If you’re tired of heavy traffic on the Fourth of July and long delays to get across the Sky Bridge in Fort Myers Beach only to find few places to park your car, Lehigh’s Freedom Rally celebration may be ideal for area families.

Beginning at noon on the Fourth of July at Veterans Park on Homestead Rd., the committee working on the Freedom Rally, headed by Fred Elliott, says the afternoon is for the entire family, something for everyone from entertainment, food, to activities for the kids, including one called Slippy Slide.

Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, laughed when she said that the Slippy Side is called exactly that and they plan to have two of them.

“It’s one way the kids can keep cool on a hot Fourth of July. And if they buy wrist bands to participate all afternoon in all the children’s activities, they will have a bargain around their wrists. You can spend $3 or get two for $5 which will allow the kids to go back over and over again on the attractions

There will be a handful of local vendors at the park so you won’t be hungry, Nicely said. One of them is New York, New York Pizza which is located next to the Publix supermarket on Homestead Rd. They plan to have other foods, too.

The celebration, the fifth annual Freedom Rally begins with a patriotic presence of the presentation of the colors and the singing of the National Anthem to celebrate the nation’s 277th birthday.

Members of the committee said they are bringing back the Snow Mountain because it was so popular last year.

“The kids who have been seen snow up north really enjoyed it. It was probably the most popular attraction we had last year,” Nicely said. The Snow Mountain isn’t cheap, costing the committee several hundred dollars from a Fort Myers Ice company that simply shaves blocks of ice and sit them on straw at the park.

Last year, there were snowball fights and a lot of kids just flopping themselves down in the snow,” Nicely laughed.

Some may want to bring their own beach chairs and blankets but bleachers will be in front of the main outside stage where there will be entertainment for the adults and the kids.

And all of this is free, Nicely said. “The committee planning it said a lot of the people may be clients of our agency which provides help to the needy and putting a price tag on the event was unthinkable. People are struggling and we just want everyone to come on out to the park on the Fourth of July and have fun.

There will be no fireworks and nobody is surprised. Nicely said the committee said money was needed more to help people in the area. And there was no mention of bringing canned food to get in. Nicely said folks who want to contribute food may bring it to her office at 9 Beth Stacey Blvd.

“This is just a day of fun for all without much expense. There will be costs for the food by the local vendors, but that is it. The parking is free and we have ample parking for those who will show up,” she said.

The Freedom Rally begins at noon and end ends at 5 p.m.

Nicely reminded families to buy wrist bands that will allow the kids to spend the day doing all the activities planned for them.

Veterans Park has a free playground for children and a free spraying mist house on the property. There is a skateboard arena and plenty of pavement for walking.

“We’re not making any money on this project,” Nicely said. “It just a gift to the community and everyone should feel welcome to come.

“Come early and stay until it’s all over,” she said. “One thing some people have asked though is, are there going to have pie eating contests and watermelon eating contests, and the answer is no,” she laughed.