WEST ATHENS -- Organizers of the annual "alternative" Fourth of July celebration in this Somerset County community are warning visitors that continued rowdy behavior, underage drinking and reckless use of all-terrain vehicles through the village center could spell the end of the long-running event.

The West Athens parade of zany floats down the Valley Road and the stage play performed by the In Spite of Life Players in a local gravel pit is in its 36th year, organizer Anna Freeman of West Athens said.

She said the organizing committee met May 25 and reported that last year's parade was "the rowdiest ever."

The event, which includes a home-style parade and a political satire, "started in the early '70s as a community-based event in celebration of individual freedom and survival of the winter months," Freeman said. "In it's 36th year, the 'happening' has, through the years, attracted large crowds that have become more and more unmanageable.

"For some young people this has become 'the place to be' where 'hippies' -- and now them -- can get wild."

Freeman said this mindset has raised concerns to parade-goers and to the families who live along the parade route. She said the family that owns the gravel pit has become increasingly worried about liability of someone getting hurt.

Freeman said drinking and bad behavior has marred the original intent of the celebration.

"It has brought some people to the conclusion that the event should be canceled and many have said they will not attend this year," Freeman said.

But, she said, as one of the founders of the event, to suspend the tradition of outlandish parade floats, Harley Davidsons, painted faces, kazoo bands and flowers-in-the-hair would be a defeat.

"We've been doing this for so long and it's brought such spirit to our town, it would be unfortunate if we had to abandon it because of the misbehavior of a few," Freeman said.

"We've done this for 35 years and we've never had a bad accident."

This year, organizers will attempt to impose stricter controls, she said.

Signs will be posted at either end of the Valley and Chapman Ridge roads urging people to park and walk to the parade and gravel pit to avoid traffic jams and potential property damage.

"We'd also like to encourage people to make floats or otherwise walk in the parade with a message," Freeman said. "We think of this as a participatory event, not a spectacle for inebriated gawkers and streams of drunken kids on ATVs."

The parade is set to form again this year at 11 a.m. in West Athens village for a march to the gravel pits at about noon.

The annual play and send-up of political leaders is scheduled to follow at 1 p.m.

Doug Harlow 474-9534 ext. 342

dharlow@centralmaine.com