Statewide July 4th festivities

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Bangor

A parade, music shows, a road race and fireworks again will anchor Bangor’s Independence Day celebration.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday the annual parade will wind its way from Acme Road in Brewer to downtown Bangor. The Kiwanis Club will launch its fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. from the west bank of the Penobscot River.

Early risers can begin their Fourth of July with a 6 a.m. pancake breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis Club at the Brewer Auditorium.

There will be a craft fair in Pickering Square from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Those looking to stretch their legs during the holiday should gather at Acme Road in Brewer for a 3-kilometer road race, beginning at 10:45 a.m. Contact Dave Torrey, at 581-3372, for information.

Music enthusiasts can enjoy free concerts. At 1:30 p.m., the Memphis Belles will perform in Pickering Square, and the Bangor Band will stir the patriotic spirit with a 7 p.m. concert in Paul Bunyan Park.

The St. John’s Organ Society summer concert series starts at 7 p.m. with an Independence Day program and Old Fashioned Sing-Along at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St.

The Maine Discovery Museum will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Families are invited to explore subjects from literature to anatomy in the museum’s seven permanent exhibits. The Coast Guard also endeavors to educate families with its waterfront tours that depart throughout the holiday from the harbor master’s office.

Events July 4 unless otherwise indicated.

Bar Harbor

On July 3, 1 p.m., Budweiser Clydesdale parade on Main, Cottage, and West streets; 6 p.m., Army Band concert at the Village Green. On July 4, 6-9:30 a.m., blueberry pancake breakfast sponsored by the MDI Rotary Club at the town athletic field on lower Main Street; 10 a.m., parade, route includes Mount Desert, Eden, Cottage and Main streets, sponsored by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., antique show and sale at the MDI YMCA parking lot on Park Street adjacent to the athletic field on Main Street, sponsored by the Bar Harbor Masonic Lodge. Rain or shine. $3.50 admission, early birds allowed in at 9 a.m. for $10;

11 a.m.-1:15 p.m., children’s fair and auctions to benefit Special Children’s Friends at the town athletic field; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Seafood Festival featuring lobsters, mussels, corn on the cob, beverages and more, at the town athletic field, sponsored by the MDI Rotary Club. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Mighty Mark’s Music machine concert at the town athletic field; 2 p.m., Strange Fruit concert at the Village Green; 7 p.m., town band concert at the Village Green; 7:30-9 p.m., Fair Winds Trio concert at the town pier.

9:15 p.m., fireworks over Frenchman’s Bay. View from areas adjacent to the town pier. Sponsored by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Blue Hill

On July 3, 7 p.m., Blue Hill Pops to perform at George Stevens Academy, followed by the New Flash Trio, Flash in the Pan Steel Drum Band, The Bagaduce Pops Singers, Blue Hill Brass, Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and Paul Sullivan’s River Music Orchestra.

Brewer

Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council alcohol-free celebration: 6 p.m., baked bean supper at Union Hall, 20 Ayer St., tickets $6 adult, $3 child, $15 family; 7-9:30 p.m., Late Money Band concert on patio at Union Hall; 9:30 p.m., fireworks viewing from Union Hall or Eastern Park.

Brooklin

The 10 a.m. parade begins at Center Harbor and travels to the town green, where the celebration continues with the parade prize awards, games, craft sales and a chicken barbecue. At 10 a.m., coffee and home-cooked food will be on sale outside Friend Memorial Library before and during the parade. From 2 to 5 p.m., the Marine Environmental Research Institute will sponsor a family eco-cruise departing from Flye Point. Call 374-2135 to register.

Brooks

The annual Brooks Booster Club Field Days will be held July 3 and 4 at the Brooks Community Park. Gates open at 10 a.m. July 3 for Children’s Day, with a hunting dog demonstration, tractor pulls, demolition derby, Norm and the Storm, and games and concessions.

Fourth of July events start at 8 a.m. with a 5-mile road race, parade, horse pulls, horse game show, horseshoe contest, canoe races, weightlifting and arm wrestling, a chicken barbecue, beano, the Marsh River Theatre, Battle of the Bands and fireworks. Admission is $5 for persons 12 and older. Call 722-4000 or 722-4253 for information.

Castine

At 10 a.m., a children’s costume parade begins, followed by food and games on the commons; 6 p.m., music by The High Road on the Commons; 8:30 p.m., music by Mike and Susie Fay on the waterfront; fireworks on the waterfront at dusk.

Cherryfield

On June 30, from 6 to 9 a.m., the First Congregational Church will serve a Fourth of July breakfast at Fellowship Hall. A craft fair will follow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Deer Isle

From 9a.m. to noon, refreshments at “The Oasis Cafe” at the Deer Isle Congregational Church Fellowship Hall. Proceeds will benefit the Island Coalition Against Domestic Abuse; 9:45 a.m., a Community Band performance and vendors selling a variety of food and goods; 10 a.m., Wings, Wheels and Keels Parade, with awards ranging from “most patriotic” to “most foolish”; 11 a.m., games for kids at the elementary school; noon to 2:30 p.m., Masonic dinner.

Eastport

The city combines its Old Home Week with Fourth of July celebrations. Events are planned in Eastport as well as Deer Island, New Brunswick, starting Sunday, July 1. Tuesday, July 3, is Welcome Day in Eastport, with a day of events ending with a torchlight parade at dusk. July 4 begins with the 41st annual flag-raising at sunrise and includes the Grand Independence Day Parade at 2 p.m. Fireworks are planned at dusk.

Greenville

There will be crawling babies, rotten, smelly sneakers, and airborne skillets and watermelon seeds at the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce July 4th celebration. A full day of activities begins at 9 a.m. with a craft fair and ends at dusk with fireworks. A baby-crawling contest starts at 10:30 a.m., a rotten sneaker contest at 11:30 a.m., a skillet-throwing contest at 2:30 p.m. and a watermelon seed-spitting contest at 3:30 p.m., all at the Greenville Junction Wharf.

The town has allotted $4,000 for fireworks. The chamber will conduct a voluntary roadblock July 4 on Indian Hill with half the proceeds going to the town and the rest to defray the Chamber’s cost for other Independence Day events.

The parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Indian Hill and end at the junction wharf. About 20 floats are expected to be entered and about $400 in trophies and ribbons will be awarded for the best floats. The parade will be held on July 4 rain or shine.

The chamber also has organized games and activities for children starting at 10 a.m. at the junction wharf. Refreshments will be available at the wharf starting at 11 a.m. and a performance by the “Chair Back Gap,” a blues and jazz band, will be held at 3:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. “RiverTown,” a classic rock and country music band, will perform in concert followed by fireworks. In case of rain, the fireworks will be held July 7. For information, call 695-2702 or visit the Web at www.mooseheadlake.org.

Houlton

At 10 a.m. the parade begins. McGill’s Community Band will perform at the World War II monument dedication at 2:30 p.m. in Monument Park and at 7:30 p.m. in Community Park prior to the fireworks.

Lubec

A Canada Day Celebration is planed Sunday, July 1, on Campobello Island.

Activities on July 4 will begin at 7 a.m. with a public breakfast at the Lubec School cafetorium. At 9 a.m., a doll-carriage parade will be held on the Lubec School grounds. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. a book sale and open house will be held at the new Lubec Memorial Library. The grand parade will begin at 1 p.m., followed at 2:15 p.m. by games at the boat ramp. The games will include watermelon- and pie-eating contests, a frog-jumping contest and arm wrestling. A picnic basket auction will be held immediately after the games. The Calathumpian/Shirttail parade will be held at 6 p.m., and at 9 p.m. celebrants will gather at the town pier and marina to watch the grand fireworks display on Dudley Island.

Millinocket

Coffee and doughnuts all day at American Legion Hall; 9 a.m., bake and book sale at the library and craft and arts fair at the park; 12:30 p.m., barbecue at the park; 1:30 p.m., stilt-walking performance at the park; 2 p.m., Mark Miller Band concert at the park; 7 p.m., dance at the recreation complex; 9:45 p.m., fireworks.

Pembroke

Yankee Peddler Day and the Fourth of July will be held from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning with a pancake breakfast at 6 a.m. at the Masonic Hall, Old County Road; 8 a.m., coffee and doughnuts will be sold at the historical society. At 9 a.m., the parade starts at Antone’s Triangle Store. The parade will march down Old County Road to the American Legion Hall where prizes will be given to participants. Children’s games at the park on Front Street follow the parade and Legionnaires will serve hot dogs, Italian sausage, french fries and drinks during the morning.

The Pembroke Historical Society will hold a yard sale at the old fire hall and in its newly renovated home at the former Johnson’s Annex. Society members will hold a pie and ice cream social and bake sale. A quilt block contest will be offered based on the theme “Stars Galore.” Gospel music, yard sales, raffles and craft sales will be offered along the street and other organizations such as St. Anne’s Episcopal Church of Calais, St. John’s Catholic Church of Pembroke, Boy Scout Troop 136, and Down East Hospice will join in the effort.

Searsport

A giant auction will be held at 9 a.m. at the Methodist Church. Sign-up for rowboat races will be at 9 a.m. at the town dock, followed immediately by the races; the Fire Department dunk tank will be featured from 9 a.m. to noon; and a bike-decorating contest and “Summer in Maine” costume contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the public safety building. The parade is at 1 p.m.

A children’s muster will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mosman Park. Also at the park will be a talent review at 7 p.m., a patriotic concert with The Generation Gap with Dana Ross at 8 p.m., and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Somesville

The annual fireworks display over Somes Sound will be held at dusk. The display can be viewed from all along the sound and from the water. Boaters viewing the display are required to remain 500 yards from the Stewart dock where the fireworks are being launched.

Stonington

The annual 6-kilometer road race and fun run walking race begins at 7:30 a.m.; 4 p.m., fish and fritters, food and other vendors at Stonington pier; 5 to 7 p.m., music and bands with Frank Gotsalls at the Stonington Pier; 9 p.m., fireworks at the Stonington Pier. Rain date is July 5.

Surry

The town’s first Fourth of July Regatta, hosted by the Surry Boat Club, will begin at 9 a.m. Boats of all types will assemble at Carrying Place Beach in Surry for a cruise up the Union River to Ellsworth and back. A community picnic will be held when the boaters return. Families and nonboaters are encouraged to attend the barbecue, which will feature lobsters and clams. Call 667-6699 for more information.