Portland lights up with a July 4th celebration and fireworks display show

Location of fireworks display: Eastern Promenade Park.
City:Portland
State: Oregon
Date: July 4th
Show contact: Nicole Clegg, 207-756-8173, 207-272-4477 (cell) nicoleclegg@portlandmaine.gov
Event website: http://www.ci.portland.me.us/showart.asp?contentID=1514
Fireworks display company: Grucci’s of New York.

Details: This year, July 4th marks the 233rd birthday of the United States. Celebrate with your family at Portland’s Annual Celebration and Fireworks Show at Eastern Promenade Park.
How good a show can you expect? The City of Portland anticipates a viewing audience of 50,000 will turn out to admire the colorful display presented by Grucci’s of New York. Grucci’s, a world renowned firework company, will present twenty minutes of dazzling color and special effects, featuring a Broadway Curtain Call Opening, Grucci Grand Illuminations and the Milky Way Grand Finale. Started in 1850, the Grucci family business provided spectacular shows for the Salt Lake, Athens and Beijing Olympics. This company created the Saint Thomas Carnival Salute for President Obama just last month and crafted festivities for seven consecutive U.S. presidential inaugurations.
If the pretty light show isn’t enough to rouse your celebratory spirit, vendors will be on hand with food, drink and entertainment along the Eastern Promenade to help make your family outing memorable. Vendors open at noon. Spectators are advised to arrive early and are welcome to bring picnic baskets.
Crowds are expected so consider the pros and cons of prime viewing and parking locations. If you’d like to watch the show from the Eastern Promenade Park, there will be limited parking on Munjoy Hill. Plan to arrive before 6:00pm to find a suitable seat. Munjoy Hill will be closed to traffic from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and close to handicap parking at 8:00pm.
You may opt to observe the twinkling lights from Back Cove Trail. If so, limited parking will be available at Baxter Boulevard parking lot (across from Hannaford), Payson Park, along Baxter Boulevard and the hillside at Cheverus High School.
For a reflective water view, the Grucci show will be visible from the Peaks Island ferry terminal and from within Casco Bay itself. Anchor your boat in the northeast section of the Bay facing Portland. Please note that the East End Boat Launch will close at 8:00pm. Launch fees are $5 for residents and $10 for nonresidents. Parking at the boat launch will not be available for boaters. Visit the City of Portland website for additional parking restrictions and advisable safety tips for boaters.
Grucci’s appearance in Portland, Maine is a first and not to be missed. In fact, this will be Grucci’s first show for any Maine municipality. Portland’s annual July 4th fireworks celebration dates back decades. The most famous July 4th Portland fireworks show occurred in 1866 when the entire city burned down! As a result of this unfortunate disaster, Portland installed a fire alarm signal system in 1867. The mayor signed a contract in 1868 to pipe in water from Sebago Lake in order to add to the city's available water supply.
We’ve come a long way since the 1800’s. Portland is well equipped for this year’s celebration. Come join the fun on July 4th. The actual firework show will begin between 9:15pm and 9:30pm, with a rain date scheduled at 9:00pm on July 5th. Call the city’s hotline at 756-8130 for further information.
If you have plans that prevent you from enjoying the city show, consider tickets to the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s Independence Pops. Complete with musical favorites such as “America, the Dream Goes On” by John Williams and Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Overture to 1812, this performance concludes with a grand fireworks finale. The Independence Pops Concert schedule is as follows:
Shawnee Peak in Bridgton (June 30)Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick (July 1)Goodall Park in Sanford (July 2)Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth (July 3).
All Portland Symphony Orchestra concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Additional July 4th celebrations will take place around the state. For information on the Portland Symphony Orchestra and events outside Portland, use the links provided below. Be safe and enjoy this year’s July 4th celebration with your family.