Children stand on the edge of Front St. hoping to cool off during the firemen's muster on Saturday. The first muster in Bath, also the first in the country, was on July 4, 1849, according to event organizer Amanda McDaniel, when train service allowed firemen from area towns to get there equipment to Bath to compete. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Bath Heritage Days began 48 years ago and is now run by Main Street Bath, which preserves and promotes the city’s historic downtown, said organizer Amanda McDaniel. The annual event celebrating Independence Day and Bath history includes a firemen’s muster, five nights of live music on an outside stage, antique cars, carnival rides, food trucks and more. Activities began Friday night and will end Tuesday night. Some events were called off because of Sunday’s torrential rain, but more are scheduled on Monday and Tuesday. On July 4th “we have one of Maine’s largest Fourth of July parades” and fireworks over the Kennebec River “which is absolutely majestic,” McDaniel said.