RUMFORD — The River Valley Fourth of July Celebration is shaping up to be an event to remember.

At Thursday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, new Chairman Greg Buccina revealed the latest updates. Since last fall, he has championed the event at nearly every meeting.

“We’re going to have a nice little celebration, and we hope that all of our residents in the River Valley come down and participate and enjoy it,” he said.

Unlike past Fourth of July fireworks events, which were held at the Androscoggin River Reflection Pool, the new venue is the Hosmer Field Athletic Complex. Gates open at 4 p.m. Monday, July 4.

Buccina said the baseball and soccer fields will be open “for people to put blankets down and listen to music and mingle.”

Live music will be provided by local musicians like Jim Austin, Kenny Chapman, Gary Petrie, Jamie Virgin and a group led by Roger Arsenault.

Buccina said Black Mountain of Maine will run several children’s games. There will also be a magic show, and event emcee Scot Grassette will conduct a “Walk of Danger.”

The performance involves a 15- by 60-foot-long court to be set up on a field through which a blindfolded Grassette will walk while trying to avoid dangerous things like shards of glass mounted in cement, nails and screws protruding from sheets of thin plywood, various wild animal traps and more.

Grassette will also present his “amazing and amusing” family magical show for all ages.

Buccina said Louanne Thibodeau called him prior to the board meeting, asking if she could bring a gymnastic exhibition to the event.

“I don’t see any reason why not,” he said. “It will bring more of our young people down there.”

He thanked Selectman Jeff Sterling for securing the fireworks portion of the show and said several vendors will participate.

“We’re going to have a nice fireworks show,” Buccina said.

Prior to the fireworks, Elaine Michaud will sing the National Anthem.

For those wanting to volunteer, the River Valley 4th of July Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, in the Municipal Building Conference Room opposite the police station.

Later Thursday evening, selectmen OK’d hawkers and peddlers licenses for Fourth of July event vendors James Ramey’s The Gold Digger and Steve Zadakis’s gifts, novelty and souvenir shop Treasures on the Island.

According to its Facebook site, The Gold Digger is a mobile concession stand out of Byron that travels across Maine, mostly to fairs. Items sold include fresh-cut fries, steak and cheese, deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies, whoopie pies and more.

“We should have a nice Fourth of July celebration to honor America, and we’re going to honor our veterans,” Buccina said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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