The Fourth of July means a variety of family-friendly events, along with fireworks in several cities and towns. For many, Independence Day also lights the fuse on summer, and we can count on consistently warm days and hopefully mostly sunny skies.

Here’s a look at some of the festivities celebrating the holiday in southern and central Maine.

AUGUSTA

On Friday, Augusta’s annual Fourth of July parade starts at 10 a.m. from the State House parking lot and ends at Old Fort Western.

Old Fort Western’s (16 Cony St.) festivities start at 11:30 a.m. There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Mayor O’Brien, accompanied by a “feu de joie” (musket salute) by fort staff. The rest of the day includes games, a pie-eating contest, wagon rides and a Downeast Brass Band performance. Club Calamet will offer a lunch of BBQ chicken and strawberry shortcake.

Down the street at Mill Park (1 Northern Ave.), the fun continues at 1:30 p.m. with bounce houses, a story walk, games, bubbles, food trucks, live music and more.

Fireworks start at 9:05 p.m. A prime suggested viewing spot is Mill Park. Info at augustamaine.gov.

BATH

Bath Heritage Days runs Thursday through Sunday in downtown Bath, with carnival rides, live concerts and performances, a road race, Art in the Park, book sale, firemen’s muster, local food trucks, beer and wine garden and much more. On Friday, the huge Bath Heritage Days parade kicks off at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is The Spirit of Bath — Celebrate Who We Are. The parade leaves from North and Lincoln streets and heads down Center Street and then north on Front Street to just beyond the Patten Free Library.

Following a performance by Pat Colwell & The Soul Sensation, the fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Friday at Waterfront Park.

Head to visitbath.com/bathheritagedays.com for the complete schedule.

BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Fireworks on the harbor start at 9 p.m. Friday. Info at boothbayharbor.org. For a unique vantage point, book a seat on the Hardy Boat fireworks cruise along the Pemaquid Peninsula. Tickets are going fast at hardyboatcom.

BRUNSWICK

The Rotary Club of Brunswick presents a morning of fun and games for kids on the Town Mall from 10-11:30 a.m. Friday. Activities include three-legged races, sack races, fruit-on-spoon races, pie-eating contests and more, all categorized by age groups. All kids will receive a ribbon and medals will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners. Drinks, fruit and popsicles will be available.

Details at brunswickmainerotary.org.

CLINTON

The Central Maine Fourth of July celebration happens Friday at the Clinton Fairgrounds at 1450 Bangor Road.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. from Tradewinds (153 Hinckley Road) and travels to the fairgrounds.

The fairgrounds gates open at 11 a.m. Starting at noon, the midway opens for rides and there will be several food trucks and vendors on site.

The rest of the day features performances by the Dom Colizzi Band, The Shack Band, Somerset Outlaws Band and Night Train, along with a police dog demo.

Fireworks are at 9 p.m. For more information, search for the event on Facebook.

FARMINGTON

The Wall That Heals is a replica version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as well as an education center. It will be in Farmington through Sunday outside at 123 Narrow Gauge Square. For a complete schedule of events for its Maine visit, head to thewallthathealsjuly2025farmington.com/events.

Fireworks will start at 9:15 p.m. Thursday, July 3, followed by a free community concert. Rain date is Saturday.

FREEPORT

Freeport gets up early on Friday for a pancake breakfast from 7-10 a.m. at Freeport Harraseeket Grange No. 9 on 13 Elm St. $10 gets you plain or blueberry pancakes with sausages.

If you’d rather go for a run or walk, register for the L.L. Bean 10K road race or 1-mile fun run for kids.

At 10 a.m., the Fourth of July parade marches down Main Street.

Details at visitfreeport.com.

LEWISTON/AUBURN

The annual Lewiston/Auburn Liberty Festival runs from Friday through Sunday at Veterans Park in Lewiston and Great Falls Plaza in Auburn. Both sides of the river will be packed with events and activities. The July 4 schedule features performances by Country Roads, Zach Pomerleau and Elvis impersonator Robert Washington Bazinga. There’s also a dance party and karaoke with DJ Scotty Dawg, and aerial arts by Aerial Jade.

The fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Veterans Park, with a rain date of Saturday.

The festival continues at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with music from Maine’s Got Talent 2024 winner Joanna Hughes with her band The Ditch Lilies, Josh Hatfield, and a Lady Gaga tribute from Amanda Tubbs. Sunday’s events start at 11 a.m. with a salute to the American flag and retirement ceremony featuring the 195th Maine Army National Guard brass and rock bands.

Details at libertyfestival.org.

Naples

The town’s waterfront fireworks show will start at 9:15 p.m. Friday. The fireworks will be displayed from Long Lake.

Get more details at naplescauseway.com/events.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

On Thursday, catch the annual sandcastle competition from 1-4 p.m.at Randall to Ancona Avenue beaches.

All other July 4th activities are on Friday. Ocean Park festivities start at 8 a.m. with a decorated bike contest, and an art show and sale from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. with floats, a marching band, kazoo band, decorated bicycles and more. When the parade ends, a patriotic band concert starts at the Bell Tower (Temple Avenue).

A community square dance in the village square wraps up the day before the fireworks at 9:45 p.m. on the beach in front of Palace Playland.

Details at oceanpark.org and oobmaine.com.

OGUNQUIT

Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Friday on Ogunquit Beach, with a rain date of Saturday. Watch them from downtown, along Marginal Way or anywhere on Ogunquit Beach.

Info at chamber.ogunquit.org.

OXFORD

On Friday, the town of Oxford presents a free cookout at Moore Park from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. DJ Peter G will be spinning tunes while you eat.

For more information, head to the Town of Oxford’s Facebook page.

PORTLAND

Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, the Casco Bay Wind Symphony will perform a mix of patriotic music, popular tunes and symphonic selections on the Eastern Promenade. You’ll hear them all the way through the start of the fireworks, which will begin about 9:15. Rain date is Saturday.

Plenty of food trucks will be parked along the prom. If that spot is too crowded for your liking, other fireworks viewing areas include East End Beach, Fort Allen Park, Amethyst Park, Baxter Boulevard, Payson Park and Martin’s Point on Veranda Street.

Details at portlandmaine.gov.

RUMFORD

Rumford Parks Commission presents a Fourth of July celebration Friday at Hosmer Field Complex off Lincoln Avenue.

The festivities start at 4 p.m. with food, music, children’s games, a dunk tank and several vendors. There will also be a bicycle and decorated wagon/carriage parade.

Central Maine Pyrotechnics of Farmingdale will provide fireworks, which will start just after dusk.

Details at rumfordme.org.

SOUTH PORTLAND

The City of South Portland’s Fourth of July Celebration at Bug Light starts at 5 p.m. Friday and features food trucks, live music, yard games and sensational views of the fireworks.

For further details, go to the event on Facebook.

From 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, also at Bug Light Park, check out the annual Independence Day Classic Car Show presented by the South Portland Historical Society. You can bid on a number of auction items, all related to summer fun in Maine.

The Nor’Easters Kite Club will also be at the park with patriotic-themed kites. Kites and kite wands (for young kids), along with special T-shirts will be for sale.

At noon, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence from the front porch of the South Portland Historical Society (55 Bug Light Park).

For more information, go to the event on Facebook.

WINTHROP

Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Friday at Norcross Point on 101 Bowdoin St.

Details at winthropmaine.gov.

YORK

Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Friday on Short Sands Beach.

Other events in York include a morning road race and musical performance by Johnny Bubar at 6:30 p.m. at the Ellis Park Gazebo.

Details at yorkparksandrec.org.