After a week of thunderstorms, the skies cleared for the 28th annual Lewiston/Auburn Liberty Festival, which began late Friday afternoon with events on both sides of the river.

Festival-goers descended into the Veterans Memorial Park in Lewiston, decked out in their finest red, white and blue, to celebrate the country’s 249th birthday. 

As “Country Roads” kicked off the evening of festivities, the smell of fried dough, barbecue and fries filled the air. Attendees roamed the festival in search of something good to eat. 

Tim Turner of Oxford was hoping to find some chicken and waffles. Turner, who had never been to the celebration, learned about the festival on social media and was happy for the opportunity to get out of the house and celebrate. 

This year was also Lillee Hodsdon’s first time at the festival. Hodsdon, 7, was accompanied by her father James Hodsdon and her uncle Scott Caron, all from Sabattus. 

“I’m just here having fun,” Lillee said. She added that she was looking forward to getting her face painted. 

Caron was also new to the festival and, despite not knowing what to expect, was pleased with the entertainment lineup. “I didn’t expect country,” he said. 

For others, the festival is a tradition. 

Siblings Wylder and Foyn Demers-Dube have been coming for their whole lives. 

“It’s nostalgic,” Wylder said. 

Adrienne Nickerson of Sabattus is also a routine attendee at the festival. For Nickerson, the festival is a family affair; her nephew Zach Pomerleau was a featured music performer. 

Nickerson was in attendance with her whole family and a few friends. She said she was looking forward to Robert “Elvis” Washington’s performance later in the evening. 

Though the beginnings of the festival were quiet, once the Elvis impersonator took the stage, the grounds filled with people. One couldn’t help falling in love with the performer. 

“He’s a fan favorite,” said festival organizer Cathy McDonald. To see him, the crowd comes “in droves,” she added.

McDonald said she was happy to see everyone enjoy the evening. “It’s nice to see everyone get along and just enjoy our community.”

Across the river at Great Falls Plaza in Auburn, DJ Scotty Dawg led a karaoke dance party while Party Palooga twisted balloon animals. 

Kris Straut, an Air Force veteran of Lewiston, was enjoying face painting and balloon animals with her children, Lilith Straut and Finn Hayward. The Strauts also participated in karaoke, singing “Creep” by Radiohead and “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri. 

Also ready to get their faces painted was the LaChance family of Auburn. Mekayla LaChance was at the festival with her two kids, Brooklyn and Nathan, and her husband Lucas. “It’s fun for the kids,” she said. 

For her, celebrating the Fourth is as much about independence and freedom as it is about “togetherness” and “family.” When asked what she liked most about the festival she said, “Just seeing the community be happy.”

Overwhelmingly, festival attendees were excited to see the fireworks. Whether they were red, pink or blue, the “loud explosions in the sky,” were the highlight of the evening for one group of friends.

Nemo Kilbreth, who prefers to go by Sir Reginald, from Hebron, drove his friends, Elijah Fraglae, Jeremiah Smith and Wes Allen to the festival. The four, decked in suits, showed up in their finest attire for the celebration.

“We are fancy individuals,” Allen explained.

When asked what the Fourth meant to him, Smith answered that he was “proud to be an American.”

On Saturday, more musical performances will perform in Veterans Memorial Park starting at 5:30 p.m. in Lewiston. 

On Sunday, a flag retirement ceremony and performances by the 195th Maine Army National Guard’s Brass and Rock bands will conclude the weekend of festivities. Attendees are invited to bring old and worn flags for retirement.