BATH

The 40th annual Bath Heritage Days, “Celebrating our Maritime History,” begins Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Maine Maritime Museum, this year the event will focus on Bath’s maritime history, according to a release from Main Street Bath.

The Fourth of July parade theme, “Life Along the Kennebec,” will echo that theme.

In addition to Wednesday’s parade, events throughout the weekend include a carnival, fireworks on Saturday night, a Kennebec River boat parade, an art show, craft show, Kids’ Day, fireman’s muster, fun run and 5K run, antique car show, chicken barbecue, chili-chowder fest, Whoopie Pie-eating contest and live music at City Park and Waterfront Park.

Local nonprofit organizations will staff booths and hold activities, including a book sale by Patten Free Library, a strawberry shortcake festival by the Cosmopolitan Club and a mast floating at the Bath Freight Shed held by Maine’s First Ship.

Kids’ Day will feature crafts and other free children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in Library Park.

For a full schedule of events, visit www.BathHeritageDays.com.

Other Mid-coast region communities will host Fourth of July activities as well. A schedule is as follows:

Brunswick

Traditional “Fun on the Fourth” games and family activities will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on the Brunswick Mall.

The Bath Municipal Band will perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday as part of the weekly Music on the Mall concert series.

A Bowdoin International Music Festival Upbeat! concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Studzinski Hall on the Bowdoin College campus.

Freeport

Floats, antique cars and other marchers will join in the Freeport Fourth of July Parade on Wednesday morning to ring in the holiday.

Parade participants will line up at 9 a.m. at Freeport Middle School in preparation for an arrival on Main Street around 10 a.m.

Through the rest of the week, L.L. Bean, as part of its centennial celebration, will host a series of events, including three free outdoor concerts in “Discovery Park,” across from the main entrance to the flagship store Wednesday through Saturday.

On Wednesday night, country music artist Jo Dee Messina will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday will feature an evening of jazz music from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday will offer a full day of music, with bands playing from 2 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Saturday will feature concerts beginning at 11 a.m., leading up to a 7:30 p.m. concert by Chris Isaak.

See a full schedule of the weekend’s free concerts and events at http://goo.gl/PEQPY.

The store’s annual fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday night.

Harpswell

The Mingo Club will host an ice cream social from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Bailey Island Library Hall.

A fireworks show will take place at Cook’s Lobster House on Thursday, starting at 10 p.m. The restaurant is located at 68 Garrison Cove Road on Bailey Island.

Wiscasset

Fourth of July events will begin Wednesday morning with a parade themed “Small Town Traditions” at 10 a.m., running along Hooper to Federal to Main streets.

Lineup for the parade begins at 9 a.m. on Churchill Street and kicks off the first in a series of celebration events along the waterfront, including: a veterans memorial salute and flag raising at 11 a.m., a kayak harbor tour at 3 p.m., a yacht club boat parade with cannons shot over the river at 4 p.m., an antique car show and carnival along Water Street and a Main Street Pier art show, all from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., an open mic event from 5 to 6:30 p.m., a concert by the Generics, a rock band, from 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., followed by fireworks over the Sheepscot River at 9:15 p.m.

For more information about participating in the boat parade, contact Alan Boyes at 233-7501.

The use of consumer fireworks is allowed in Wiscasset with a permit that should be submitted to the police department at least seven days in advance. Fines for using fireworks without a permit can be up to $500.

For information on fireworks, contact the town office at 882-8200, extension 103.