Ring in America’s 250th birthday with these 5 Midcoast events

 Front Street buzzed with visitors at the antique car show during Bath Heritage Days in 2023. (Jill Brady/Staff Photographer) It’s almost time to break out the red, white and blue, and this Independence Day will be extra special as Maine honors the nation’s 250th birthday. Here are a few Midcoast celebrations to help you get in the patriotic spirit this July 4. BATH HERITAGE DAYS **[July 2-5 with parade, firemen’s muster and fireworks on the Fourth](https://visitbath.com/bath-heritage-days)** Bath’s four-day community celebration returns for its 52nd year starting July 2. There will be live music performances, food trucks, carnival rides and games throughout the festival, plus lots of exciting activities for all ages. A parade through downtown Bath, fireworks and the famous firemen’s muster are all on deck for the Fourth. In its 177th year, the firemen’s muster brings competitors from all over New England, who frantically pump water from vintage fire engines to see which team’s burst of water will shoot the farthest. Sometimes, festivalgoers are recruited from the crowd for some extra muscle. Amanda McDaniel, director of Main Street Bath, which organizes Heritage Days, said she expects about 5,000 people to attend per day. Advertisement “This is our 250th celebration of America; it’s a huge deal to be together for this date,” she said. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/36738557_20230701_heritage.days_1.jpg) Chip Bailey, the foreman of Governor Bradstreet of North Andover, MA, yells out encouragement to the crew as they compete in the firemen’s muster at Bath Heritage Days in 2023. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2023%5C%2F07%5C%2F36738557_20230701_heritage.days_1-1688335154.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Chip%20Bailey%2C%20the%20foreman%20of%20Governor%20Bradstreet%20of%20North%20Andover%2C%20MA%2C%20yells%20out%20encouragement%20to%20the%20crew%20as%20they%20compete%20in%20the%20firemen%27s%20muster%20at%20Bath%20Heritage%20Days%20in%202023.%20%28Derek%20Davis%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) Friday, July 3, is kids’ day at Library Park, with crafts, an animal show, a historical kids’ parade and more. There are some new food trucks joining the lineup this year, McDaniel said, plus some can’t-miss musical acts, including a headlining performance from the band Skosh before the fireworks show. [](https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/06/bath-celebrates-50-years-of-heritage-days-with-annual-firemens-muster-festival/) Related [Bath celebrates 50 years of Heritage Days with annual Firemen’s Muster, festival](https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/06/bath-celebrates-50-years-of-heritage-days-with-annual-firemens-muster-festival/) The celebration is a huge undertaking for the nonprofit and the public safety staff that help make it run smoothly, McDaniel said. Main Street Bath is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. McDaniels said she hopes Heritage Days helps visitors and residents alike “reconnect to what it means to be a community.” “We pride ourselves on being able to provide free entertainment for everyone,” she said. Advertisement The full schedule of events is available at [visitbath.com.](https://visitbath.com/bath-heritage-days) PARADE, MUSIC AND MORE IN FREEPORT **[All day on July 4](https://www.visitfreeport.com/events/july-4th-in-freeport/)** The Freeport Fourth festivities kick off at 7 a.m. with a $10 pancake breakfast at the Harraseeket Grange. Also happening that morning is a 10K road race and 1-miler in support of the YMCA. The Independence Day parade along Main Street steps off at 10 a.m. In the evening, head over to the L.L.Bean campus for music from the Don Campbell Band and Country Americana. [](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/11/topsham-kids-will-turn-us-250th-celebrations-into-a-circus/) Related [Topsham kids will turn US 250th celebrations into a circus](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/11/topsham-kids-will-turn-us-250th-celebrations-into-a-circus/) BRUNSWICK TOWN MALL CELEBRATIONS [**America’s 250th Birthday on the Mall** **– June 27 from 10 a.m-1 p.m.**](https://pejepscothistorical.org/event/americas-250th-birthday-on-the-mall/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSneaVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqaWdvaXp2UEZzanNOekxBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjfN51pBNLLTEAOCuoBZudt4qVePnBwo9_vVhnDHb_4xcKGap-S-xsykIArr_aem_j7_lnNA2hypT54nYiOHuvg) Advertisement Come out to the Mall the weekend before the holiday for fun and historical activities. Expect history demonstrations, patriotic tunes from the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, a “colonial baking contest” and more. [**Games on the Mall** **– July 4 from 9 a.m-3 p.m.**](https://www.brunswickme.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=4298) The Brunswick Rotary Club is hosting games on the Mall on the Fourth including races, eating contests and a cornhole tournament. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/07/36738557_20230701_heritage.days_10.jpg) A ferris wheel rises against a partially blue sky in 2023 during Bath Heritage Days. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2023%5C%2F07%5C%2F36738557_20230701_heritage.days_10-1688335147.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22A%20ferris%20wheel%20rises%20against%20a%20partially%20blue%20sky%20in%202023%20during%20Bath%20Heritage%20Days.%20%28Derek%20Davis%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) COMING UP While not really an Independence Day event, the [Lisbon Moxie Festival](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/07/09/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-moxie-americas-oldest-soda/) is celebrating America turning 250 this year with the theme “moments in history with Moxie.” The events — including the Moxie Day Parade, a chugging contest and more — take place at Lisbon High School from July 10-12. [See the full lineup online.](https://www.moxiefestival.com/) [](https://www.bowdoin.edu/?utm_source=TimesRecord&utm_medium=SupportingSponsorship) **The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor **We believe a community must be informed to thrive. [**bowdoin.edu**](https://www.bowdoin.edu/?utm_source=TimesRecord&utm_medium=SupportingSponsorship) Copy the Story Link Tagged: [America's 250th](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/americas-250th/), [Fourth of July 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/fourth-of-july-2026/), [Times Record](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/times-record/), [Times Record News](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/times-record-news/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/katie-langley) [Katie LangleyStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/katie-langley) Katie covers Brunswick, Bath and Freeport for the Times Record. She was previously the weekend reporter at the Portland Press Herald and is originally from the Hudson Valley region of upstate New York. [More by Katie Langley](https://www.pressherald.com/author/katie-langley)