Freedom Festival Director Stepping Down

As shown by the crowd at last night's Balloon Glow, the Freedom Festival remains a popular two-week series of events every summer from the latter part of June to the 4th of July.

The person who has been at the head of it all for seven years says she is stepping down at the end of the current Festival. Executive Director Robyn Rieckhoff is leaving her post this summer. Carissa Johnson has been promoted to lead the Freedom Festival into the future.

Rieckhoff is leaving the position in good hands and expects Johnson to bring "new energy and excitement" to the event.

Rieckhoff moves on to Des Moines, where she will lead Variety, the children's charity, "focusing on improving the lives of underprivileged, at-risk and special needs children”.

We wish Rieckhoff the best in her new endeavor. As for Johnson, she also serves on the Metro Economic Alliance in Cedar Rapids and is moving up from her position as events and marketing director for Freedom Festival.

[Via Gazette]