Riverfest and the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration are back. Here’s what you need to know.
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IDAHO FALLS — The most popular Fourth of July festival in east Idaho is back after being canceled last year due to COVID-19.
Riverbend Communications, home of Classy 97, Z103, 105.5-105.9 The Hawk, KBear 101 and Cannonball 101, is partnering with Snake River Landing for the Idaho Falls Community Hospital Riverfest celebration.
The free event will be held July 3 at Snake River Landing. The festivities get underway at noon and continue until the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration fireworks at 10 p.m.
“It’s going to be a fun day. It’s got more than it ever has before, and it’s something that all ages can have fun and enjoy,” Bill Fuerst, Riverbend Communications General Manager, says. “It’s a very inexpensive way to spend your Fourth of July, and probably the biggest day of the year here in east Idaho.”
The event will feature live music with returning acts from previous years, as well as new ones. There will be 33 different food vendors and more than 50 business exhibits total, which is more than in years past. Riverfest will have over 20 attractions for kids and helicopter rides will be offered on the East Idaho News chopper.
Plus, the off-road exhibit from Ron Sayer’s Chrysler Jeep Dodge — which has been relocated to take place in front of where the fireworks are launched — will have different Jeeps available for people to learn how to drive off-road.
The number of people who attend Riverfest grows every year, and organizers anticipate that will continue this year. Cortney Liddiard, CEO of Ball Ventures, tells EastIdahoNews.com they are pleased to have the community gather at Snake River Landing to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day.
“We’ve loved hearing from so many people for whom this event is an annual tradition who are grateful to see it return after such a challenging year,” Liddiard says. “Ball Ventures appreciates being part of the monumental return of this historic event that means so much to Idaho Falls and our region.”
Here is what you need to know if you plan on attending.
MAP OF EVENTS
PARKING AND TRAFFIC FLOW
When deciding where to park, keep the end in mind. Traffic flows from each parking area to a predetermined destination. It’s important to choose a parking lot that will exit in the direction you need to go to help save you time and make the exit from the venue easier for everyone.
NORTH, CENTRAL IDAHO FALLS, AMMON (N3, N4 or N6)
NORTH, CENTRAL AND WEST IDAHO FALLS, AMMON (N1, N2, N3, N5, or N7)
YELLOWSTONE HIGHWAY NORTH OR SOUTH, SOUTH OR EAST IDAHO FALLS, AMMON (S1)
REXBURG, I-15 NORTH OR SOUTH, WEST IDAHO FALLS (S2 or S3)
DISABLED/HANDICAPPED DESIGNATED PARKING
Click here for more parking information.
FOOD VENDORS
CAMP SITES
Snake River Landing is accepting reservations for overnight parking for people who want to stay near the site.
The fee for each reservation is $50, plus credit card processing and other fees for online transactions (estimated at an additional $4.99 per transaction); or $50 for in-person booking.
Overnight RV Parking is limited to RVs from 8 a.m. on July 2 until 12:00 p.m. on July 4. Overnight parking is ONLY available to those who have 1) reserved their space through Snake River Landing (in person or through eventbrite.com), 2) have completed and signed the appropriate paperwork, 3) agreed to abide by all rules and regulations associated with their stay, 4) have completed payment to Snake River Landing for their space.
Please arrive no earlier than 8 a.m. on July 2 to park. Parking attendants will be parking RVs on July 2 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. There will be absolutely no parking in Snake River Landing RV Parking area without an attendant present.
No RV services are provided (no power, water or sewer hook-ups available). Units must be self-contained. All items brought into the area must leave with you upon departure, including garbage. There will be porta-potties throughout Snake River Landing for the 4th of July activities. RV parking spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
To schedule your stay, click here.
KIDS ZONE ACTIVITIES AND WRISTBAND PRICES
From noon – 9 p.m., kids can play on bounce houses, ride mechanical bulls, climb a climbing wall and face off in the Nerf battle zone. Pony rides will also be available from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. All-day wristbands can be purchased in the Stones Kia Kids Zone for just $10 each. Wristbands are good for most activities.
TETON TOYOTA STAGE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
Riverfest’s Teton Toyota Stage has a full day of entertainment from 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Snake River Landing.
- 11:30 Altered Edge — Pop Punk
- 12:50 Clint King — Country
- 2:10 Brian Martin Band — Country
- 3:30 Elyjah Tribe — Reggae
- 4:50 Colter Wilson — Country
- 6:10 McMurphy Bros. & Co. — Classic Hits
- 7:45 Rail City Jazz — Jazz
HELICOPTER RIDES
Tickets can now be purchased to ride on the East Idaho News chopper presented by Teton Volkswagen for $65. Space is limited and rides are expected to book quickly.
To reserve a spot, click here.
MELALEUCA FREEDOM CELEBRATION
The 28th Annual Melaleuca Freedom Celebration is a spectacular 31-minute fireworks experience. The American Pyrotechnics Association named the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration a “must-see firework display on Independence Day.” USA Today listed it as one of the best fireworks shows in America.
Launching state-of-the-art shells, this dazzling pyrotechnic display is perfectly synchronized to inspiring music and patriotic messages broadcast live on KLCE 97.3 FM.
Click here for more information on the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration.