Sun, 07/04/2021 - 10:15am

KEVIN BURNHAM

Mabel Kaler and Ford Harris, rising fourth graders at Southport Central School, have fun in the back of a decorated Boston whaler at the gathering on the Fourth of July. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Scout Martin, a rising fourth grader at Southport Central School, shows her patriotism at the gathering. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The crowd starts to gather for the Fourth of July at Southport Memorial Library. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Medea Harris gets the display of hats ready for distribution. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Cups for the lemonade. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Attendees take some food and trinkets. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A young girl chooses a couple of beaded necklaces. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Aggie Harris helps get the beaded necklaces ready for the taking. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sarah, Aggie and Ford Harris help get the red, white and blue items ready for the taking. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Kids get a ride in a float after all. Medea Harris photo

Scout Martin, a rising fourth grader at Southport Central School, shows her patriotism at the gathering. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The crowd starts to gather for the Fourth of July at Southport Memorial Library. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Medea Harris gets the display of hats ready for distribution. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Cups for the lemonade. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Attendees take some food and trinkets. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

A young girl chooses a couple of beaded necklaces. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Aggie Harris helps get the beaded necklaces ready for the taking. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Sarah, Aggie and Ford Harris help get the red, white and blue items ready for the taking. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Kids get a ride in a float after all. Medea Harris photo

Light rain spoiled a Fourth of July parade but thanks to the Bruce and Medea Harris family and Southport Island Association, all was not lost on celebrating the nation’s Independence Day.

Held in front of Southport Memorial Library at Newagen Sunday morning, the stand-up patriotic gathering featured coffee, lemonade, doughnuts, cookies and a slew of red, white and blue trinkets. Beaded necklaces, small flags, hats, streamers, pom poms, signs and more were offered for free and people proudly wore and waved the items. As the gathering grew to about 45-50 people, some kids on decorated bikes, a couple of dogs wearing patriotic garb and a few baby/toddler strollers adorned in red, white and blue showed up.