Cup O’ Joe: Bring on the Fourth

It’s hard to fathom based on the weather we have had thus far, but the Fourth of July is upon us once again. For me, Houlton and the Fourth of July go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s a time of family or school reunions, honoring old-time traditions and starting a few new ones.
    When I was away, coming to Houlton for the Fourth of July was the natural thing to do, if I was fortunate enough to not have to work covering events where I lived. It seemed that others feel the same way because spending time in the greater Houlton area over the Fourth is always like “Old Home Days” as former classmates and childhood friends are always plentiful.
And no matter how many years have gone by, running in to friends from your youth is like taking a step back in time. Take a stroll down Main Street or at the fair and you are sure to bump in to somebody from your childhood, no matter how many years have gone by.
This year’s celebration kicks off 8 a.m. Friday with Kid’s Day at Community Park. A bundle of children’s contests are planned throughout the day, including ice cream eating, Oreo cookie stacking, Hula Hoop events, bubble gum blowing and pig scrambles.
The popular Midnight Madness shopping event will also be held Friday evening. The occasion has transformed over the years, starting out as a purely retail happening into what is now a shopping and entertainment activity going hand-in-hand with the Fourth festivities.
Most anyone who ever attended Houlton’s Agricultural Fair as a youth has fond memories of spending hours upon hours at Community Park, going on rides, eating fair food, watching truck pulls or demolition derbies and of course, the fireworks shows.
Putting the Fair together is an arduous task for sure and the members of the Fair Committee are to be lauded for their efforts. Will the Fair please everyone? Of course not. But I doubt any festival ever could.
For the price of admission, children and adults get to go on as many rides as they want, participate in any of the many games and contests, and get up close to a number of farm animals thanks to the local 4H group. It’s a balancing act of having enough stuff for adults and children alike.
Houlton’s massive parade takes place 10 a.m. Monday and is easily one of the larger parades in the state. Some years, the parade loops all the way from St. Mary’s parking lot, down Main Street and back up Military Street with the beginning bumping into the end of the parade.
For me, gathering to watch the parade at the Houlton Fire Department has been somewhat of a tradition. It’s the perfect spot to catch the beginning of the parade, take a quick stroll up to Houlton Farms Dairy for some ice cream or lemonade and then head over to Community Park to take in everything the Fair has to offer.
Reader’s response
A special tip of the cap goes out to Pam Taylor of Forest City. Taylor called the Pioneer Times office in response to my column on black flies last week to let me know that the song I was remembering was “Blackflies,” written by Randy Spencer, a song-writer, author and Maine Guide from Grand Lake Stream. If you have forgotten this tune, or never heard it before, check it out at www.randyspencer.com.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.