Community Events: Freedom fest, art show, live concert and musicals

 Independent Guåhan will host “Na’lå’la’ Freedom Fest” on the fourth of July, a family-friendly event featuring music, local vendors, and live art at The Lime from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Each July 4th, the island commemorates the Independence Day of the United States, despite the fact that Guam remains a non-self-governing territory or a colony.

Since 2017, Independent Guåhan has used July 4th as a time to gather and reflect on our island’ own political destiny via decolonization, through art, music and poetry under the banner of the Na’lå’la’ Concert Series.

Independent Guåhan is dedicated to educating the island community about the importance of Guåhan’s decolonization and the possibilities should it become an independent country.

The Na’lå’la’ concert series represents another strategy for educating the people of Guåhan about their political future, through the use of art, poetry and music.

This year’s event will feature performances by local bands including Inetnon Gefpå’go, Teihini Davis, Dakota Camacho, Breaking Waves Theatre Company, Ma’lak Mo’na, Mel the Angry Native and DJ Lil Meish. Local poets will also join including Eddie Akfayi, Isabella Olalia and Nichole Quintanilla. Live art creation will be shared by Kaity McManus, Gera Datuin and Sumåhi Bevacqua. In addition to the live performances, there will be informational booths and local vendors such as: Totot Island, The Guam Bus, Fanamutan, Rockin Roquin, Mahkåna Crafts, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, Island Girl Power and the Guam Commission on Decolonization.

Freedom Rocks at Navy Base

The U.S. Naval Base Guam will host the Freedom Rocks festival at Polaris Point on July 4, a free event open to the public.

The gate will be open for those with normal base access at 2 p.m. Those without base access will be welcomed at 3 p.m. A military ID or visitor pass is not required for access.

Besides foods and games, the festival will feature performances by Johnny Suite and Chante, Hawaii-based island reggae artists; Freedom Circus and local entertainment by Precious Metal band and Jimmy Dee's Chamorritas and

Matuas fire show.

The 12-minute fireworks display will be launched at 8:15 p.m. from a barge just outside the Point Club.

Polaris Point will be open until the installation reaches capacity for parking or at 8 p.m. before the start of the fireworks display. Guests who would like to view the fireworks from Polaris Point are advised to arrive before the closure. 

Prohibited items include drones, weapons, personal fireworks, backpacks, grills, glass containers, coolers, large bags, tents, recording devices (audio or video), outside alcohol, pets, rollerblades, skateboards, roller-skates, marijuana and other drugs.

The following items are allowed: small bags or purses, umbrellas, towels, strollers/wagons, and folding chairs. Security personnel will inspect all personnel, bags and hand-carried items at the entrance to the event.

The Vault

The Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities will mount an exhibit titled "Vault," featuring Guam's prominent artists Monica Baza, Victoria Sayrs and Maria Fitzpatrick.

The show will open on July 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the CAHA Gallery in Hagatna.

Disney's 'Dare to Dream' slated for July 5, 6

Dare to Dream JR. transforms a century of Disney magic into a theatrical celebration of music, creativity and the dreams.

World Theater Productions and the Guam Philharmonic Foundation will bring the magic to the stage through the breathtaking new musical revue, which will open July 5 and 6 at the beautiful Sandcastle Theater in Tumon.

Dare to Dream JR. will be performed entirely by elementary, middle and high school students.

Auditions took place between February and April, and the cast commenced rehearsals in May. Dare to Dream Jr. features classic Disney songs from Cinderella and Pinocchio to recent favorites from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Moana.

Also making its stage musical debut are fan favorites from The Princess and the Frog, Coco, Encanto, and Frozen II. For showtimes and ticket information, go to GPF’s www.guamphilharmonic.org

The Silk Experience at Micronesia Mall

The Silk Experience, a live performance featuring Guam-based Silk—an artist making waves and redefining what it means to feel music—will be held at Micronesia Mall’s center court on July 5 at 5:30 p.m.

Fresh off performance announcements, Silk is set to open for The Wailers later this month in Guam and Saipan. As a prelude to those performances, Silk will bring a soulful and cinematic performance to the Micronesia Mall, sharing original music and covers of beloved R&B, funk and classic rock hits that are sure to move, groove, and ignite the crowd.

“I’m Silk—a storyteller, a soul traveler, and a shape-shifter of sound,” the artist shares. “I create not just to entertain, but to connect—to mirror what people feel but often can’t say out loud. Whether it’s a whisper or a scream, I try to make every note mean something.”

Silk’s sound is hard to pin down—and that’s intentional. Blending elements of soul, R&B, funk, gospel, and experimental textures, each song feels like a journey through love, power, and transformation.

“My sound is genre-fluid and soul-rooted. Imagine if love made a mixtape—some songs would make you dance, some would make you cry, and some would feel like a warm hand on your chest,” Silk said.

The performance will feature a mix of original compositions and crowd-favorite covers, supported by the live band Silkworms.