Bar Harbor is GREEN this Independence Day

June 26, 2012 - PRLog -- Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT:  Melissa Walls
TEL:  207-404-2921
E-MAIL:  mwalls@barharborinfo.com
WEB:  www.barharborinfo.com

The village of Bar Harbor prepares to celebrate our nation’s independence with fun, fireworks, and a forward-thinking theme. A modern approach to classic patriotic colors, the 2012 theme for Bar Harbor’s 4th of July parade is “Red, White, Blue and GREEN.”

What’s a celebration without delicious local cuisine? July 4th kicks off with the traditional blueberry pancake breakfast. After everyone has their fill, attention turns to Main Street for the parade, led by Grand Marshall, Fire Chief Rand who retired this year after 19 years of service to the town. The highly anticipated lobster races, a crowd favorite, and the craft fair at Mount Desert Island YMCA fill up the rest of the morning and early afternoon. By the time everyone’s hungry again, smells of fresh lobster, mussels, strawberry shortcake, and more will begin wafting from tents at the afternoon Seafood Festival. Mount Desert Island Rotary will provide biodegradable utensils and recycle or compost all waste generated by the blueberry pancake breakfast and Seafood Festival.

As the sun sets, it’s time for the main event. At 8:00 PM, DownEast Brass warms up the crowd at Agamont Park with a free concert, a prelude to the 9:15 pm finale, when fireworks light up Frenchman’s Bay.

For the past 5 years, Bangor Hydro has been the “Green” Sponsor of Bar Harbor’s Independence Day Celebration. Other important sponsors include Ocean Properties, the Mount Desert Island Rotary, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, and Machias Savings Bank. The Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce has launched an Environmental Leader Program and hopes that businesses will find creative ways to highlight their green practices through this year’s 4th of July parade theme.  

With Bar Harbor’s beautiful location on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, it’s easy to understand the local interest in preserving our green spaces. Nestled between Acadia National Park and Frenchman’s Bay, visitors have many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors while biking, sailing, hiking, or kayaking.