CORALVILLE, IA (CBS2/FOX28)-- Reporter Mellaney Moore--Let the Independence Day celebrations continue. 4thFest in Coralville opened up food vendors Friday. Meanwhile others were hard at work setting up the stage for Friday night concerts: Sidewinders and Loverboy. Organizers say it takes a long time to put together a city-wide celebration and they're excited it's here. The 4thFest Committee works about 9 months to make it all happen, says Co-Chair Lynn Snyder. That even includes what comes up the days of the event. "I mean it always takes a lot of work. There's always an issue here, an issue there, things are always different," she says. Snyder also adds it's a lot of fun. S.T. Morrison Park has two stages, a carnival and lots of food. "Funnel cakes, foot long corn dog, brats and kraut, hot dogs, fried Twinkies..." says Americana Concessions Owner Renee Taylor. She's been bringing her stand to 4thFest for 12 years, she says. "Just a really, really nice crowd-- always," she says. Even Coralville's City Administrator Kelly Hayworth turned roadie to help out. "Loading in the band and getting everything ready for the concert," he says. Hayworth says it's all about celebrating our country's freedom and building community. "It makes Coralville a great place to live. You've got to have activities for people to do and because it's free, it's awesome," says Snyder. The celebration will continue July 4 with many events including a parade and fireworks.
