Congratulations, you’re in Maine for the Fourth of July. Independence Day, beyond the celebration of our nation’s birthday, means in all likelihood you’ve been set free from work and are ready for some serious outdoor summer fun.
Officials at the National Weather Service are forecasting plenty of sunshine for the Fourth of July in the Pine Tree State with highs in the 70s and 80s.
On the off chance you haven’t made plans beyond soaking up some scenery and the predicted sunny weather, here’s a list of activities sure to keep you snapping selfies and photos that’ll make you the envy of your friends on social media:
AUGUSTA — Big bash: Parade, 4 p.m., departing from Maine State House; fireworks, 9:15 p.m., riverfront Augusta Mill Park. 626-2350 or KVCC, 623-4559.
BANGOR — Independence Day celebration: Pancake breakfast, 6-10 a.m., Brewer Auditorium; parade from Brewer to Bangor, 11 a.m.; festivities including free concert and fireworks over the Penobscot, 2-9:30 p.m., Bangor Waterfront.
BAR HARBOR — Blueberry pancake breakfast, 6-10 a.m., MDI Rotary Club, Bar Harbor Athletic Field, Park Street; Island Arts Association craft fair-marketplace, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., YMCA, 21 Park St.; Independence Day Parade, 10 a.m., from Main Street to Cottage Street to Eden Street to Mount Desert Street to Ledgelawn Avenue; Seafood Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., MDI Rotary Club, Bar Harbor Athletic Field; free concert series, 3:30-9 p.m., Agamont Park; free Bar Harbor Town Band concert, 7:3-8:30 p.m.; fireworks over Frenchman Bay, 9:15 p.m.
BLUE HILL — Flash in the Pans street dance, 7:30-9 p.m., Blue Hill Town Park. Benefits Blue Hill Historical Society and Peace Ridge Sanctuary. Flashinthepans.org.
BROOKS — Fireworks as part of Brooks Bicentennial Celebration, 9 p.m., Community Park. Rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
BRUNSWICK — Fourth of July games on the Town Mall, 10-11:30 a.m. Free to children of all ages. Water, popsicles, oranges and juice provided. Relay games, three-legged races, pie-eating contest, wheelbarrow races, sack races, watermelon-eating contest, ribbon awards. Peggy Siegle, Brunswick Rotary, 729-1348.
CAMDEN — Independence Day celebration, 2-9 p.m., Harbor Park and Amphitheatre. Music by the Sea concert with Mes Amis acoustic, gypsy jazz, 2 p.m.; Casco Bay Wind Symphony, 3:30 p.m.; Roosevelt Dime, rhythm and blues, 5 p.m.; David Dodson and The Lowdown featuring Jon and Rachel Nicolas, folk, rock, blues and country, 7:45 p.m. Fireworks over the harbor, 9 p.m. Camden Rotary, 236-3440 or Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, 236-4404.
DEER ISLE-STONINGTON — Independence Day celebration activities: parade, community band, color guard, Stonington Six road races, fish pier events, live entertainment, fireworks at dusk. Deer Isle-Stonington Chamber of Commerce, 348-6124.
DEXTER — Fireworks, dusk Sunday, July 3, Dexter High School football field, rain date, Tuesday, July 5; parade, 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 4; boat parade, 11 a.m. Monday, July 4.
EASTPORT — Fourth of July celebration Sunday and Monday, including Grand Independence Parade, concerts at Overlook Park, greasy pole and water sports, antique car show, contests and games for all ages with prizes, fireworks over the bay. Fireworks rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
FREEPORT — Parade on Main Street and free David Mallett and Mallett Brothers Band concert, Discovery Park; fireworks, 9 p.m., 6 Snow Road by Freeport snow dump site. Fireworks rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
GREENVILLE — Independence Day games, crafts, food vendors and parade, East Cove of Moosewood Lake; fireworks, 9 p.m. Sunday, July 3, midway between DIF&W Building and Forestry Building. Rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
HOULTON — Music, craft fair in Monument Park, family activities, fireworks display, Monday, July 4.
JACKMAN — Fireworks, 9 p.m., field behind town office, 369 Main St.
LEWISTON-AUBURN — Liberty Festival, with bands, entertainment and food vendors, Great Falls Plaza in Auburn and Veteran’s Park in Lewiston. Fireworks finale, West Pitch Park, Auburn. info@libertyfestival.org.
LIMESTONE — Fireworks, 9 p.m., Cavendish Farms potato field, Pond View Street. Rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
MILLINOCKET — Fourth of July Celebration, Veteran’s Park: Disc jockey Frank Manzo spinning tunes, beginning at 10 a.m; parade starting at Northern Shopping Plaza, 11 a.m.; pie and cookie sale sponsored by Friends of Millinocket Library; free watermelon; food vendors; dancing at the bandstand, 6 p.m.; fireworks, 9 p.m., Stearns High School. Rain date for fireworks, Tuesday, July 5. Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, 723-4443.
OAKLAND — Fireworks, 9 p.m., from float in Camp Manitou cove. Rain date, Tuesday, July 5.
PORTLAND — Stars and Stripes Spectacular. Festival at 2 p.m. in area of Eastern Promenade, free concert by Portland Symphony at 7:40 p.m., fireworks at 9:20. Maine Historical Society Fourth of July activities: public reading of Declaration of Independence by former state Rep. Herb Adams, noon, in front of Wadsworth-Longfellow House; free lemonade, cookies and souvenir flags available. Walking tours of route of Great Portland Fire of 1866, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours of Wadsworth-Longfellow House, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tours, $15, $12 seniors and students, $3 age 6 to 17; free to age 5 and under. Register with Visitor Services Manager John Babin, 774-1822, ext. 212.
RANGELEY — Independence Day celebration, Sunday, July 3, Rangeley Lakeside Park: children’s parade, 10 a.m.; duck race on Haley Pond, 10:30 a.m.; parade, 11 a.m.; fireworks at dusk. Music, food, live entertainment, games, activities for children, demonstrations. Also, Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce silent auction, chamber office.
SEARSPORT — Parade, 11 a.m.; rowboat races, Hamilton Wharf; fireworks, 9 p.m., Mosman Park. Harriet, town office, 548-6372; fireworks, Dick Desmarais, 548-2868. Annual auction, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, July 4, Searsport United Methodist Church. Knitted and crocheted items, other handcrafts and homemade foods. Hamburgers and hot dogs.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR — Fireworks launched from Acadia Fuel Barge, Monday, July 4. Rain date, Saturday, July 9. 244-9264.
THOMASTON — “The Music Man” by Watts Hall Community Players, 7 p.m. Sunday, July 3; Friday and Saturday, July 8 and 9, Watts Hall. Tickets available at the door, 6-7 p.m., no reserved seating, ticket reservations, 354-0615. Schedule for July 4: pancake breakfast, 7 a.m., Masonic Temple, Main Street; Kids One Mile Fun Race, 8 a.m.; 5K Firecracker Race, 8:30 a.m., signup, 7-8 a.m., Beechwood Street in front of old Water Dog-Billy’s Tavern, or runinarace.com/Firecracker/indes.html; parade staging, 8:30 a.m., Dwight Street near town cemetery; “Hometown Proud-Hometown Talent” parade, 11 a.m., starting from cemetery on Main Street and disbanding on Booker Street; craft tent, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., behind Masonic Temple building; pet show, 9:15 a.m., behind Thomaston Business Block in front of Lura Libby School; noon, Fourth of July opening ceremony with introductions of dignitaries and announcement of parade prize winners; food, face painting, souvenirs, drinks, bounce houses, giant bubbles, noon until fireworks; chicken barbecue, noon, behind business block; hot-dog eating contest, 1 p.m.; Cod Adams Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, Lura Libby School field, 1 p.m.; The Scolded Dogs band, 12:30-4 p.m.; Animal House band, 5-9 p.m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m.; purchases of glow jewelry and participation in some of booth activities benefit next year’s event.
WINSLOW — The Fourth of July Celebration, Saturday through Monday, July 2-4. Fireworks display over Fort Halifax Park, 9 p.m. Monday.
WINTHROP — July Fourth celebration at Norcross Point. Fireworks at dusk. 377-8020.