Freedom at the Arboretum 2025

Finch Arboretum

3404 West Woodland Blvd. 
Spokane, WA 99224 

Friday - July 4th

12-1pm  Free Concert by Brad Keeler Trio! 

1pm Program begins

Democracy: We're Doing It Wrong by Mark Westbrook

Belonging & Bridging by Judge Breean Beggs

Reading of the Declaration of Independence 

Bring your own lawn chair and picnic. 

I hope you can join us as we celebrate the revolutionary ideals that inspired the foundation of our country and clearly need to be affirmed today: human equality; human rights; democracy; freedom of religion, speech, assembly; and the press.  Patriotism is a commitment to these ideals, and civic engagement on their behalf is a patriotic endeavor.  We gather every year to proclaim the Declaration of Independence and promote thoughtful citizenship and the common good.  We are non-partisan; however, we don’t shy away from challenging ideas.  We welcome members and candidates of all political parties.  This is an occasion to celebrate this country that belongs to all of us. 

For 63 years we have gathered on the 4th of July to celebrate the radical ideas that inspired the foundation of our country.  These include: human equality, human rights, democracy, rule by law; freedoms of religion, speech, assembly and the press. These ideals desperately need re-affirming today.  We believe patriotism is a commitment to these ideals; that civic engagement on their behalf is a patriotic endeavor. 

We strive to be non-partisan though it is difficult in these highly partisan times as everything seems twisted though partisan lenses.  Even democracy 

This seems particularly true with democracy.  Both sides adamantly claim to be protecting American democracy from partisan attack. So we sought to focus on the idea of democracy. What to do with a treasured tradition that seems increasingly at odds with today's hyper-partisanship. Do we really want a system that forces compromise even on things that maybe shouldn't be compromised?