Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack and Meshbesher & Spence are proud to present Freedom Fest! It includes the Officer Shawn Silvera Memorial 5K, Cruise For Heroes, and a concert to benefit the Invisible Wounds Project. This year’s headliner is country star Josh Turner, with special guests Chris Kroeze, and Erin Grand!

ALL proceeds from this event go to the Invisible Wounds Project, a MN based nonprofit that provides access to qualified therapy services and other support services to Minnesota’s military, police, fire, EMS, frontline medical staff, corrections, dispatch and their families related to mental health, PTSD, and suicide issues.

Day of Info and Timeline:

8am – Officer Shawn Silvera Memorial 5K Race registration opens

830am -1130am – Forest Lake Lions Pancake Breakfast (Free-Will Donation)

9am – Officer Shawn Silvera Memorial 5K Race begins (Register Here)

9am – Cruise For Heroes registration opens (Register Here)

9am to 4pm – Raffles, Kids Area, Touch-A-Truck, Resources/Vendors, Food Trucks

945am – Kids Daisy Dash 

10am – 5K Awards on the Main Lot Stage

11am – Opening Ceremonies for Cruise For Heroes on the Main Lot Stage

12pm – Cruise departs out of the north gate.

130pm – Cruise returns through the north gate

2pm to 5pm – Hollywood Blvd Band performs on Main Lot Stage

330pm – Raffle Closes

4pm – Closing ceremonies/awards for Cruise For Heroes, Raffle Winners Posted

6pm – Gates open for Freedom Fest Concert (Get Tickets)

  • Day of Ticket Sales (You Can Purchase Online and Avoid This Step) – Will Call – All VIP Ticket and Pit Pass Holders will go to the tent outside of the hotel to make purchases or pickup your credentials. After you receive your items, you will go through the main entry to get wrist banded for over 21, or under 21. ****KIDS 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE****

6:20pm-6:50pm – Erin Grand performs

7:05pm-8:20pm – Chris Kroeze performs 

8:30pm-9:00pm –  Raffle Drawings, Invisible Wounds Project Program

9:05pm-10:20pm – Josh Turner performs

Ticket Description:

General Admission: Seating is first come, first served. GA ticket holders can bring their own lawn chairs/blankets to be used in the grass area only.

Pit Pass: Standing room only in the “Pit Area” in front of the stage. This ticket price includes your GA.

Seated Table of (4) VIP: This includes seating for 4 people at a table on the patio overlooking the concert. Table VIP will have a dedicated server, but DOES NOT include food, beverages or alcohol. Table VIP’s may also access the Pit Area and GA areas.

Presenting Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors