Hey Iowa: In Cedar Rapids They’re Serving Beer to Children!

Yes, you heard that right.  On June 22, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm in Cedar Rapids, they're serving beer to children.  Ok, I may have left a word out.  They're serving root beer to children and anyone else who would like to try it. Did leaving that word out make a difference?

Annually, crowds of Eastern Iowa residents and visitors unite to honor the nation's birthday at the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival.  Drawing over 400,000 attendees yearly, it's a beloved tradition in Cedar Rapids.  Make a plan to attend The Root Beer Festival, for the latest root beer concoctions

Who invented this delicious nectar?

Charles Elmer Hires, a Philadelphia-based pharmacist, is famed for inventing and successfully marketing the first commercial root beer in 1875. During his honeymoon, it's said he stumbled upon an herbal tea recipe, which sparked his creation of root beer using sassafras. He introduced his commercial version at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where he began selling his extract. Initially contemplating "Root Tea" as its name, Hires chose "Root Beer" to cater to Pennsylvania coal miners, providing them with a non-alcoholic option.

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When can you double-fist some root beers?

YOU can celebrate the 4th Annual Root Beer Festival at The History Center's lawn, an official Freedom Festival Event! Enjoy musical performances by Deep Dish Divas from 10:00 - 11:30 am, and that will be followed by the Jr. J-Hawk Poms Performance at 11:45 am, and Bryce Janey from 12:00 - 2:00 pm. The first 500 attendees will receive a free event souvenir stadium cup. Plus, each person gets one complimentary Root Beer or Root Beer Float. There will be a bounce house so the kids can have a BLAST! Root beer AND a bounce house? Yes, so you know fun will ensue.

Admission grants access to museum exhibits, priced at $5.00 per person. Don't forget, the $1.00 Freedom Festival button discount. Tickets must be purchased at the gate. Online purchases do not qualify for the discount.

Hope to see YOU there!