Bar Harbor 4th of July Parade Route

The 4th of July is going to be beautiful in Bar Harbor with temperatures in the mid 80's and sunny skies! A beautiful day to watch one of the biggest and best parades in the State!

The parade steps off at 10 AM down by the Athletic fields and travels down Main Street and onto Cottage Street before heading to Mount Desert Street and down Ledgelawn Avenue. The parade typically lasts about a hour with all the floats and participants.

The Bar Harbor Police Department will close all roads that intersect with the parade route around 9:45 AM. Vehicles will not be able to drive or cross the route until the parade finishes, unless participating in the parade.

Parking is at a premium on the 4th of July. If you are coming to Bar Harbor, you may want to take the fare free Island Explorer. Please obey all no parking signs and park in approved spaces otherwise you risk not only receiving a ticket, but finding a photo of your vehicle on the Facebook Page "Welcome to Bar Harbor's Famous Parking Show"

The parade does allow groups to throw candy, so if you have small children bring a bag, but please make sure they don't run out  into the parade route to get the candy! Crowds fill the street early, so if you're looking to get a good vantage point, consider staking out your seat on the curb early.

Some of the best fireworks in the State of Maine are in Bar Harbor, with thousands upon thousands coming down to the Island to celebrate the 4th. There's so much to do and see and eat and drink!

The day's festivities kick off with a huge Blueberry Pancake Breakfast from 6-10AM on the Athletic fields down across from the YMCA. There are lobster races at the ballfield and then a huge seafood festival from 11 to 2! There is a huge craft fair and non-profits are set up at the ballfield

From 11AM on there will be music down on the Town Pier, with live music from Roc Babi, The Blake Rosso Band and The Crown Vics from 3:30 to 9PM.

Then at approximately 9:15 there are fireworks over Frenchman Bay! One of the best places to view the fireworks is in Agamont Park, which becomes a sea of blankets throughout the day, as families set up to listen to music, walk around the town and enjoy the fireworks.

Because of the continued road construction on Route 3, and the detour in place, the Bar Harbor Police Department has come up with a new map to help direct the thousands of people whhttp://wdea.am/island-explorers-summer-schedule-2/o will be celebrating the 4th of July out of Bar Harbor.

The key to remember that all vehicles parked North of Mount Desert Street will be directed to Cottage and West Street an out West Street Extension to Paradise Hill Road (Acadia National Park) to Hulls Cove and then back onto Route 3.

All Vehicles parked South of Mount Desert Street will be direct out the Eagle Lake Road. Eden Street Hotel traffic on this route will be directed onto Paradise Hill Road (Acadia National Park) to Hulls Cove and then back onto Route 3.