Despite fears of a wash out, thousands celebrate Independence Day in Clinton

CLINTON — Despite worries that Fourth of July festivities would be washed out this year, the rain held off on Tuesday, allowing thousands to celebrate at the Clinton Fairgrounds.

The annual three-day festival, known as “Central Maine 4th of July,” is in its 33rd year. Before the celebration found a new home in Clinton, it was held in Winslow annually for 26 years.

But festival organizers this year worried that events would be postponed or canceled due to record rainfall in the region these last few weeks.

“Everything got pretty wet and it’s slowed things down quite a bit,” said Kevin Douglass, who leads the committee organizing the annual celebration.

Douglass said that one annual event, the antique tractor pulls, was canceled last week.

The Independence Day parade rolls down Bangor Road as it enters the Clinton Fairgrounds on Tuesday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

“The track was way too wet to do any pulling out there,” he said.

Following heavy rain Sunday, which was the first day of the celebration, Douglass said a number of events, such as the petting zoo and a variety of band performances, were rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, Douglass said everything was looking good, and events were to take place as scheduled.

“People have been standoffish a little bit this morning, waiting to see what the weather would do. They’re now taking the chance and coming out,” Douglass said.

Indeed, hundreds of central Mainers lined the streets of Clinton on Tuesday morning for a 2-mile parade through town that kicked off Independence Day events.

The procession included a number of police cars and fire engines from the towns of Clinton, Winslow, Burnham, Fairfield and Benton, as well as trucks, cars and floats driven by residents and some representing local businesses and churches.

The Independence Day parade rolls down Bangor Road as it enters the Clinton Fairgrounds on Tuesday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

The parade began at the Tradewinds Market on Hinckley Road and moved down the road, past the Clinton Town Office, and then up through Main Street to the fairgrounds at 1450 Bangor Road.

People dressed in red, white and blue cheered and waved the motorcade along, while kids eagerly scooped up any candy thrown into the street from the backs of vehicles.

At the fairgrounds, 27 vendors were on site offering a variety of traditional fair fare like kettle corn, burgers, hot dogs, shaved ice and soft pretzels. Others were selling T-shirts, crafts and flags.

Eventgoers were kept entertained throughout the day by a number of carnival games, live band performances, a professional wrestling match and, for the first time, a barrel racing event put on by the Sebasticook Riding Club.

Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which horses and riders compete to see who can race in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels the fastest.

“The barrel racing was phenomenal, it was great,” Douglass said. “It actually drew more people than we thought.”

A man dressed as Captain Spider-Man waves to children lined up along Hinckley Road in Clinton on Tuesday morning during the parade that kicked off the final day of the Central Maine 4th of July Celebration. Scott Monroe/Morning Sentinel-Kennebec Journal

The day’s main event was, of course, the annual fireworks display, which Douglass expected would pack the fairgrounds with around 10,000 people.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Douglass said there was a forecasted 30% chance of showers in the area for 9 p.m., when the fireworks show was scheduled. If the show is washed out, the rain date is Wednesday night, he said.

But Douglass is optimistic that the event will go ahead as planned, and said the annual festivities means a lot to the community.

“We do this to thank the men and women who have given us the right to call ourselves American,” Douglass said. “And we do it for our community, so the community has a place to come out and celebrate.”