Limestone draws in large crowd for 4th of July parade and festivities

LIMESTONE, Maine — For many, Limestone was the best place to be on this year’s Fourth of July.

As the annual parade drew near, hundreds of people parked along Main Street, enjoying treats from food trucks and shopping at local vendors. People cheered as members of Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Maine State Police blared their sirens, signaling the parade’s start.

At least 50 people from area businesses and organizations took part in this year’s parade, including Limestone Rotary Club, Loring Job Corps Color Guard, Limestone Boy Scout Troop 193, Caswell Girl Scout Troop 1587, Broadway Kids in the County, Limestone Fire Department, the Limestone Trail Hawks, Presque Isle Civil Air Patrol, the Anah Shrine Clowns and local pageant queens.

The parade was a popular celebration for people from out of town, including Carley and Ben Morse and their son Sam, 5, of Presque Isle.

“It was super fun. This was our first time at the parade, and we had a pretty good time,” Carley Morse said.

Carley’s parents Cathy and Mark Moore were also visiting Limestone for the first time from Buck County, Pennsylvania.

“It was an awesome parade,” Cathy Moore said.

The parade was one of dozens of activities held during Limestone’s weeklong Fourth of July celebration, said Michelle Albert, director of Limestone Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout the week, hundreds of people attended events like the annual street dance and fireworks, pie baking contest, strawberry shortcake sale, monster truck rides and family field day.

Albert said that with a strong group of volunteers, including those from town departments and the community, Limestone was able to once again have a great Fourth of July.

“It brings people into our community and it brings the community together,” Albert said. “We want to keep these traditions going.”