AUGUSTA — Old Fort Western, the 1754 National Landmark fort, store and house on the Kennebec River will host July 4th at the Fort from noon to 6 p.m. The fort will be open for public tours beginning at 1 p.m. 

Augusta’s Fourth of July parade will begin at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Parking Lot and end at Old Fort Western. After the parade Augusta’s Mayor William Stokes will read the Declaration of Independence followed by the replacing of the British colors with the “new” American flag. The cannon will be fired and there will be a 13-gun salute to the original 13 colonies. This ceremony was first performed in 1776 and has been re-enacted at Fort Western for over 50 years.

Before and after the parade, children and adults can enjoy games and refreshments at the Fort.

More entertainment will be at The Maine State Housing Authority parking lot where there will be live music, hay rides, trolley rides and vendors. There will be a fireworks display at the East Side Boat Landing at 9 p.m.

Admission to the fort will be free; food and refreshments will be available for purchase.  Donations to benefit Old Fort Western’s educational programming.

For more information, visit www.oldfortwestern.org, call 626-2385 or email oldfort@oldfortwestern.org.


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