The grassy lawn outside UMass Dartmouth’s athletic center was alive with singing and dancing  — and that was all before fireworks lit up the night sky.

The Freedom Festival, now in its 20th year, drew a crowd into the thousands on Friday evening to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend. The event, which is normally held near the center of campus, was moved this year to accommodate for ongoing construction.

John Hoey, UMass Dartmouth’s assistant chancellor for public affairs, said the festival has been a huge hit in the past.

“We’ve had as many as 20,000 people here,” said Hoey. “It always depends on the weather and people’s schedules, but we’ll have a large crowd here, and we’re ready for it.”

There was hardly a cloud in the sky by the time people started showing up at 3 p.m. Early arrivers set up lawn chairs and blankets and hit the concession stands. When the festivities officially started at 5:30, the crowd began to fill the space and the evening’s musical lineup kicked off.

Chancellor Divina Grossman was also there to speak to the crowd about the Fourth of July celebration.

“Tonight is about freedom and community. It is about the common bond that unites us as a nation,” said Grossman. “As we celebrate the spirit of America, let us remember those from our cities and towns who have stepped forward to preserve the highest ideals of our nation.”

The night included performances by Santa Mamba, El Caribe, Entrain and the Dartmouth Community Band.

It all began with 2014 Miss New Bedford Jillian Zucco, who is also a nursing student at UMass Dartmouth, performing The National Anthem. She was met with cheers from the crowd and was able to hit high notes despite recovering from an illness.

“I have strep throat right now,” said Zucco. “I was diagnosed yesterday, which is when I started antibiotics. I’m on the mend.”

She said that she was happy with her performance overall and returned later in the evening to sing patriotic songs with the Dartmouth Community Band.

“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember and have been trained in various genres of music. My experience singing and the different techniques that I have learned over the years helped me prepare for when I sing The National Anthem,” said Zucco.

Jamie Eckert, founder of the band El Caribe and a percussion specialist on campus, said his band has been together for about 10 years. He said the group played at the Freedom Festival once before, and for many of the band members, it was the biggest crowd they had performed in front of.

“We didn’t know what to expect, and at the end of the night the campus was mobbed. We had thousands and thousands of people, and it was a really good experience for me and my students at the time,” said Eckert.

Maxwell Kane of Taunton played percussion for the Dartmouth Community Band, the act that led into the fireworks display at 9:15 p.m. He said the band draws musicians from around the region and the age of performers ranges from 10 to 81.

“At 6:30 every Tuesday in Apponagansett, we play at the half shell over there,” said Kane. “We play all sorts of music — jazz, march, concert. It’s all volunteer, we do it out of the love of music and the love of the arts.”

Meredith Vandal, who was in attendance in the crowd, said she was at the Freedom Festival to see the Dartmouth Community Band.

“We have a lot of friends who are playing in it, so we’re really excited to see them again,” said Vandal. “They’re really good.”

Her friend, Cara Ciminello, said she was excited for the fireworks.

“I love coming here. Last year wasn’t so good because of the clouds. But this year will be better,” said Ciminello.