Heritage Days in Bath, Maine - Your Go-To 4th of July Celebration
Note: This post was written in collaboration with Embark Maine Tours’ communications intern Isabel Strelneck.
Picture the perfect 4th of July in New England. No doubt it includes a parade, lobster rolls, scenic waterfront, and fireworks. But how about a road race, a classic car show, a craft fair, a fireman’s muster? You’ll find all of that and more in Bath, Maine, during our annual Heritage Days celebration—four days of vintage New England with plenty of local charm.
Bath’s Heritage Days has been bringing residents and visitors together for more than 50 years. This year, July 2-5, the City of Ships will transform, offering two stages of non-stop live entertainment, more than a dozen food trucks, the largest Independence Day parade in the state of Maine, nearly 50 artists at Art in the Park, and more, offering something for everyone.
Each year, a new vintage poster is created to spread the word and set the mood!
Are you a foodie? Come hungry! On top of Bath’s great year-round dining options Heritage Days brings a variety of local food vendors and trucks right downtown, serving everything from fried dough (a perfect snack for the fireworks) to fresh Maine seafood (nothing more Maine than a lobster roll by the water). Interested in checking out uber-local produce and treats? The Bath Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday morning year-round, relocates to the parking lot of the historic Bath Iron Works shipyard during Heritage Days weekend. And, you can wind down at the end of each day with a glass of bubbly or a local beer at OystHERS Beer and Wine Garden at Waterfront Park while you soak in the beautiful and historic Kennebec River.
OystHERS has a waterfront dining spot and sponsors the beer and wine garden at Waterfront Park.
Are you a music enthusiast? With live music all four days at Waterfront Park and Library Park, there is no shortage of great performers, from the Bath Municipal Band to local hip hop artists. Check out the full list of performers at the Heritage Days website.
Waterfront Park in Bath provided an idyllic venue for live music in the summer.
Visiting with kids? Smokey’s Greater Shows comes to town for Heritage Days with carnival rides and fair games all along Commercial Street (think ferris wheel, balloon darts, etc.). On Friday the 3rd, stop by Kids’ Day at the Library Park to enjoy crafts, live animals, games, and more! Bath Historical Society is hosting the Kids’ Parade at 12:30pm. All are welcome to join the fun.
(Above) Relay races, whoopie pie eating contest and a historic characters parade are all part of Kids’ Day.
And don’t forget to grab a good sidewalk spot for the state’s largest Independence Day Parade where the festooned floats, bands, Navy personnel, and other patriotic paraders toss candy to cheering spectators. Meet you at the Strawberry Shortcake Social after in Library Park!
Bath’s Independence Day Parade is the largest in the state. We cheer for Navy sailors who are here to train aboard new destroyers at Bath Iron Works.
Are you a history lover? Join in the city’s rich history with traditions like the Firemen’s Muster, believed to be the oldest of its kind in the country! (Read more about it here.) What better place to spend the 250th anniversary of Independence Day than a town that’s been here even longer?! If you want to learn more about Bath’s fascinating past and connections to Independence Day, join the downtown walking tour on Friday, July 3 at 10am; or if you need a calming break from the festivities, our Oak Grove Cemetery tour is at 4pm July 3. Book those or any of our tours online.
Spectators may be asked to help pump at the Firemen’s Muster!
This map shows how convenient all the happenings are - with some key event times and dates listed on the right! Courtesy of Main Street Bath.
Don’t miss the fireworks!
Fireworks over the Kennebec River can be seen by boat, from the bridge, or almost anywhere in or near downtown Bath. Locals like setting up in front of the Patten Free Library!
If there’s one singular event that brings the Bath community together each year (and has done so for decades), it’s the fireworks display. At 9pm on July 4, residents and visitors gather for the holiday’s spectacular grand finale.
The fireworks show is staged from Woolwich, right across the Kennebec River from Bath. For the perfect view, you can grab a spot anywhere along the Bath waterfront, or up on the hill in front of the Patten Free Library, but get there early to secure a good spot. Some brave locals even watch from the Sagadahoc bridge!
Adding to your visit
Aside from the Heritage Days festivities, Bath is also an ideal home base for exploring Maine’s Midcoast region. Take a scenic drive to Popham Beach State Park, one of Maine’s most beautiful beaches, or head to Five Islands Lobster Co. in Georgetown for fresh seafood and stunning coastal views. Both are within an easy 30-minute drive down the peninsula and offer a nice complement to all Bath has to offer.
Visit Main Street Bath For a full schedule of events, and check out additional information on our blog about visiting Bath any time of year, including details about our exceptional inns and hotels. Start planning your next 4th of July weekend in Bath, Maine.
