NORWAY – Independence Day will come early for Oxford Hills residents.

The Norway Business Association is planning a parade and series of events to take place on Saturday, June 30. The Fourth of July-themed event aims to promote local businesses.

Participating stores will display red, white and blue balloons with discount coupons to other local businesses inside of them. Visitors to the stores will be allowed to pop one balloon per store and keep the coupon inside.

The group is seeking entries for a parade that is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to enter a float in the parade must register by June 1.

The route of the parade will be determined by the number of participants.

The group is also planning for a police officer to inspect children’s bicycles and award certificates from local businesses. A nurse will be on hand for a doll clinic.

Later in the day, the association will hold its annual auction in the parking lot outside of L.F. Pike & Son at 339 Main St. The auction usually takes place in August, but has been moved up to coincide with the June 30 events. Proceeds will go to nonprofit organizations, primarily Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens.

A children’s activity center will be set up in another nearby lot to provide entertainment and supervision for the children of parents who wish to attend the auction.

A local disc jockey will host a street dance that will follow the auction. The event will not go past 10 p.m. due to the town’s noise restrictions.

Floats may be registered by calling Dundee Pratt at 743-3891, or Sharon Bouchard at 743-9228.