LEWISTON — Despite being postponed thanks to Hurricane Arthur, the Liberty Festival still drew a crowd Sunday evening, with early claim-stakers for seats showing up at Veterans Park around 4 p.m. as food trucks opened for business.

With a slight breeze and blue skies above, the Veayo Twins opened the ceremonies in Lewiston with the national anthem.

Some stood before the stage — hands over hearts or in in an improvised stance of attention or parade rest. Others fiddled with blankets or meandered along the edge of the monument-flanked park.

John Waye of Auburn said he was just happy to see Fourth of July festivities for once. Waye, who normally works the holiday, said the postponement this year worked to his advantage, but that he wishes the best for his coworker, John, who was holding down the fort at the Auburn Big Apple.

Waye said he was in the park to watch his friend’s band Audio Vibe, which was set to take the stage just past eight.

Of the fireworks show, Waye said he has a good vantage point but, “I mean, they shoot them off all night anyway.”

American Culinary Foundation Chef of the Year Randy Smith had just finished finding the coldest soda in his bin for a customer at his food truck, Pinky D’s.

The food truck, Smith said, has been in business for about a year, starting at the 2013 Moxie Festival. “We work hard, and it hopefully pays off,” Smith said.

Aside from cold sodas on sunny days, Smith said top sellers have been his poutine with Pineland Farm cheese curds and homemade gravy, as well as his salt-and-vinegar-dusted tots.

Laughing at the less-than-healthy combination, Smith said, “We do everything in moderation — if you do it in moderation, it’s all right.”

On the Auburn side of the river, Damon Rucci, 6, of Turner rested in the shade with his brother, Cade, and the rest of his family. Rucci, a blue belt with black stripe at Pelletier’s Karate Academy, was waiting to perform as part of a demonstration.

Rucci said he’s been doing karate for about two years. When asked what he likes the most about it, he replied, “That’s a tricky question. I sometimes get confused with outside blocks.”

All around the park, freedom was celebrated in its most contentious form — politics. Tables close to the stage were festooned with candidates’ swag, both Republican and Democrat.

By the sidewalk just outside the park, a woman manned a small table with an electronic voice demanding people to keep dirty money out of politics.

Patti Gagne, Republican candidate for the state Senate, donned an American flag shirt and passed out flags to all who would take them.

“I’ve never been in politics before,” Gagne said, “I’m very involved in the community. I thought maybe it was time to take on more of a leadership role.”

“I tell people I’m a common-sense conservative,” Gagne said.

On Goff Hill, neighbors gathered on blankets, kids lit sparklers and morning glories shot off like miniature Roman candles.

A mother marched up the hill, her young son in hand, saying, “You can’t hit people with snappers — because.”

When the fireworks began, those on the hill began to rush forward, as if at a rock concert, straining to get a better view.

From Goff Hill to Veterans Park, phones, iPads and other electronic gadgets were held aloft, illuminated screens competing with the rockets red glare.

Children screamed, skateboards roamed freely on the bridge and dog owners strutted by with a seemingly endless stream of pit bulls — apparently the only breed invited to the celebration.

Across both cities, illegal fireworks began where the pros left off with pops, whizzes and diminutive explosions of defiance from city streets.

dmcintire@sunjournal.com