LEWISTON — Cathy McDonald figured the weather worries would begin Tuesday, at the three-day mark before the start of the annual Liberty Festival.

Rain, cold and even excessive heat can mess up the annual Independence Day event in Lewiston and Auburn downtowns. But when the sunshine cooperates, crowds can swell past 15,000, McDonald, the festival president, said.

“We’ll really start watching the weather Tuesday,” she said. She has the power to postpone the celebration if the forecast is too gloomy. “But we won’t make the decision until the Fourth.”

Plans for the 18th annual festival include a wide variety of music, from country with Cold Blue Steel to pop with the Veayo Twins to a patriotic mix with the reformed ’60s-era Terry and the Telstars. There will also be a dozen food vendors and even a chance for one attendee to kick off the event.

Festival organizers are holding a “Light the Works” contest for one person to be raised above the crowd in a scissor lift and prompt the beginning of the fireworks display by firing a flare gun.

“This year we’re offering a lot of variety,” McDonald said.

And if it doesn’t happen on the Fourth, it will happen the next day.

On Monday, the Independence Day weather seemed to be leaning toward a rain-free evening despite heavy rain Thursday, National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Kistner said.

“Right now, the only chance we have for rain is during the early morning on Friday and possibly getting into the afternoon,” Kistner said. And then, the chances are going to decrease as we head into Friday evening.

“That’s the way it looks right now,” he said Monday. “But it could change in the next couple of days.”

Either way, McDonald expects to be ready. She plans to put out alerts if needed via the event’s Facebook page and website at www.libertyfestival.org. The website also includes a full schedule of performances, information about where to park and a form to enter into the “Light the Works” contest.

People attending the festival are encouraged to use municipal parking garages, where volunteers will be collecting a $5 donation. Proceeds will go to the festival to help ensure a strong event next year, McDonald said.

Among the ongoing expenses is the fireworks display, created once again by Central Maine Pyrotechnics.

This year, the city of Auburn spent $10,000 on the display and the city of Lewiston spent $8,000. The remaining $2,000 came from the festival.

Plans once again call for the closure of the Longley Bridge shortly before the fireworks begin, lit from West Pitch Park beside the Great Falls.

People will be prohibited from the area directly above the falls, particularly on the railroad trestle just upriver, Lewiston Police Department spokesman Lt. Michael McGonagle said.

Additional police officers from both cities will also patrol the area and, when needed, divert traffic, he said.

dhartill@sunjournal.com

Where to find fireworks

Our interactive map shows where fireworks displays are scheduled this week. The information includes rain dates.

Liberty Festival

Live performances are scheduled Friday as part of the 18th annual Liberty Festival, beginning at 5 p.m. at Auburn’s Great Falls Plaza with Skosh and at 5:30 p.m. with the Veayo Twins at Lewiston’s Veterans Park.

In all, 13 musical acts are scheduled to perform. They will be joined by 12 food vendors, selling a variety of treats, including fried dough and cotton candy.

Shows will pause for about 30 minutes for the fireworks display, which will take place at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Parking will be offered at municipal lots in both cities with a $5 donation to the festival.

For more information, including a full schedule of events, see the festival’s Facebook page or website, www.libertyfestival.org.

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