an evening of fireworks.

Saturday’s activities kick off at Riverfront Park at 8 a.m. with the 5k Run for the Patriots benefiting the Hermann VFW Post. A bit later food trucks will be stationed at the Amphitheater, which will be the site for kids’ activities at 2 p.m. Those will include the Ducky Dash, a petting zoo, face-painting, chalk art and a kiddie tractor pull. The sign-up for the tractor pull begins at 3:30.

Saturday’s activities close out with a showing of the movie “Grease” at the Showboat Theatre at 5 and the Steve Leslie Band will present a free concert at 7 at the Amphitheater.

Primary sponsor of Freedomfest 2024 is the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce with co-sponsors the City of Hermann, First State Community Bank, Concert Hall & Barrel Tavern, Hermann Lumber Company, United Country Land & Lake and Peoples Savings Bank.