Fall Freedom Fest Set for October 18

By Katie McFadden

Saturday, October 18, will be a beautiful day to celebrate freedom with the local community. Get ready for a day of live music, food and drink specials and good company. The 4th Annual Fall Freedom Fest is here!

On Saturday, Beach 129th and 130th will be bustling with activity as several local businesses invite everyone to enjoy their establishments with their neighbors. They include Harbor Light, Jamesons, Callie’s, Pico and Panino Rustico-Baya Bar.  Sean Heeran, co-owner of The Harbor Light, and others, started the Fall Freedom Fest in 2022, to bring out neighbors to enjoy freedom from lockdowns and restrictions after the covid pandemic. It was such a good time that they’ve kept is going since.

“The Freedom Fest is about all the local businesses just celebrating Rockaway and all the great people here,” Heeran said. “With all the craziness going on in the world, we know we live in the greatest place on Earth and it’s good to get together and celebrate that.” Now entering its fourth year, Heeran says the best aspect of the festival is the way it brings neighbors together for a good time.  “The best thing about the Freedom Fest, I think, is we get to enjoy all the local music in town and people get to get together before a long winter,” he said.

The music lineup this year is not one to miss, with several great local bands and DJs keeping the entertainment going throughout the day and night. Callie’s kicks it off with party band Wine With Sue playing from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pico picks it up with Pete Brady playing acoustic tunes. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., The Knobs take the stage in the back of the Harbor Light and DJ Poppa D will keep the party going inside starting at 9 p.m. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jamesons has the Michael Bruncat and Russell Paccione duo playing, with DJ Jamie keeping the fun going starting at 9 p.m. “The lineup of music is phenomenal,” Heeran said. “There’s not many times you get to see Wine with Sue, the Knobs and Pete Brady on the same day, and Jameson’s has a duo that I heard is pretty awesome as well.”

All establishments will have special American and German-themed food and drink specials at discounted prices, including Panino Rustico-Baya Bar. For instance, Harbor Light will have burgers, dogs and pretzels.

For those who want to join in the fun and access the music and specials, you’ll need a red Freedom Fest bracelet, which can be purchased for $20 at any of the participating establishments before or during the event. “Money from the bracelets is going to a family that is dealing with an illness to help cover medical bills and or just daily living costs,” Heeran explained. “Last year we raised about $7,500 and we gave to a local person that needed it.”

Last year was a beautiful day for the Fall Freedom Fest and this year’s forecast looks promising. “The weather is looking pretty good for Saturday,” Heeran said. “It looks like it’s sunny clouds with a high about 65, which isn’t bad.”

So, grab a light jacket and come out to celebrate with the community. “We hope people turn out because at the end of the day, 20 bucks goes a very long way with a lot of people participating and it can help this family tremendously. Even if you only come out for a couple, just please buy a bracelet to help support the cause,” Heeran said.

Again, bracelets can be purchased at any of the establishments: Callies (410A Beach 129th), Pico (419 Beach 129th Street), Harbor Light (129-18 Newport Ave.), Jameson’s (421 Beach 129th Street) or Panino Rustico-Baya Bar (431a Beach 129th Street). For more info, follow: calliesrb, picorbny, harborlightpub, jamesonspub and paninorustico_bayabar_rockaway on Instagram.