2025
Button Design Contest

Inspire the look of the 2025 Freedom Festival!

The tradition of the Freedom Festival Button Design Contest is back for 2025!

Local artists are invited to participate in the 2025 Button Design Contest to decide the look and feel of the 2025 Freedom Festival. Community members may submit their designs for consideration to be featured on the official Freedom Festival attendee button in 2025 as well as the overall festival artwork.

NEW this year! The public gets to pick the theme, so bring your designs to life based on what the Freedom Festival means to you! Think nostalgia, community spirit, and everything that makes this Festival special.

Those wishing to submit for consideration should read the submission requirements below and then send their designs via email to Info@freedomfestival.com prior to the deadline on January 10th.

The winning design will be announced mid January, with the winning designer receiving artwork recognition, VIP access at select events, honored as a Grand Marshall in the 2025 Parade, and a Festival prize pack of buttons and t-shirts.

The dates for the festival are June 26th through July 4th, 2025. All entries become property of the Freedom Festival and artwork may be manipulated for printing.

Take a look at
last year’s winner:

2024 Button Design

2024 Button Design

Design by: Dan Schuster

Submission Requirements

If submitting from Illustrator or other vector-based program: Please submit full project file (.ai or .eps) as well as 2000 x 2000 PNG with transparent background

​If submitting from Photoshop or similar program: Please submit full project file (,psd) as well as 2000 x 2000 PNG with transparent background

​For both: Please outline any text, provide the name of all fonts (if commonly available), expand all strokes, and don’t merge layers​. 300 dpi or ppi preferred for printing.

​If submitting from Canva or similar program: Please submit SVG file and 2000 x 2000 PNG with transparent background

​If submitting using a traditional medium (drawing, painting, etc.): Please submit a high-quality scan so it can be accurately digitally traced/recreated.

IMPORTANT: All designs must include

  • “Presented by HY-VEE”

  • “June 26th - July 4th 2025”

  • “Freedom Festival”

Artists should take into consideration that only three colors will be used for t-shirt printing and selected artwork may be modified for printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The deadline to submit your artwork for consideration is 11:59pm CST on January 10th, 2025.

  • Once you submit your artwork to the Freedom Festival for consideration, it becomes the property of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. This allows us to make changes as needed and present the artwork in perpetuity as needed.

  • The winning design will be announced mid January, with the winning designer receiving artwork recognition, VIP access at select events, honored as a Grand Marshall in the 2025 Parade, and a Festival prize pack of buttons and t-shirts.

  • Read the submission requirements on this webpage and then email your artwork to Info@FreedomFestival.com.

  • Absolutely! Whether you’re a professional graphic designer, painter, doodler, or you’re great with Canva, you’re invited to submit your creation for consideration! Just follow the submission requirements on this webpage and submit your artwork to Info@FreedomFestival.com.

QUESTIONS? Email us at Info@freedomfestival.com.