Extended Weekend Getaways 06/13-17/25 – Charlestown, Massachusetts
REVOLUTION IGNITED – A series of events will honor the legacy of the Battle of Bunker Hill, bringing history to life through archaeological trenches, a beer garden, original research, exhibits, and immersive storytelling. The battle is one of the nation’s most significant events on the road to American independence. While the provincial forces were forced from the Charlestown Peninsula at the Battle of Bunker Hill, they proved they could hold their own against the superior British Army. The stubborn defense of the fortifications atop Breed’s Hill demoralized the British and accelerated the movement toward American independence. The destruction of Charlestown, one of the oldest settlements in Massachusetts, proved to the other colonies that the fight in Massachusetts was the fight for “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” throughout America. These milestone events offer a deeper understanding of Charlestown’s past and its lasting impact on American history. https://www.bh250.org/
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06/14/25 – Washington D.C.
The U.S. Army and President Trump are planning an extensive celebration in the nation’s capital, featuring a fireworks display, concert and parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. Organizers anticipate more than 6,000 soldiers, along with dozens of vehicles and aircraft. The concert will take place at 8 p.m. at the Ellipse with fireworks to follow.
Protests are also planned that day, including one by the National Protest Against Trump and the War Machine. The National Park Services is expecting thousands of participants according to the permit.
Emancipation Proclamation & General Order No. 3 | June 19 – 22
In honor of Juneteenth, the National Archives will place the original Emancipation Proclamation, the document proclaiming the freedom of all enslaved people, on display in the Archives Rotunda Galleries. The document will be shown alongside General Order No. 3, which U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation informing the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free.
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Thru 06/30/25 – Lewisville, North Carolina
BATTLE OF SHALLOW FORD EXHIBITION – At the Lewisville Branch, An Exhibition of Words and Watercolors” is a collection of “watercolors” by master craftsman Rick Jones, accompanied by storyboards of “words” by artist and writer, Marilyn Ingram. The story, unfolding during a time where there were no cameras, cell phones, or even a typewriter, is told through the eyes of artists, field correspondents who would paint, draw or write a journal. The paintings include scenes at the Shallow Ford and nearby battle area, Moravian settlements along the great wagon road, and annual commemoration in Huntsville, NC. Sponsored by The Lewisville Area Arts Council, Historic Nissen House and Battle of Shallow Ford https://laac.tripod.com/bosfwawc.html
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07/04/25 – Halifax, North Carolina
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION -At the Halifax State Historic Site. Musket firing, living-history demonstrations, and a special reading of the Declaration of Independence will combine to make this a Fourth of July to remember in the historic town of Halifax! Continue the fun with the Town of Halifax’s celebration that afternoon and enjoy the annual fireworks display, at dark on the courthouse lawn. The event is unique in the fact that the fireworks display is actually produced by the Fire Dept members themselves for the past 30 years… This wonderful event provides entertainment for all ages and draws in approximately 8-10 thousand people a year to this small town. There is always lots of food, fun, and family activities.
08/23/25 – Tucson, Arizona
This year, Tucson celebrates 250 years since its founding which correlates with the founding of the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson in 1775. The date precedes the nation’s birthday by one year. A 250+ Celebration will take place at the Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson on August 23, 2025 acknowledging the rich cultures of people who lived in the region over thousands of years, including the O’odham, Yaqui and Apache. Trace Tucson’s history back thousands of years at Mission Garden to learn about the Indigenous people who first settled in Tucson and their first contact with Spanish missionaries. Then, head 15 minutes south to Mission San Xavier del Bac. Nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the United States, it is the oldest European structure in Arizona founded in 1700 by Father Eusebio Kino, who befriended and traded with the Tohono O’odham and was finished in 1797. NEW: The Mission San Xavier del Bac’s ornate retablo facade is undergoing restoration that will last into 2026. The restoration will remove incompatible materials and restore the facade to its original lime-based plaster.
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10/09/25 – 11/10/25 – Philadelphia
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to celebrate – Homecoming 250 features parades on land and water, a veterans’ picnic, formal galas, military flyovers, a documentary film screening, patriotic concerts and citywide activations in permanent sites retelling the story of the armed forces in the United States of America. In 1775, America’s founders convened in Philadelphia to establish the military forces that would fight for and win the nation’s independence. In 2025, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps return to their birthplace to mark 250 years of service with Homecoming 250—a six-week celebration of military history and legacy, set against the historic backdrop of the city where it all began..Whether you’ve proudly worn the uniform or respect those who have, Philadelphia is the place to be – and explore – this fall.
Philadelphia’s status as a naval powerhouse was cemented with the founding of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the country’s first, in 1762. Throughout the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Philadelphia, with its vast port, served as a major hub of recruitment, supply and manufacturing. Although little wartime or military activity takes place in Philadelphia today, the city and region are integral to the story of the people who fought “on land and sea” to establish the nation.
