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Free State Festival

@freestatefest

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Free State Festival announces 2026 lineup featuring headliners Robyn Hitchcock and Boots Riley & a full slate of films embracing this year's theme of "The Revolution is at the Movies." From Algerian culture to William S, Burroughs, the art of soccer and the Chicano Movement, this year's program connects the America250 anniversary to change-making moments in history and trailblazing artists working in freedom of thought.HIGHLIGHTS:🔻 I LOVE BOOSTERS with filmmaker Boots Riley🔻 LPL 780 Series Conversation with Robyn Hitchcock + Full Concert🔻 NOVA '78 Burroughs Convention Documentary🔻 SEIZED film about the Marion County Record Newspaper Raid🔻 AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ🔻 NINE LITTLE INDIANS American Indian Boarding School documentary🔻 Algerian History Spotlight: THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS + CHRONICLE OF THE YEARS OF FIRE🔻 PAINT ME A ROAD OUT OF HERE about Faith Ringgold's Riker's Island mural🔻 ZIDANE: A 21ST CENTURY PORTRAIT art film on soccer star Zinédine Zidane 🔻THE RETURN OF THE SACRED RED ROCK documentary on In ́zhújé waxóbe+ More fun programming to come, like soccer viewing party collabs with @thegranada & @lawrencebusker, A LiberTEA world tea selection with work by artist Jason Wang, short film pairings, a Zoot Suit fashion show, and food/film match ups with @lawrencefarmersmarket! 🎟️ All Access Passes on Sale NOW at freestatefestival.org. Individual tickets on sale May 1.The Free State Festival is produced by the Lawrence Arts Center and made possible through support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the @cityoflawrenceks, @explorelawrence, @lawrencebizmag, and @kansaspublicradio. And community partners: the @lawrencelibrary, @kufms , @ku_afs, @hallcenterhumanities, @lovegardensounds, @eighthstreettaproom & @spencer_museum @libertyhallinc by @freestatefest

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Thank you for making our world a bit bigger this past week. Free State Fest 2026 provided seven full days of films, music, ideas, and art experiences to our shared spaces. Thanks to all who came out to journey through big stories, small moments, yummy food and standing ovations. From our backyards, to Algeria and beyond, we have taken cinematic journeys together and are ready to learn more. We are grateful for the passholders with us all week, the audience members who took a chance and tried something new, our culinary partners for nourishing us, our community collaborators for such creative programming, the brave artists for sharing their stories, our tireless staff & volunteers, and our sponsors for making it all possible. We are full of gratitude, inspiration and growth because of you & look forward to doing it all again in 2027! Our 2026 event survey is linked in our bio and we’d love to hear from you.❤️🤍💙💚❤️🤍National Endowment for the Arts@cityoflawrenceks @explorelawrence @KansasPublicRadio@lawrencelibrary @lawrencebizmag @ku_afs @kufms @hallcenterhumanities @libertyhallinc @ljworld @kujschool Mainline PrintingStonyPoint Graphics@anndeanphoto @prideofgumbo printing Tom Harper of @stephensreal @lovegardensounds @eighthstreettaproom @lawrencefarmersmarket @spencer_museum @meadowlarkwinebar @johnnystaverns @bates_co @terrebonnecafe Aladdin’s CafePickleman’s Lawrence@universitydailykansan @stacarecenter @kuamericanstudies by @freestatefest

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a month ago

Another @freestatefest is in the books!Yes, it was Lawrence GOLD. The annual Free State Festival was started in 2011 at the @lawrenceartscenter by Marlo Angell / @angelljasso - I’ve attended the festival almost every year. In recent years I always purchase a festival “pass” that enables me to attend all performances vs. picking and choosing.It’s the best value in Lawrence. Period. The pass helps me attend performances or films I might not choose to attend.The festival is an immersive experience, it’s like a “stay at home” vacation, an intensive week of film, music, food and friendly people.The Lawrence Arts Center is the primary host along with @libertyhallinc At the center of it all is a team of volunteers and staff at LAC that work diligently to provide a multi-layered experience for attendees.Marlo Angell, the festivals founder is the bright light that devotes her talent, time and energy each year to curate a week-long festival that creates a shared community experience.Something I have witnessed for years and acknowledge now is Marlo’s husband Peter Jasso. 9 times out of 10 when Marlo shining bright; preparing a space, facilitating, hosting or cleaning up Peter is there, helping. These two are a true “team.” Fortunately, we all benefit from the love they have for each other, the city of Lawrence and the Lawrence Arts Center.Marlo and Peter, thank-you so much for all you do to make the Free State Festival happen. You help make our community special. by @freestatefest

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a month ago

It's the FINAL DAY of #FreeStateFest and we're going out with a revolutionary bang celebrating artists, movements and moments that inspire change! Day 7 is all at historic public gathering hub @libertyhallinc :🎨 12pm Paint Me a Road Out of Here with intro by @spencer_museum's Susan Earle. This powerful film starts with a work of art by Faith Ringgold and ends up being about so much more. 🗞️ 2:30pm Seized - new documentary about the police raid on the Marion County Record presented in partnership with @ljworld and @kujschool. Q&A with Director Sharon Liese, Producer Paul Matyasovsky, & Marion County Record Editor Eric Meyer, former Reporter Phyllis Zorn, and Attorney Bernie Rhodes moderated by @kansaspublicradio's Kaye McIntyre. 🎶 6:30pm Nova '78 presented with support from Tom Harper of Stephen's Real Estate. This beautiful immersion of archival treasures transports you to William S. Burroughs star studded convention in 1978 (the precursor to the 1987 River City Reunion right here in Lawrence)! Q&A with filmmaker Aaron Brookner moderated by photographer Phil Heying. by @freestatefest

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a month ago

Day Six of #FreeStateFest is packed with films at Lawrence Arts Center!🎬 12:00pm We kick off with American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez with an intro by Dr. Neill Gabrielle Esquibel-Kennedy, @kuamericanstudies 🍕2:30pm Slice of Life: Short Documentaries, Q&A + Pizza provided by @johnnystaverns 🎥 5:00pm Nine Little Indians Film Screening + Q&A with Shannon Kring, Director of Photography Marc Gerke, and Pat Charbonneau moderated by Sarah Bariya of @stacarecenter Note: this film has sensitive subject matter, so Care Center staff will be in the lobby with resources & support. 🍅 8:00pm Taste of Cinema: Short Films + Culinary Pairings prepared by @meadowlarkwinebar inspired by the 50th Anniversary of the @lawrencefarmersmarket A huge thank you to our culinary providers today for keeping us nourished while we experience stories from around the globe!📌 @bobabeyondlawrence will be vending in our lobby starting at 11am📌 @johnnystavernnorth will be building community w/ our pizza party film break📌 @picklemans is kindly providing lunch for festival staff + volunteers📌 @meadowlarkwinebar has shown such creativity in preparing such an inspired menu for our short film pairings! by @freestatefest

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a month ago

Priceless festival moment… Robyn Hitchcock closed out his sold out concert by treating fans in the lobby with a spontaneous acoustic performance! by @freestatefest

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Highlights from yesterday at #FreeStateFest! ☕️ Artist Jason Wang @jason_art_wang brought the inspiration and Ling Lung Chen bright the tasty hospitality in our tea & art sampling to start us off! 🎀 We were then guided through healing and empowerment with Healing Ribbons @healing_ribbons & The Return of the Sacred Rock. ⚽️ The night capped off with soccer on screen. Experimental film fans gathered in the gallery for a rare look at Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait and sports fans took over the stage for USA v Türkiye. by @freestatefest

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a month ago

Day 5 of Free State Festival is Robyn Hitchcock Day! Enjoy Robyn in conversation as part of the @lawrencelibrary 780 Series at 6:30pm and in a full band live concert at 8:30pm thanks to support from @lovegardensounds & @eighthstreettaproom 🎟 Tickets have all been reserved for both the Conversation and the Concert but we will have waitlists forming an hour before each event (5:30pm for the Conversation) and 6:30pm for the Concert). by @freestatefest

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a month ago

LAC artists Kevin & Katie are putting final touches on the fennec fox in preparation for Box City: Algiers! Rumor has it, he may make an appearance at @freestatefest TONIGHT! by @freestatefest

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a month ago

My goodness- the @freestatefest has been fantastic! The first two evenings have been a deep dive into #algeria and last night was an immersive experience with @bootsriley & his new film, @iloveboostersmovie with a Q & A afterwards facilitated by @anatolgiselle - The movie was mind bending fun. The story was engaging, unusual & ended with an important message. I can’t get the soundtrack out of my head :) One of the simple gems Boots gave as advice to an audience member was poignant: “Be awesome.” A good reminder for all of us to strive towards. by @freestatefest

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We went to Boots Riley School last night! It was the perfect example of the magic of shared film experience: laughter, emotions, intellectual curiosity, and calls to action. Lawrence ❤️s I Love Boosters! by @freestatefest

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a month ago

Day 4 at #FreeStateFest brings art, culture, and sports to center stage on Thursday, June 25! 🍵 4:30pm Tea & Art Sampling - Join us an for afternoon tea in the LAC gallery! Experience a sneak peek of ceramic cups from Jason Wang's upcoming solo show and enjoy tea offerings and light bites thoughtfully prepared by artist Ling Lung Chen.🎬 6:00pm Skirt and ribbon fashion show by the team from Healing Red Ribbons: One Stitch at a time + a screening of The Return of the Sacred Red Rock. Thank you @spencer_museum of Art for supporting this special event!🎥 8:30pm Zidane: A 21st Century portrait screens for FREE in the Lawrence Arts Center gallery.⚽ 9:00pm USA vs. Türkiye soccer match screens FREE on the LAC Main Stage Stage🌧️ Event Update: @lawrencebusker Score Lawrence Street Party for today has been moved to indoors at @thegranada due to forecasted rain. Make it a night and explore both great community events! by @freestatefest

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