Planning for Freedom Fest 2022 has begun. Photo by Ray Hennessy via unsplash.com

The Kiwanis Club of Clovis has cancelled its annual Freedom Fest Independence Day celebration over concerns about Covid-19 restrictions.

It will be the second year in a row the July 4 celebration has been called off. This year would have marked the 43rd anniversary of the event that raises money for causes including the Boy Scouts, Special Olympics and Valley Children’s Hospital, among others.

The City of Clovis estimates the economic impact of Freedom Fest to be more than $1 million.

“This is another huge hit to our local economy,” said Shawn Miller, business development manager for the City of Clovis.

It came down to a matter of timing, according to organizers.

“Due to the restrictions for large gatherings, we knew the event would not happen in the same form as it has in years past,” said Eddie DeLeon, Clovis Kiwanis Freedom Fest co-chair.

The organization continued to explore alternative ways to provide an Independence Day firework show for the community, according to a City of Clovis news release.

“The problem was time,” DeLeon added. “We simply ran out of it.”

It takes about 30 days to order fireworks, complete the permitting process, secure vendors and organize the use of Lamonica Stadium.

“Although Governor Newsom announced that the State’s colored Tier System would be eliminated on June 15, we didn’t know if there would be other restrictions that we would have to address,” said Bruce Wilson, Freedom Fest co-chair.

Greg Newman, CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, said “It’s a great tradition that will be missed. There will be a big hole in our summer.”

Planning for Freedom Fest 2022 have already begun.