State celebrations to mark 250 years of American independence are in full swing, as the country prepares to mark the semiquincentennial on July 4.
“This is not just about a big fireworks show on July 4, 2026,” America250 chairwoman Rosie Rios, who heads the entity created by Congress to mark the milestone, said. “This milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect on our past and what we want to be 250 years from now. It’s a chance for all of us to ask, ‘What is the spirit of America?’ And to me, a few ideas capture the essence of the American spirit, but none better than the spirit of America focused on service. Public service is part of the fabric of our nation.”
The White House and iconic American franchises such as Disney are highlighting the anniversary in a variety of ways, while states are leading additional festivities.
In Massachusetts, which was the epicenter of the colonists’ early resistance against Britain, Boston is marking the semiquincentennial on July 4 with a ceremony in Downtown Crossing, reenactments, art markets, Chowderfest, live music, and fireworks. The city, touted by officials as “the birthplace of the American Revolution,” was the epicenter of the colonists’ early resistance against Britain, featuring the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, and the first battles at Lexington and Concord.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania boasts the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed and served as the seat of the Continental Congress, making it the birthplace of U.S. independence and a key state for America 250 celebrations. The state was the first state in the nation to pass a resolution to have all counties become partners with America250.
In Philadelphia, officials say they have invested over $100 million in celebrations and partnerships spanning more than 60 community and cultural organizations. Many initiatives are centered on Philadelphia’s centuries-old Liberty Bell, which pealed in 1776 to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, residents will gather beneath the Liberty Bell to open a time capsule that has been sealed since 1976, the year Americans celebrated the Bicentennial. Earlier this month, Philadelphia unveiled 22 new fiberglass replicas of the Liberty Bell to be installed on display throughout the city. The “Bells Across PA” program has called in local artists to highlight the histories, cultures, traditions, and heroes of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, while commemorating the semiquincentennial. The bells will be displayed along commercial corridors and public parks.
The city will be hosting several other major events during July 4, including MLB’s 2026 All-Star game and FIFA’s World Cup games at Lincoln Financial Field. It is also holding a “Block Party Bonanza,” complete with “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” kits with 250-themed decorations, toys, games, and other items, “designed to spark celebration and civic pride.”
America250 PA is also hosting a free concert series offering residents the opportunity to attend five events across the state, leading up to the Welcome America Concert in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July.
Among other initiatives is a special exhibit at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution that explores the history of the Declaration of Independence through rare documents, artworks, and artifacts.
In Bucks County’s Washington Crossing Park, local leaders are highlighting the Crossing of the Delaware, a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Visitors will be able to step inside a 40-foot replica of the boat George Washington used to cross the Delaware River on Dec. 25, 1776, serving as a “gateway into history.” At the time, George Washington led nearly 2,500 troops through the icy waters in the dead of night to surprise British forces celebrating the holiday.
“This interactive installation will immerse visitors in the history of the American Revolution, offering a glimpse into the lives of the soldiers who made this journey possible,” reads the website promoting the project.
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission unveiled a special “Keystone of American History” exhibit highlighting over 140 rare artifacts featuring the American Revolution and the country’s early days. The 1st Continental Regiment Flag, Charles Weisgerber’s 1893 painting, Birth of Our Nation’s Flag, and 35 original hand-illuminated copies of the Declaration of Independence are among the items displayed at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.
Virginia
George Washington, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, are among the many revolutionary heroes who called Virginia home. Washington’s Mount Vernon residence and Jefferson’s Monticello are commemorating the semiquincentennial in a variety of ways.
On May 2, VA250 and Monticello are featuring “From Pen to Paper: Thomas Jefferson and the Drafting of the Declaration of Independence.” On June 11, Mount Vernon is presenting “A Celebration of Our Role in the World.”
Virginia has been selected as one of five U.S. ports chosen to host a historic maritime fleet making its way to New York Harbor. Sail250 is expected to draw more than 3 million visitors to Virginia and generate at least $150 million in tourism revenue, when the fleet of international vessels arrives in Alexandria between June 12 and 15, and then heads to Norfolk from June 18 to 23. By the time the record-breaking fleet arrives in New York Harbor for the grand July 4 finale, it is expected to boast more than 30 international tall ships and 40 gray-hull vessels.
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“America was really founded by Virginians,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) said at an event last year highlighting Sail 250. “Could it be any more appropriate for us to come together this time next year and welcome 60 vessels from 20 countries?”
On July 4, Greene County is having a parade featuring the Montpelier Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. NSDAR will have a walking unit, with chapter members passing out miniature scrolls of the Declaration of Independence to parade attendees.
The state recently created an “America 250 passport” designed to encourage Virginians and visitors to commemorate the milestone by visiting historic sites and museums. Seventy locations across five regions of the commonwealth are participating in the passport initiative, which offers users discounts and prizes for visiting the sites.
“Travelers collect unique stamps while visiting each passport site. Once they have secured a stamp in their passport, they can receive up to a 15% discount at future participating locations that charge admission,” according to Alexandria Living Magazine. “Collecting at least five stamps makes them eligible to enter the prize drawing. Prizes will be drawn in December 2026 and include yearlong museum memberships and cash awards up to $2,500.”
Law enforcement is also embracing efforts to mark the country’s 250th birthday. Earlier this month, the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office unveiled special commemorative patches, pins, and lapels for deputies to wear throughout the anniversary year.
“This represents more than just a uniform change,” Sheriff Rocky Holcomb told WTKR. “It’s about honoring our past while continuing to serve our community with pride.”
Iowa
President Donald Trump chose Iowa to kick off the semiquincentennial year last July. He picked the state, itself renowned for annual fairs, to launch his plans for “The Great American State Fair,” which will begin in Iowa, travel to state fairs across the country, and culminate in a festival on the National Mall.
This summer, the Iowa State Fair will run from August 13 through 23, and place a special emphasis on the milestone, offering new categories in its annual competition.
“America 250 could be all sorts of different things in your mind, whether that’s red, white, and blue or something maybe patriotic, or a flag or a scene,” State Fair spokeswoman Mindy Williamson told Radio Iowa on Monday. “And then, you know, if you’re more into baking, what’s more patriotic than pie?”
The state, known for its lead role in selecting the country’s presidents through the famed Iowa caucuses, will also mark the milestone with a push to expand voter registration, framing it as an effort to expand civic engagement. Secretary of State Paul Pate is aiming to host 250 voter registration drives across Iowa through the Ready, Set, Vote 250 initiative.
“We’ve got 33 college campuses — 15 community colleges, private schools and universities — that we’re reaching out to as individuals and then, of course, high schools,” he said last month. “So we’ve got a pretty ambitious goal.”
New York
On July 4, residents will see the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world sail into New York Harbor. But that’s not all the Empire State has to offer.
On July 3, the iconic Times Square ball will drop to jumpstart celebrations, marking the first time it has ever done so on a day other than New Year’s Eve.
Carnegie Hall is also pulling out the stops. “United in Sound: America at 250” will play from January through July and feature musical voices that have shaped American culture, including works by Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin.
Notable mentions
States across the country are hosting showings of The American Revolution, a six-part, 12-hour documentary series directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. Burns is touring Revolutionary War-oriented states such as South Carolina to promote the series, which details the country’s early years and its eight-year War for Independence.
In addition, the National Archives and Records Administration is bringing important U.S. founding documents on a tour to the country’s largest cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, and Atlanta. The “Freedom Plane National Tour” includes the original engraving of the Declaration of Independence, which is one of only about 50 known engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence. It also carries George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance signed during the Revolutionary War, and the Treaty of Paris, signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay.
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In Nebraska, the world’s largest American flag is coming to Omaha, with 650 people needed to unfurl the U.S. symbol. A performance by the Irish tenor Ronan Tynan and a drone show in Memorial Park is scheduled to follow the May 22 flag-raising.
In South Dakota, a fireworks display will take place on July 3, with the celebrations lighting up the carved-stone faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln on Mount Rushmore.
