RUMFORD — The town will celebrate the Fourth of July with music, magic, food and fireworks.

Gates open at 3 p.m. Thursday at Hosmer Field where there will be food vendors, entertainment, children’s games and “an awesome fireworks display at dusk,” Scot Grassette, emcee, magician and local entertainer, said in a news report.

Grassette’s lineup includes the Fun-Filled Balloon Act, Krazy Juggling performance, Amazing Magic and an Incredible Escape.

“This all sounds like a full vaudeville troupe is coming to town, but will actually all be accomplished by local entertainer Scot Grassette,” he said.

Honing his skills for more than 30 years, Grassette has added several entertaining elements to his act, a little at a time.

The River Valley’s Fourth of July celebration is free of charge, but donations are needed to fund the fireworks and other elements of the festival.

The schedule is as follows:

* Country music favorites Jamie Virgin and Gary Petrie will perform from 3 to 3:45 p.m. and again from 8 to 8:45 p.m.

* From 3:45 to 4 p.m. Grassette will do a quick demonstration of comedy, sculpture and stunts with his balloon act. He said there will be quite a few extra balloons to go around to children who would like one, free of charge.

* Musician Jimmy Austin will rock the blues on keys, featuring Kenny Chapman on percussion, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. and again from 6:15 to 7 p.m.

* From 4:45 to 5 p.m., Grassette will prove that he isn’t the normal juggler found at a festival. Besides some typical items, he will juggle balloons, hula hoops, a bowling ball and three half-gallons of ice cream in the July heat.

* Children’s games will be offered from 5 to 8 p.m.

* Celtic music from Prince Edward Island band Ten Strings and a Goat Skin will be performed from 5 to 5:45 p.m., and again from 7:15 to 8 p.m.

* From 5:45 to 6:15 p.m., Grassette will perform an interactive 30-minute magic set, complete with audience participation and plenty of laughs.

* Grassette’s final performance of the day is from 7 to 7:15 p.m., with what he calls “an incredible escape from a canvas bag.”

The bag will be on display for the public to examine throughout the event. It is a solid, sewn canvas sack, similar to those used in bulk mail delivery, Grassette said.

A solid steel rod is threaded through the grommets and two locks, purchased at Puiia Lumber Co., will secure Grassette inside. Grassette will also be shackled with additional locks and chains.

“The challenge,” he said, “is to escape within 60 seconds or face public humiliation by having to have someone unlock the locks.”

From 8:45 to 9:15 p.m., the American Legion will conduct a Veterans Memorial Ceremony, followed by the Mountain Valley High School Chorus performing the national anthem.

Fireworks will be launched at approximately 9:18 p.m.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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