Bridgton’s Four on the Fourth

Bridgton’s 4 on the Fourth has earned its standing as one of Maine’s most respected July 4 running traditions through a combination of course quality, community investment, and the simple good sense of staging a four-mile race through lake country on a summer morning. The gun goes off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, from the Food City start line at 295 Main Street, and the course moves through a rolling mix of town streets and open landscape before finishing in the heart of downtown Bridgton. Entry is $35. The race draws serious regional runners alongside first-timers who want a holiday morning with something to show for it.

The Course and the Crowd
Four miles is a distance that rewards pace judgment more than raw fitness, and the Bridgton course’s rolling profile makes even-effort running more rewarding than a chase-the-mile-marker approach. Spectators line the final half-mile through downtown Bridgton with genuine enthusiasm, and the finish line atmosphere, with the rest of the town’s July 4 day just beginning to organize itself around the runners, gives the race a civic energy that standalone road races rarely achieve.

After the Race
Bridgton’s position between Highland Lake and Long Lake means post-race recovery options include a swim before the morning warms into full July intensity. Kezar Lake, about 15 minutes west near Lovell, offers one of the most photogenic swimming coves in western Maine and earns the drive for anyone with energy remaining after the finish line. North Bridgton’s Woods Pond, smaller and less trafficked, suits families with younger children who want calm water without boat traffic competition on a holiday afternoon.

Where to Eat
The Black Bear Tavern on Main Street in Bridgton handles post-race appetites with a breakfast and lunch menu built for people who have already done something physical. The corned beef hash with poached eggs has earned its place as the kitchen’s most requested morning plate, and the portions justify the pre-race carbohydrate math. For a proper holiday dinner, Venezia Ristorante on Portland Road offers a northern Italian menu with a pasta-forward kitchen that suits a long, unhurried evening.

Logistics
Entry fee $35; registration available through the race organizers ahead of July 4. Start line: Food City, 295 Main Street, Bridgton. Race begins at 8 a.m. and concludes by approximately 10 a.m. Arrive by 7:30 a.m. for bib pickup and warmup. Downtown Bridgton parking available along Main Street and in municipal lots.

Where to Stay
Long Lake and Highland Lake rental properties in the Bridgton area represent some of western Maine’s most competitive summer inventory. Book your lakeside accommodations in the Bridgton region on Lake.com and build the Four on the Fourth into the opening morning of a proper lakes-country holiday weekend.