Welcome to an "Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration" in Thomaston, Maine, presented by the Thomaston 4th of July Committee, under the direction of the Town of Thomaston.

Parade Theme for 2013: "The Carnival is Back in Town" - visit our Facebook page to share feedback, photos, ideas, and make connections!

The day's events start early with a pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall, a craft tent, a pet show, parade, chicken barbecue, food & vendor booths, dunk tank, games for kids, bouncy houses, horseshoe tournament, musical entertainment, and end with a grand fireworks finale. Many activities are behind the business block. Find the East Coast Midways Carnival at the ballfield next to Laura Libby School. Join your friends, neighbors, and visitors to Maine, and have a glorious Independence Day in Thomaston, Maine!

The Thomaston 4th of July Committee seeks volunteers to help with many jobs. Join the committee in creating a great 4th of July for your friends and neighbors in the community and state. Visitors come from all over Maine to share the experience of a small town celebration. Join in the fun of being an ambassador for the town and the state.

Contact:
Julie Russo, Committee Chairman
(207)354-8763
Thomaston 4th of July Committee
P.O. Box 149
Thomaston, Maine 04861

Schedule of Events - 2013 schedule (in progress)

7:00 AM		Pancake Breakfast Breakfast will be served in the Masonic Temple located on Main Street in Thomaston.
7:30 AM		Kids Fun Race & Adults Firecracker Race Sign Up Sign up for the races will be on Beechwood Street by Route 1. Free entry for kids under age 12 and tee-shirt prizes. Adult entry fee is $10, includes tee-shirt. Contact race organizers Lynn and Bob Snow at 354-0416 or swymma@gmail.com FMI. Thank you to our race sponsor, Pik-Qwik in Thomaston, and to the hard working volunteers who get up so early every 4th of July!
8:00 AM		Kids 1 Mile Fun Race Starts Kids Fun Race will begin at 8:00 am on Beechwood Street. Race sponsored by Pik-Qwik in Thomaston.
8:30 AM		Adults 5K Firecracker Race Starts Starts on Beechwood Street. Race sponsored by Pik-Qwik in Thomaston.
9:00 AM		Craft Tent Opens Craft Tent open until 4:00 PM and will be located behind the Masonic Temple Building.
9:05 AM		Parade Staging Staging area for the parade will be located by the town cemetery in Thomaston. The theme is "Once Upon a Time...". For a parade application, email Julie Russo at julie@brookstrapmill.com , or Download and print out Thomaston 4th of July Parade Application and Directions 2012, pdf.
9:15 AM		Pet Show Pet Show will be located behind the Thomaston Business Block, in front of Lura Libby School. Volunteers Steve Seekins and Naomi Howe put the animals through their paces. Humane Society of Knox County's volunteers will assist. Loyal Biscuit sponsors the show prizes - special treat/goodie bags for pets. Thank you to all!
11:00 AM		4th of July Parade Staging area for the parade will be by the town cemetery in Thomaston. Gather at 9am...for a parade application, email Julie Russo at julie@brookstrapmill.com. or download and print out Thomaston 4th of July Parade Application and Directions 2012, pdf. The parade will stage by the cemetery, head out Erin St. where it will enter Main Street and move South through town center. It will disband at Booker St. Thank you to the organizers of the parade, who are all volunteers. We appreciate your hard work!
12:00 PM		After the Parade - Opening Ceremony Opening Ceremony with local elected dignitaries, singing of the national anthem, introduction of marshals and Mr. and Ms. 4th of July.
12:00 PM		Booths Open All booths open - large variety of food, souvenirs. Glow-in-the-dark jewelry goes on sale at 4th of July Committee booth before fireworks.
12:00 PM		Chicken Barbecue Chicken Barbecue will be located behind the business block until sold out. This barbecue is put on by volunteers. All proceeds support 4th of July festivities. Thank you to our volunteers!
12:00 PM		Dunk Tank Free Dunk Tank, located behind the Thomaston Business Block. Sponsored by Fabian Oil.
12:00 PM		Children's Booths Children's booths open from after parade until fireworks. Games of chance with many levels of prizes - everyone wins! Games sponsored by Brooks Trap Mill in Thomaston, and staffed by all volunteers. A Big thank you to all who help!
12:00 PM		Raffle Tickets Go on Sale Raffle tickets go on sale at the 4th of July Committee Booth behind the block in Thomaston. Fabulous prizes - lots of restaurant and local merchant gift certificates. Prizes announced during evening band intermissions.
12:00 PM		Bouncy Houses Two bouncy houses for children - a Giraffe and The Edge. Fun for all from after the parade, until 8 PM. Sponsored by Lyman Morse Boatbuilding. All donations go to the 4th of July festivities.
12:30 PM		Freeze Frame - Band Our fabulous local band, Freeze Frame,will play behind the Thomaston Business Block. Prepare to rock!
1:00 PM		Cod Adams Memorial Horseshoe Tournament Horseshoe Tournament will be behind the business block on Lura Libby School field. All donations support the 4th of July. Prizes provided by the estate of Cod Adams, long-time beloved director of our annual horseshoe tournament.
5:00 PM		Creatures of Habit - band Creatures of Habit will be playing from 5pm to 9pm, leading us up to the fireworks finale!
6:00 PM		Raffle Winners Announced After 6:00pm, Listen for announcements of prize winners between song sets. Come enjoy the music and collect your prize!
9:15 PM		Fireworks In the event of rain the fireworks will be rescheduled to July 5th. Thank you to all the volunteers who spend their afternoon setting up the gorgeous fireworks display!

Note: Thomaston's tradition has been, when the holiday falls on a Sunday, to hold the celebration on the Saturday,(July 3rd). This allows for local church services. This will not occur again until 2021! In 1779, the holiday fell on a Sunday and was celebrated on Monday July 5th. John Adams wrote to Abigail that the Declaration was signed on July 2nd and that the date would be celebrated through "succeeding generations".