RUMFORD — A Fourth of July celebration will be held Saturday in the Hosmer Field Complex, with a rain date of Sunday, July 5.
The celebration will feature the Freedom Color Run 5K during the morning, with the festival gates opening at 3 p.m., capped by a giant fireworks display at 9:18 p.m.
Fourth of July Committee member Dan Richard said the fireworks show with Central Maine Pyrotechs will be about twice the size of the show another company did a couple of years ago, which shot off 786 shells of varying sizes.
“Our whole show that we booked is going to be 1,510 shells and it’s for the same money we paid the last company,” he said. “This guy said that if we’re happy with the show, he’ll sign a three-year contract for the same money.”
The new Fourth of July Committee, under the Rumford Parks Department, includes Mike Mills, Richard, April McLean, Amanda Hamner, Gary Morrison, Rick White and Ryan Palmer.
In April, the committee hosted a Bob Marley fundraiser, which raised about $4,000. That money will go toward the fireworks for 2016.
The Freedom Color Run 5K starts with registration at 8 a.m. with the race starting at 9 a.m. from Hosmer Field. At 10 a.m., there will be a Kids’ Fun Run.
An awards ceremony will follow.
Hamner said, “Come join us as we celebrate our country’s birth! We will hosting a homemade color run 5K! Run, walk or crawl across the finish line covered in patriotic colors!”
She said the Kids’ Fun Run will be one lap around the track or more if they want to keep running. Each child who preregisters will get a shirt. Certificates will be awarded.
The cost of registration is $28 for the 5K; $12 for the Kids’ Fun Run. To register, go to www.raceentry.com/races/freedom-color-run/2015/register, or contact Hamner at 207-357-3347.
“We can also still use a couple more sponsors. Money raised will go directly back into next year’s fireworks!” Hamner said.
Mills said six crafters signed up by June 18, so there’s room for more at $150 per spot.
He said volunteers are needed between 3 and 8 p.m. “We’re also looking for someone to hold a petting zoo for kids.”
For more information, call Mills at the Rumford Parks Department at 207-364-7758.
There are three events for children up to age 9 or third grade. At 4 p.m., there will be a baby carriage and wagon parade, followed by a bike parade at 4:30 p.m. Ribbons will be awarded.
Other activities include a balloon show by Scot Grassette from 3:45 to 4 p.m. and a magic show by Grassette from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. and from 7 to 7:15 p.m., including a 100-foot rope escape. There will be children’s games from 5 to 8 p.m., courtesy of Praise Assembly of God Church.
There will be lots of music on two stages: Stage A on the football field and Stage B on the baseball field. The schedule is:
* 3 to 4:45 p.m. Noel Palmer & Don Levesque, Stage B
* 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. The Troy Allen Pingree Band, Stage A
* 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Hot Flash, Stage B
* 6:45 to 7:15 p.m. students of The Rock Room from Greater Rumford Community Center, Stage A
* 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Unorganized Hancock, Stage B
* 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. Fat and Jacked, Stage A.
Abbie’s Avengers will be working the food booth from 3 p.m. until the fireworks show.
Dan Glover said that after covering the cost for the food, a part of the proceeds will go to the Fourth of July Committee, with the remainder to the River Valley Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society.
Before the fireworks display, Melanie Jordan will perform the national anthem.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
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