My family and I love going to the 4th of July festival in New Albany every year, and it was sad to discover that there would be no festival for us to hang out with our friends and have a good time. This festival is not just a celebration of our nation’s independence but also a beloved tradition and a gathering of community spirit that we look forward to annually.

The festival has been a beautiful space where families and friends could come together and enjoy fireworks, food, music, and activities. It now appears that the celebration has been replaced with detached 4th of July packages containing glow sticks, a blanket, handheld American flags, a badge and 2 water bottles. While thoughtful, these packages simply cannot replace the vibrancy and the communal joy of the traditional festival.

We propose the festival be brought back for 2026. We can explore solutions that can safely bring back the 4th of July festival with proper guidelines in place. As well as innovative ideas to make this festival more cost efficient. 

The spirit of the 4th of July is rooted in giving people hope and joy in celebrating our country’s values and history. Let’s restore the heart of New Albany's celebrations by bringing back our cherished 4th of July festival. Please sign this petition to convince the local authorities to reinstate our beloved festival.