Despite rainy forecast, Fourth of July celebrations expected to carry on in central Maine

With the Fourth of July usually calling for cookouts and fireworks, people in central Maine might have to swap their hamburgers and lawn games for umbrellas and rain jackets Tuesday if they plan to attend any of the events planned for across the region.

Officials in charge of events in Augusta, Whitefield and Winthrop said parades will go on as scheduled, rain or shine, if the rain is not heavy. People were advised to check with local officials Tuesday to confirm.

Meanwhile, a fireworks display planned for Monday night in Belgrade is still scheduled to happen, organizers with the Belgrade Boat Shop said Monday morning. The display over Long Pond is expected to begin at 9 p.m. behind Day’s Store at 182 Main St. The National Weather Service is forecasting a slight chance of showers and possibly thunderstorms at about 10 p.m.

Some officials said they will decide Tuesday afternoon whether to proceed with fireworks in municipalities that have displays planned for that night.

Meteorologist John Cannon with the National Weather Service in Gray said the weather should be fine for Tuesday morning parades, but later in the afternoon and night, when fireworks and other activities are planned, central Maine could see heavy rain and possibly thunderstorms.

Cannon said the Augusta and Waterville areas are expected to see rain, with Augusta likely to get more than Waterville. Temperatures are expected to be close to 80 degrees in both cities.

“Unfortunately, there is a chance of showers in the morning and likely in the afternoon tomorrow,” Cannon said Monday morning. “It might be OK for the morning parades, but not leading into the afternoon activities. There is a 50% to 60% chance of rain, and a little sun that could boil up the weather and cause thunderstorms.”

The parade in Augusta is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Maine State House and end at about 11 a.m. at Old Fort Western. The city’s community services assistant, Wendy Somes, the coordinator for Augusta’s parade, said it will happen rain or shine. The status of the fireworks in Augusta is to be determined Tuesday afternoon, she said.

The Augusta Fourth of July parade moves through the downtown area in 2022. City officials say the 2023 parade is expected to happen Tuesday — rain or shine — while the fireworks display might be called off due to weather. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal file

One of the largest Independence Day events in the region — the Central Maine 4th of July Celebration — happens annually at the Clinton Fairgrounds at 1450 Bangor Road in Clinton, but organizers were not saying Monday whether any activities, such as the Tuesday night fireworks, might be postponed due to weather.

Organizers announced recently that one annual event, the Antique Tractor Pulls, would be canceled this year due to rain ruining track conditions. Following heavy rain Sunday, which was the first day of the celebration, a number of events, such as the petting zoo and a variety of band performances, were postponed Monday and Tuesday, while the Kids’ Day events were moved from Sunday to Monday.

Event organizers did not respond Monday to requests for more information, but they appeared to be making regular updates to the event’s Facebook page. In a nod to the rain-soaked field conditions, organizers posted Monday that those attending the concert later that night should bring their own lawn chairs.

In Whitefield, Jeffrey Newell, president of the Kings Mills Volunteer Fire Association, said the town’s traditional July 4 parade is planned for Tuesday — rain or shine. It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and travel down state Route 194 in Kings Mills.

Newell said if there is heavy or torrential rain Tuesday morning, the parade would likely be canceled. That decision would be made at about 8 a.m.

After the parade, the Whitefield Fire Department holds an auction at its Kings Mill Fire Station. The event includes music and food.

“Traditionally, it’s a rain-or-shine event,” Newell said, “and I will tell you, we have had the parade in the rain before. I’m guessing the parade will happen, and it’s the only day of the year we can have it.”

A full list of central Maine events for the Fourth of July can be found here.

Morning Sentinel reporter Zara Norman contributed to this report.