The 36th annual Stadium of Fire event blew audiences away with performances by top artists, special guests, and a breathtaking fireworks finale.
Held Saturday, July 2 at the Edwards Stadium, the show included performances from Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw, the all-girl band Aces, and Provo’s Unity Gospel Choir. The host of the event, Patti Austin, welcomed actor Montel Williams, local businesses, the Rockwell Airtime Skydiving team, three return LDS missionaries, and former marine Amir Hekmati to the show as well. Austin also introduced a new Stadium of Fire theme song which was performed by David Osmond before the iconic firework show.
To begin the night, Williams, a former host of the Stadium of Fire, and David McDougal, chairman of America’s Freedom Foundation, joined Austin on stage. McDougal and Williams reminded the audience of a pledge made at last year’s Stadium of Fire event. The pledge was to help release former U.S. Marine, Amir Hekmati, from an Iranian prison where he was being illegally held captive. On Saturday, Williams announced that Amir was released from the Iranian prison in January 2016 and invited Amir to join him and McDougal on stage.
“The first time I heard about Provo was in a prison cell. Your prayers have been heard. Thank you,” Hekmati said to the cheering and teary-eyed crowd.
Amir and his family were accompanied in their stage-side seats by the three return LDS missionaries who were injured in the March 2016 terrorist attack in Brussels– Richard Norby, Mason Wells and Joseph Dresden Empey. McDougal, Williams and Austin welcomed them as well.
After the special guests had been welcomed, the Rockwell Airtime skydiving team started the show off by jumping from a plane into the stadium while waving the American flag. Military men and women also showcased the national flag as the audience recited the pledge of allegiance.
After, local businesses, such as Rain and The Sweet Tooth Fairy, randomly chose audience members to receive special prizes and giveaways.
Before the night’s headliner Tim McGraw took the stage, Aces, a local all-girl pop-rock band, performed two songs. They were the winners of the Gigg Stadium of Fire talent competition, which gave local bands who entered the opportunity to win a chance to perform at the Stadium of Fire.
The main event of the evening was a star-stunning performance by McGraw. McGraw is a singer who has shaped the country music genre with 25 No. 1 singles, the highest grossing country tour in country music history, and many music awards. McGraw wowed the crowd by performing a mixture of old favorites and new singles like “I Like It, I Love It,” “Humble and Kind” and “Truck Yeah.” He even let the crowd take over and sing for a while during a couple of the songs. Throughout the night, McGraw brought the crowd to its feet with his star-stunning performance.
Following McGraw, an impressive firework show was accompanied by Provo’s Unity Gospel Choir, directed by Debra Bonner, and a new Stadium of Fire Intro song performed by David Osmond.
As the night came to an end, Austin said, “This is the place to celebrate America’s 240th anniversary!” The 40,000 audience members agreed by cheering, hollering and clapping. The Freedom Festival’s 36th annual Stadium of Fire event was both a success and a delight filled with fun, tears and patriotism.
