Source: New Jersey Family
Cities across the U.S. are preparing for once-in-a-generation celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. Throughout 2026, families can experience Revolutionary reenactments, heritage festivals, tall ship parades, block parties, and public art displays that will bring history to life.
Here’s a guide to some of the country’s most historic destinations and experiences for the nation’s semi-quincentennial birthday.
Many of the Revolutionary War battles were fought in New York and New Jersey. In New York, families can explore Saratoga National Historical Park’s Historic Sewing Sessions and Victory Season events or Fort Ticonderoga’s Real Time Revolution® reenactments (May 9–11, 2026).
On July 4, the Port of New York and New Jersey will host Sail4th 250, featuring a massive flotilla of tall ships open to public tours throughout the week. Expect family-friendly festivals, cultural performances, and a fireworks display.
Families in Southern New Jersey can also take a short drive across the Delaware River to New Castle, Delaware, to celebrate Separation Day. This Americana festival marks Delaware’s independence from Pennsylvania in 1776, only weeks before the nation declared independence from Britain, and will celebrate its 250th anniversary the first weekend of June 2026. Admission is free, and the weekend features a Colonial-inspired parade, artisan and vintage markets, live music, and fireworks over the Delaware River, another fun way to experience history up close.
Philadelphia is rolling out its “Ring It On!” campaign for 2026. From the start of June through July, families can hunt for 20 large replica Liberty Bells placed throughout the city, enjoy 250th-themed Block Party Bonanza kits in neighborhoods, and attend super-sized block parties with DJs, inflatables, and local vendors.
In addition, the Neighborhood Tour Series runs for 20 weeks in spring and summer, including Philly’s parks, shops, historic landmarks, and cultural treasures, and is guided in collaboration with local historians and community members. Families can also explore the city’s 52 Weeks of Firsts, celebrating Philly’s historic milestones all year, and experience ArtPhilly: What Now from May 29–July 4, a citywide arts and culture festival with interactive performances and installations.
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG RESORTS
The Historic Triangle is a must-do if walking a Yorktown battlefield, seeing the artifacts unearthed at Jamestown, and exploring the world’s largest living history dedicated to the American Revolution interests you.
From June 12–14, Yorktown’s dock will host Sail250 America, giving families the chance to tour tall ships and military vessels up close. On July 4, Williamsburg’s historic district will feature reenactments, free admission to the Historic Area and Art Museums, readings of the Declaration of Independence, and fireworks over Palace Green.
Stop by the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center to see The Great American Birthday Quilt, a collaborative project to view how fellow Americans “stitched their story” into fabric squares at participating quilt shops across America. The final quilt will be unveiled in Spring 2026.
If you plan to stay overnight, the Colonial Williamsburg Resorts’ authentic colonial houses have been beautifully restored. While there, dine at historic spots like Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, one of George Washington’s favorites.
From July 12–14, 2026, Alexandria will host tall ships as an official Sail Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor, part of Sail250® Virginia, the largest public event in the Commonwealth. Families can enjoy music, exhibits, public art, tours, and hands-on activities. Here are a few additional events you can find:
July 14: 47th Annual Alexandria Jazz Fest will buzz with live jazz along the waterfront.
Mount Vernon | America 250: Walk Patriots Path, explore Revolutionary War encampments, and visit a new George Washington exhibit.
250th Time and Place public art project: Alexandria’s neighborhoods will host temporary art celebrating local history.
July 11: Celebrate America and Alexandria’s birthdays with music, food, and fireworks on the Potomac.
Families can also visit museums like Gadsby’s Tavern and Carlyle House, take historic tours, or learn about one of the oldest documented African American families at 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood.
You can celebrate America’s 250th where it all began—the site of the First Landing. Virginia Beach will mark the milestone with its Stars & Stripes Celebration. Think concerts on oceanfront stages, beachside fireworks, and even a Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise with the Virginia Aquarium. Families can visit the First Landing State Park, the original 1792 Cape Henry Lighthouse, and several historic homes for a coastal twist on Revolutionary history.
The Charleston Museum’s “Becoming Americans” exhibit shares artifacts from colonial times, including Francis Marion’s personal treasures and a British Royal Artillery cartridge box from Lexington and Concord. Families can also tour the Heyward-Washington House, home to Declaration signer Thomas Heyward Jr., with an audio guide that explores the lives of Patriots, Loyalists, and the enslaved.
While in Newport, families can participate in Tavern Talks with historians and the exhibit “Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On?”, beginning May 15, 2026. Nearby, Bristol hosts the nation’s longest-running Fourth of July parade, drawing more than 200,000 visitors.
KYLE KLEIN / Rev250
As the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston will be a centerpiece of the semiquincentennial. Families can walk the Freedom Trail to 16 iconic sites, from the Paul Revere House to Bunker Hill Monument, and catch annual historic events like the Flag Day Ceremony (June 14), Bunker Hill Parade (June 15), and a cornerstone reenactment (June 16).
The city will also host seven FIFA World Cup matches and the return of the Tall Ships for Sail Boston 2026, another maritime celebration featuring historic and modern vessels. And the Museum of Fine Arts reopens its 18th-century Art of the Americas galleries on June 19, spotlighting how artists shaped the Revolutionary era.
With hands-on attractions like the USS Constitution Museum and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Boston is not to be missed in this historic year. Stay up-to-date at revolution250.org.
An hour south of Boston, the New Bedford Whaling Museum will open a new exhibit, Forging Independence | Building a Nation, on December 1, 2026. The exhibit brings important regional events of the Revolution to life, like Grey’s Raid and the Bombardment of Fairhaven, exploring the diverse voices that played a revolutionary role. It’s a chance for families to experience a more inclusive view of early American independence.
Families can see the Fourth of July fireworks over the National Mall, live concerts, and tours of national monuments in our nation’s capital. Throughout 2026, special events include the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, neighborhood tours, and family-friendly art and performance programs in D.C.’s communities.
ADAM CLARK / BRODY LEVEN / FOR GO RVING
For families who want to explore across America, Go RVing created a series of road trip itineraries called RV-2-50. Spanning long weekends, six-week, or six-month trips, these routes focus on historic, cultural, and scenic sites with nearby family-friendly campsites. On a long weekend trip, RV through the Mid-Atlantic to visit McFort Henry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the United States Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and Gettysburg National Military Park. To view more travel itineraries, visit gorving.com under the “Tips and Inspirations” tab. Road tripping is a powerful reminder that history isn’t just found inside the pages of a textbook.
KYLE KLEIN / Rev250
Whether you want to watch mock battles, follow a treasure map to 20 Liberty Bells, or stitch your story into a grand quilt, America’s 250th offers a chance to make history come alive for you and your crew.
To discover more, visit: https://america250.org.
Source: New Jersey Family
Cities across the U.S. are preparing for once-in-a-generation celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. Throughout 2026, families can experience Revolutionary reenactments, heritage festivals, tall ship parades, block parties, and public art displays that will bring history to life.
Here’s a guide to some of the country’s most historic destinations and experiences for the nation’s semi-quincentennial birthday.
Many of the Revolutionary War battles were fought in New York and New Jersey. In New York, families can explore Saratoga National Historical Park’s Historic Sewing Sessions and Victory Season events or Fort Ticonderoga’s Real Time Revolution® reenactments (May 9–11, 2026).
On July 4, the Port of New York and New Jersey will host Sail4th 250, featuring a massive flotilla of tall ships open to public tours throughout the week. Expect family-friendly festivals, cultural performances, and a fireworks display.
Families in Southern New Jersey can also take a short drive across the Delaware River to New Castle, Delaware, to celebrate Separation Day. This Americana festival marks Delaware’s independence from Pennsylvania in 1776, only weeks before the nation declared independence from Britain, and will celebrate its 250th anniversary the first weekend of June 2026. Admission is free, and the weekend features a Colonial-inspired parade, artisan and vintage markets, live music, and fireworks over the Delaware River, another fun way to experience history up close.
Philadelphia is rolling out its “Ring It On!” campaign for 2026. From the start of June through July, families can hunt for 20 large replica Liberty Bells placed throughout the city, enjoy 250th-themed Block Party Bonanza kits in neighborhoods, and attend super-sized block parties with DJs, inflatables, and local vendors.
In addition, the Neighborhood Tour Series runs for 20 weeks in spring and summer, including Philly’s parks, shops, historic landmarks, and cultural treasures, and is guided in collaboration with local historians and community members. Families can also explore the city’s 52 Weeks of Firsts, celebrating Philly’s historic milestones all year, and experience ArtPhilly: What Now from May 29–July 4, a citywide arts and culture festival with interactive performances and installations.
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG RESORTS
The Historic Triangle is a must-do if walking a Yorktown battlefield, seeing the artifacts unearthed at Jamestown, and exploring the world’s largest living history dedicated to the American Revolution interests you.
From June 12–14, Yorktown’s dock will host Sail250 America, giving families the chance to tour tall ships and military vessels up close. On July 4, Williamsburg’s historic district will feature reenactments, free admission to the Historic Area and Art Museums, readings of the Declaration of Independence, and fireworks over Palace Green.
Stop by the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center to see The Great American Birthday Quilt, a collaborative project to view how fellow Americans “stitched their story” into fabric squares at participating quilt shops across America. The final quilt will be unveiled in Spring 2026.
If you plan to stay overnight, the Colonial Williamsburg Resorts’ authentic colonial houses have been beautifully restored. While there, dine at historic spots like Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, one of George Washington’s favorites.
From July 12–14, 2026, Alexandria will host tall ships as an official Sail Virginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor, part of Sail250® Virginia, the largest public event in the Commonwealth. Families can enjoy music, exhibits, public art, tours, and hands-on activities. Here are a few additional events you can find:
July 14: 47th Annual Alexandria Jazz Fest will buzz with live jazz along the waterfront.
Mount Vernon | America 250: Walk Patriots Path, explore Revolutionary War encampments, and visit a new George Washington exhibit.
250th Time and Place public art project: Alexandria’s neighborhoods will host temporary art celebrating local history.
July 11: Celebrate America and Alexandria’s birthdays with music, food, and fireworks on the Potomac.
Families can also visit museums like Gadsby’s Tavern and Carlyle House, take historic tours, or learn about one of the oldest documented African American families at 1799 Prime Steak & Seafood.
You can celebrate America’s 250th where it all began—the site of the First Landing. Virginia Beach will mark the milestone with its Stars & Stripes Celebration. Think concerts on oceanfront stages, beachside fireworks, and even a Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise with the Virginia Aquarium. Families can visit the First Landing State Park, the original 1792 Cape Henry Lighthouse, and several historic homes for a coastal twist on Revolutionary history.
The Charleston Museum’s “Becoming Americans” exhibit shares artifacts from colonial times, including Francis Marion’s personal treasures and a British Royal Artillery cartridge box from Lexington and Concord. Families can also tour the Heyward-Washington House, home to Declaration signer Thomas Heyward Jr., with an audio guide that explores the lives of Patriots, Loyalists, and the enslaved.
While in Newport, families can participate in Tavern Talks with historians and the exhibit “Newport 1775: Whose Side Are You On?”, beginning May 15, 2026. Nearby, Bristol hosts the nation’s longest-running Fourth of July parade, drawing more than 200,000 visitors.
KYLE KLEIN / Rev250
As the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston will be a centerpiece of the semiquincentennial. Families can walk the Freedom Trail to 16 iconic sites, from the Paul Revere House to Bunker Hill Monument, and catch annual historic events like the Flag Day Ceremony (June 14), Bunker Hill Parade (June 15), and a cornerstone reenactment (June 16).
The city will also host seven FIFA World Cup matches and the return of the Tall Ships for Sail Boston 2026, another maritime celebration featuring historic and modern vessels. And the Museum of Fine Arts reopens its 18th-century Art of the Americas galleries on June 19, spotlighting how artists shaped the Revolutionary era.
With hands-on attractions like the USS Constitution Museum and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, Boston is not to be missed in this historic year. Stay up-to-date at revolution250.org.
An hour south of Boston, the New Bedford Whaling Museum will open a new exhibit, Forging Independence | Building a Nation, on December 1, 2026. The exhibit brings important regional events of the Revolution to life, like Grey’s Raid and the Bombardment of Fairhaven, exploring the diverse voices that played a revolutionary role. It’s a chance for families to experience a more inclusive view of early American independence.
Families can see the Fourth of July fireworks over the National Mall, live concerts, and tours of national monuments in our nation’s capital. Throughout 2026, special events include the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, neighborhood tours, and family-friendly art and performance programs in D.C.’s communities.
ADAM CLARK / BRODY LEVEN / FOR GO RVING
For families who want to explore across America, Go RVing created a series of road trip itineraries called RV-2-50. Spanning long weekends, six-week, or six-month trips, these routes focus on historic, cultural, and scenic sites with nearby family-friendly campsites. On a long weekend trip, RV through the Mid-Atlantic to visit McFort Henry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the United States Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and Gettysburg National Military Park. To view more travel itineraries, visit gorving.com under the “Tips and Inspirations” tab. Road tripping is a powerful reminder that history isn’t just found inside the pages of a textbook.
KYLE KLEIN / Rev250
Whether you want to watch mock battles, follow a treasure map to 20 Liberty Bells, or stitch your story into a grand quilt, America’s 250th offers a chance to make history come alive for you and your crew.
To discover more, visit: https://america250.org.
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