CLINTON — Children scooped up candy, fire trucks blared their sirens and horses decked out in red, white and blue trotted down the road.

It was the Fourth of July in Clinton, Maine.

Touted as the largest Independence Day event in the region, the Central Maine 4th of July celebration returned Wednesday and Thursday to the Kennebec County town, drawing thousands of families and revelers to many events.

“It’s about bringing the community together and supporting the men and women who have given us our freedoms, to be able to call ourselves Americans and be able to celebrate this nation’s birthday,” Kevin Douglass, chairman of the group that organizes the annual festival, said. “I’ll tell you what: The community definitely comes together here.”

The celebration, which began in 1990, was expected to draw more than 25,000 people over the two days, according to Douglass, a Fairfield resident.

Thursday morning was highlighted by a parade that organizers said featured 72 vehicles and 268 people. After the parade, Douglass said it was the biggest he had seen in recent years.

Beginning at 10 a.m. outside the Tradewinds Market Plus at 153 Hinckley Road, the route took the line of cars, trucks and floats into the center of town and onto Main Street, then to the Clinton Fairgrounds. The procession lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.

Participants included local churches, businesses and other organizations, along with police officers and elected officials. The motorcade included deafening sirens and horns from fire trucks from Clinton, Winslow, Pittsfield, Burnham, Fairfield, Benton and Albion.

Michaela Rizza, 28, of Clinton took in the parade from the corner of Main and Railroad streets, along with her 7-year-old son, Gunnar Graves, and baby, Violet Leclair.

Kristin Downer tells Sasha Gooldrup, who is atop an ambulance, where to place decorations for the Central Maine 4th of July parade in Clinton. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

“They throw a lot of candy,” Rizza, who planned to spend the rest of the day with her family, said. “That’s why we come to the parade.”

Lisa Covey of Winslow and Jeanine Deas of Waterville walked the parade route in the center of town and offered free books to children. Covey, who Deas called the “Winslow book lady,” said the two handed out about 200 books Thursday morning.

“It’s a feel-good, fun thing to do,” Deas, who is a children’s book author, said.

Maeve Brown, 4, of Winslow points to a parade float Thursday during the Central Maine 4th of July parade in Clinton. Organizers say the parade included 72 vehicles. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

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The parade wrapped up at the Clinton Fairgrounds at 1450 Bangor Road, where food vendors, carnival games and other activities were set up for the afternoon.

On Wednesday night, the fairgrounds also hosted country music singer Darryl Worley.

Worley’s tour bus had mechanical problems on the way to Clinton, which delayed his concert by about two hours, Douglass said. The show began at about 10:15 p.m.

“There was people that stuck in there,” Douglass said. “They got one heck of a show.”

A fireworks display — reportedly the largest in central Maine, based on the number of shells launched, Douglass said — was scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Thursday. As of Thursday afternoon, the weather forecast called for partly cloudy skies, with no rain expected.

Douglass, the event’s chairman, said the annual celebration is possible due to the efforts and collaboration of many people.

“The town is phenomenal; the businesses are phenomenal,” he said. “Everybody comes right together to make sure that it comes together, and it’s just amazing to see. It is all part of the Fourth to be united.”

Max, an 8-year old golden retriever, looks out from a vehicle Thursday during the Central Maine 4th of July parade in Clinton. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

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AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) – Maine’s capital city hosted its annual July 4th celebration starting with a parade through the city. Thousands of people lined the route.

Beginning at the State House, the parade made its way through the streets, ending at Old Fort Western. The parade featured superheroes, go-karts, and dance routines.

For some, the yearly celebration has been a tradition for as long as they can remember.

“I’ve been coming since, gosh, I think I was two years old with my grandparents and my nana and papa, and every year, it’s just a little more exciting, and I get to see a lot of my friends who get to participate, and it’s nice to be able to celebrate all together and be able to see them,” said paradegoer Lisa Bittus.

After crossing the Calumet Bridge, those in the parade and all of the viewers got to take in some American and Maine history before Augusta Mayor Mark O’Brien, decked out in colonial clothing, read the Declaration of Independence.

“I really enjoy just going back into history and just refreshing what the importance of Independence Day, especially in Augusta, is all about, and then a lot of the local organizations that come out to Augusta for the Mill Park events are close and near and dear to my heart,” said Bittus.

There was plenty of fun to be had for the folks in the parade as well.

Chase Rucker played in the parade band with his Grandfather Dan Cote. Rucker also volunteers at the fort, which he finds to be a special spot.

“People here are wonderful, and they always get a really good job done,” stated Rucker.

“There’s no doubt about that. We started at about eight o’clock. We were here about that time, and we just kind of hung out, waited for the ride to get to the State House, and watched everybody do their thing. It was a great time,” added Cote.

Thousands of people and dozens of organizations represented throughout the parade all came together to celebrate the 4th of July.

“The city together is a big community, and they all come together to support each other and just remember our freedom and why we’re here. Without Independence Day, we wouldn’t be standing here,” concluded Bittus.

After the parade, Mill Park in Augusta hosted food trucks, live music, and activities. A fireworks display is set for 9 this evening.

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Maine Gov. Janet Mills joined other Democratic governors in a conversation with President Joe Biden on Wednesday night as part of a White House effort to shore up support for Biden after his widely critiqued performance in the first presidential debate. 

Mills wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star that the debate was difficult to watch, but affirmed that she will continue to back Biden after the conversation, which she participated in remotely from Maine.  

“The president made clear to me and the rest of the governors that he was in it to win it and that he would be making his case to the American people – and I believe him,” Mills wrote. “Over the next several months, and especially in the coming days, I look forward to the president demonstrating to the American people the same heart, determination, and vigor that he brought to our conversation this evening – qualities that I have come to know well in my time with him over the years.”

During the debate on June 27, Mills told Maine Morning Star that democracy is at stake in the November presidential election, as well as common sense and civility in the White House, which she said she had not seen from former President Donald Trump during the debate. Rather, the governor criticized Trump for deploying what she called mudslinging, name calling and “just so many fibs.” 

Reiterating this contrast in the statement Wednesday, Mills added that Biden had a record of accomplishment for Maine people, as opposed to “the chaos and ineptitude that Donald Trump would rain down on the American people.”

Reacting to debate, Gov. Mills outlines what’s at stake for Maine in presidential election

However, Mills wrote that she told Biden the debate was difficult to watch and that some Mainers shared concerns with her about his campaign, specifically anxiety over whether he could win. Mills also conveyed to Biden “that it would be good for him to reassure the voters of Maine, just as he was reassuring us,” she wrote. 

Writing that the conversation was candid and constructive, Mills added, “I told him that I cared deeply about him, that I believe he has been an excellent leader for our country, and that I support him.”

In the week since the debate, Democrats have raised concerns about Biden’s performance. On Tuesday, Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so.

Amid speculation about Biden’s future as the Democratic nominee, the White House has said Biden is “absolutely not” stepping down.  

The Maine Democratic Party has also continued to show its support for the president. In a statement on Tuesday, the state party contrasted the candidates’ records on a range of issues.

“Unlike Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has delivered for Mainers by lowering costs for Maine families, creating more than 44,000 good paying jobs, investing $2.5 billion to strengthen our infrastructure, and expanding Mainers’ access to affordable health care,” the statement read. 

The Maine Democratic Party is also of the belief that “the only way to defeat Donald Trump and his plans to ban abortion nationwide including here in Maine, gut access to affordable health care, and destroy our democracy is to reelect Joe Biden this November.”