Despite less-than-ideal holiday weather, organizers of the Winslow Family 4th of July Celebration were happy with the weekend’s events, and they now are considering larger entertainment acts in the coming years after the success of the show featuring country music performer he John Michael Montgomery.

“The event went very well, even though we had a lot of rain and had to postpone the Fourth to the fifth,” said Kevin Douglass, committee chairman. “Everyone that was there seemed happy.”

Thousands of people flocked to Winslow and Fort Halifax Park over the weekend for the Independence Day festivities, including a parade, fireworks and frequent live music performances.

The addition of country music star Montgomery, the celebration’s first big-name act, went well, according to Douglass, which has the committee looking at more popular entertainers to bring to the area.

Montgomery’s experience may help draw other performers.

“John Michael Montgomery said he enjoyed his time and expressed interest in being part of it again,” Douglass said. “The first obstacle of bringing a major act is done, and now that the entertainer enjoyed it, that tends to lead other entertainers to be more flexible.”

Advertisement

Douglass said the committee has begun negotiating with acts who have been prominent more recently than Montgomery, whose biggest hits were released in the 1990s. Douglas was tight-lipped about who possible future performers may be.

After early struggles with fundraising and donations, Douglass said, the committee and volunteers renewed efforts to solicit donations from parkgoers, which helped pay for the free event.

“I think a lot more people realized that it’s a committee of volunteers that runs the event, and not the town of Winslow, and we’re not paid to do any of it,” Douglass said. “I noticed a lot more people willing to donate. Lots of individuals thanked our volunteers and committee members.”

Douglass said the committee will tally up the donations from the event by the end of this week, and he is optimistic that they will eclipse the $40,000 mark needed to break even.

“We’re hoping we made it. We think we did,” Douglass said. “The hope is to make more than $40,000.”

Douglass said planning will begin in the coming weeks for next year’s 25th annual celebration.

Jesse Scardina — 861-9239

jscardina@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @jessescardina


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.