Fireworks over Portland's Eastern Prom

Richness Lobi, 2, of Portland sits in her stroller on Wednesday night during the Fourth of July fireworks display at the Eastern Promenade. Her parents, who are originally from Angola, strapped Richness in after she got frightened of the booming sounds.

Jimmy Singh of Portland displays a jaguar-head necklace on the Eastern Promenade on Wednesday before the start of the fireworks. Singh said he got dressed up for the Fourth of July because "I love America, man. I love my country."

Ashley Rafferty and John McGahey of Westbrook sport matching American flag-themed shirts while waiting for the start of the annual Fourth of July fireworks on the Eastern Promenade. The couple said the crowd seemed smaller this year, perhaps because the Portland Symphony Orchestra was not playing.

Angela Nelson, right, and her daughter Annika Nelson pause with their bikes on the lawn of the Eastern Promenade while they wait for friends Wednesday evening. Angela Nelson said the crowd seemed smaller this year, which she attributed to many people not knowing the fireworks display was happening, after an announcement in the spring that funds were not available. It wasn't until the city reworked the budget that the fireworks display was back on.

Dan Spacek and Rachael Klavir, a vacationing couple from Massachusetts, snuggle on the lawn at the Eastern Promenade on Wednesday in what appeared to be a smaller-than-average crowd for the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration.

Lisa Green, a.k.a. The Crazy Hat Lady of Brunswick, pauses while enjoying strawberry ice cream to adjust her handmade Independence Day hat. Green, who has been making hats for every day and every occasion for about four years, was eating ice cream with her son, Patrick, and her mother, Connie Gibson, while waiting for Freeport's Fourth of July parade to start.

Freeport's Independence Day parade begins Wednesday morning on Main Street.

Fergus Burnett and the North Pownal Plastic Pipe Players entertain the crowd at Freeport's Independence Day parade.

Children wave flags while riding on the Wolfe’s Neck Center float in Freeport's Independence Day parade.

Willie the Clown high-fives people in the crowd at Freeport's Fourth of July parade.

William Taylor, 7, portrays George Washington while riding atop a Chris-Craft boat in Freeport's Independence Day parade.

Children prepare for the arrival of the emergency vehicles – and their sirens – during the Independence Day parade Wednesday in Freeport.