PORTLAND — Grammy Award-winner Melissa Manchester headlines the annual Stars and Stripes Spectacular on the Eastern Promenade on Saturday, July 4.

Manchester’s 7:40 p.m. performance with the Portland Symphony Orchestra precedes a Fourth of July fireworks display, also accompanied by the PSO, at 9:20.

Independence Day events begin at noon, when historian and former state Rep. Herb Adams reads the Declaration of Independence in front of Longfellow House, 489 Congress St. One of 26 remaining Dunlap Broadside copies of the document will also be on display.

Vendors will open for business on the Eastern Prom at 2 p.m. From 3-7 p.m., the Scoops for Vets Ice Cream Festival will feature local veterans scooping ice cream and accepting donations for Easter Seals Maine Military and Veterans Services.

The festival takes place at the corner of Eastern Promenade and Cutter Street.

There will be restricted parking and street closures on Munjoy Hill from 7 a.m-11 p.m. because of the Stars and Stripes Spectacular:

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• Eastern Promenade, both sides, from Morning Street to Washington Avenue.

• Fort Allen Park, both sides.

• Walnut Street from the Eastern Promenade to Washington Avenue.

• Mountfort Street from Congress to Fore street, both sides.

Additional streets will be closed from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.:

• Eastern Promenade from Morning Street to Walnut Street.

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• Wilson Street from Morning Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Moody Street from Morning Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Congress Street from Morning Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Turner Street from Morning Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Quebec Street from Emerson Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Melbourne Street from Emerson Street to Eastern Promenade.

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• Montreal Street from Willis Street to Eastern Promenade.

• Walnut Street from Willis Street to Eastern Promenade.

Munjoy Hill will be closed to all traffic at 4 p.m. on July 4.

Parking options within walking distance of Munjoy Hill and Eastern Promenade can be found on the city’s website. Handicapped parking is available on a first-come first-served basis along Cutter Street and at Fort Allen Park. Clearly marked handicapped vehicles will be allowed to pass the barricades until 6 p.m. Drivers must approach Cutter Street from Fore Street.

Boat traffic will also be affected at the East End boat launch; Cutter Street and its parking lots will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, July 3, to 6:30 a.m. Monday, July 6.

Alternate launches include Portland Yacht Services on Commercial Street, Falmouth Town Landing on Route 88, and Bug Light boat launch in South Portland. Visit the festival website for more information on fees and contact information for the launches.

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The PSO performance will be broadcast on WHOM 94.9. The rain date for the Stars and Stripes Spectacular is Sunday, July 5.

David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.

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Members of the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums depart Portland City Hall to march up Congress Street to Eastern Promenade on July 5, 2014, for last year’s Independence Day celebration.

Melissa Manchester


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