Rain Intrudes On Opening Night of Enfield Celebration

Rain may have put a damper on opening night of the Enfield Fourth of July Town Celebration Friday, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who came out to the Town Green.

The Fab Four, the Ultimate Beatles Tribute Band, blew away spectators with dead-on renditions of classics like "Help", "Yesterday" and "Eight Days a Week", while incorporating costume changes marking different periods in the Beatles' existence.

David Foster and the Shaboo All-Stars performed an excellent set of classic rock and soul favorites, despite the sparse crowd that was no doubt limited due to the steady rain that began falling shortly after the festival's 5 p.m. kickoff.

Spectators watched as town firefighters performed a mock extrication from an "auto accident" in the upper parking lot behind Town Hall. Unfortunately, rain caused cancellation of the scheduled Life Star landing, as well as the Enfield Idol competition.

Along North Main Street, more than a dozen food and beverage vendors opened the Taste of Enfield, which will continue Saturday from 11 a.m.-midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Numerous activities are scheduled for Saturday at the festival, including the Independence Day parade down Enfield Street at 11 a.m. A children's soap box derby, a softball game pitting Enfield firefighters against the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame, and the annual Twilight 5K Road Race are all part of Saturday's agenda. Musical entertainment will be provided by local band Johnny Sixgun, and national headliners the Marshall Tucker Band and Dickey Betts and Great Southern.

Visit enfieldcelebration.org for a complete schedule of Saturday activities.