City of Liberty calls for community involvement in planning for 2025 Jubilee Festival

The City of Liberty is calling on its residents to play a more active role in the beloved Jubilee Festival, set to take place next spring. At the Liberty City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 13, city leaders discussed plans to revitalize the annual event by shifting much of the coordination and management responsibilities to community volunteers, clubs and organizations.

For many years, the Jubilee Festival, a highlight of Liberty’s downtown area, has been organized and overseen by city staff. However, Mayor John Hebert Jr. envisions a return to the festival’s roots, where local residents and organizations play a more significant role in bringing the event to life.

“It’s my vision for the Jubilee to go back to what it used to be. It should not be a burden on city staff,” Mayor Hebert stated during the council meeting. His call for increased volunteer involvement aims to make the festival a more community-driven celebration.

Councilman Ross Ward echoed the mayor’s sentiments, sharing that he has already begun reaching out to local clubs and organizations to gauge their interest in taking on various responsibilities for the festival. The response, according to Ward, has been positive.

“I’ve talked with some local organizations including Lions Club, Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge, and there’s a lot of interest in terms of transitioning some of the responsibilities over to the employees to organizations,” Ward said.

One of the key traditions that both city officials and community members want to maintain is the barbecue cookoff, a staple of the Jubilee Festival. Councilman Ward emphasized the importance of keeping this event as a central attraction. Additionally, Mayor Hebert mentioned the possibility of introducing a new element to the festival—a steak-cooking contest. He has been in talks with a promoter from a professional state cooking organization, which has shown interest in participating.

As part of the ongoing discussion about the festival’s future, city leaders are also considering logistical changes. One proposal under review is the reintroduction of perimeter gates, similar to those used in past festivals. Charging a modest admission fee could help cover some of the event’s costs, but it would also require a significant number of volunteers to manage the gates throughout the two-day event.

The Council agreed that it would continue discussions about the Jubilee Festival at the September city council meeting. If you have an interest in participating in next year’s Jubilee, call Liberty City Hall at 936-336-3684.