- Friday, May 15: Waterbury's America 250th Kick-off Celebration; About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits Opening5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Mattatuck Museum: 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702
- Join us as we kick off Waterbury s America 250th celebration with a special evening at the Mattatuck Museum!
- About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits & Waterbury America 250th Kickoff Event will take place on Friday, May 15th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This exciting event offers residents a first look at upcoming America 250th celebrations planned throughout the community.
- Guests will enjoy complimentary gallery access to the About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits exhibit, showcasing the rich history and diversity of American identity through portraiture.
- This event is open to all; RSVP is highly recommended.
- Don t miss this opportunity to celebrate history, art, and community as we begin the journey toward America s 250th anniversary!
- Link: Waterbury s America 250th Kick-off Celebration; About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits Opening on May 15 @ 5:00 PM in Waterbury, CT
- Cocktails and Conversations: Reflections on 250 Years in American Art
- Thursday, May 21 | 5:30 PM 7:00 PM
- Join panelists Chief Curator Rebecca McNamara from the Mattatuck Museum and Marcia Brady Tucker Fellow Kate Criscitiello from Yale University Art Gallery to discuss and explore American history in art through two exhibitions commemorating the United States semiquincentennial: About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits (Mattatuck) and Keeping Alive the Remembrance: Commemorating America s Founding, 1776 1876 (YUAG). The talk will conclude with a gallery discussion in About Face: 250 Years of American Portraits
- $15 Adult
$10 Sober Adult
$10 Member Adult
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- Sunday, May 24: Memorial Day Parade
- 12:00pm Muster (Freight Street)
- 1:00pm Parade Starts
- About:
Please let us know if your organization will be able to attend by filling out this quick response form: https://forms.gle/AADiQkHCWv4pT9Rz5
As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, the theme for this year s parade will be: Stars, Stripes, and Sacrifice: 250 Years of American Heroes
Any other questions please contact: Alderwoman Kelly Zimmermann - Parade Chairwoman / 203-232-8920 / wtbyveteransmemorialcommittee@gmail.com
- The American Revolution: Artifacts and Stories from Across Connecticut
- Monday, June 1 Friday, July 31
- Monday: 9:00 am - 4:45 pm
- Tuesday Thursday: 9:00 am 8:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am 5:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am 4:45 pm
- Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury CT 06704 (Gallery Wall & Display Case)
- About Event: Connecticut in the American Revolution is a story of fervent patriots, heroic spies, and divided loyalties. The exhibit, presented on six pop-up banners, highlights treasures from the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History collection that reveal the people and events that helped influence the war and shape the new nation. A companion exhibit featuring books from the Silas Bronson Library archives and reproductions of documents at the Library of Congress and the Connecticut State Archives will explore Waterbury s connections to the Revolutionary War.
- Revolutionary Waterbury
- Wednesday, June 10
- 6:00pm
- Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury CT 06704 (Auditorium)
About Event: You know about Boston and Yorktown, but what about Waterbury? There weren't any battles, but George Washington visited Waterbury during the Revolutionary War, Rochambeau s army marched through town, and hundreds of Waterbury men served in the military. Waterbury was also home to many Loyalists, including Moses Dunbar, who was executed for high treason in 1777. Learn about these stories and more with the library Director Raechel Guest.
- Van Trip: America 250: Two Revolutions
- Thursday, June 25 | 8:30 AM to 7 PM
- Come reflect on our country s past and peek into its future in Cambridge, MA.
Learn More
- History & Hops: Red, White, & BINGO!
- Sunday, June 28 | 1-3 PM
- Celebrate America s 250th anniversary with a game that combines the exciting elements of trivia and bingo! Participants will be challenged to listen and answer questions for clues about American history, culture, landmarks, and famous figures while marking their cards. From the Revolutionary era to modern milestones, every round brings a chance to showcase your patriotic knowledge while competing to get a bingo. This engaging program blends friendly competition, patriotism, and fascinating facts as we commemorate 250 years of American history.
- Cost: S10
- Register Here
- Friday, July 3: Waterbury's America 250th Celebration
- 12:00pm 6:00pm
- Hamilton Park
- More details to come!
- Saturday, July 4: Waterbury's Independence Day Fireworks
- 9:15pm -9:30pm
- Holy Land
- Join us for Independence Day Fireworks on Saturday, July 4th at 9:15 PM.
- Fireworks will light up the sky from Holy Land USA in a special evening of patriotism.
- Holy Land USA
- 9:15 PM
- Rain date: Sunday, July 5th
- Be part of this historic celebration as we honor 250 years of American independence. Don t miss this spectacular night!
- SUMMER CAMP @ THE MATT
- July 6 10, 2026 Archiving America: 250 Years of Stories Join us as we embark on a visual journey through time to explore the diverse faces and identities that have shaped the American narrative over the last 250 years. Campers will learn how history is recorded through art and experiment with different ways we can tell our own unique stories.
- Register Here
- Jordan Freeman and the Revolutionary War
- Thursday, September 17
- 6:30pm
- Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury CT 06704 (Main Reading Room)
About Event: Jordan Freeman, a native of Old Lyme, Connecticut, witnessed key events of the war for independence. His story is brought to life by Kevin Johnson, an employee of the Connecticut State Library s Department of History and Genealogy. Johnson s portrayal of Freeman is told from an emotional and exciting first-person perspective that vividly illustrates the struggle of African Americans during the Revolutionary War.
Friday, July 3: Waterbury's America 250th Celebration
12:00pm-6:00pm
- Hamilton Park: 110 Hamilton Park Rd, Waterbury, CT 06705
- Join us as we kick off Waterbury's America 250th Celebration on Friday, July 3rd at Hamilton Park!
- From 12:00pm-6:00pm, families and friends are invited to enjoy an afternoon filled with music, lawn games, arts & crafts, food, informational tables, and more as we celebrate 250 years of American history, community, and pride.
- Hamilton Park 110 Hamilton Park Rd Waterbury, CT 06705
- Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit back relax, and comfortably enjoy the live performances throughout the day!
- Bring your family, bring your friends, and come celebrate this historic milestone with us!
What’s the America 250th Celebration?
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
America250 is striving for “350 by 250” — our goal to engage all 350 million Americans by our nation’s 250th anniversary. Join us in celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial by sharing your story through Our American Story or America’s Invitation, inviting students to describe what America means to them as part of America’s Field Trip, or helping make 2026 a record setting year for volunteer service through America Gives.
America250
What’s the America 250th Connecticut Celebration?
On July 1, 2022, Governor Ned Lamont established a commission responsible for planning the State of Connecticut’s multi-year commemorations, celebrations, and reflections on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States of America, which will occur on July 4, 2026.
You can read the Governor’s Executive Order here.
About the Commission – America 250 | CT
America250 Overview
America250 is the bipartisan initiative working to engage every American in planning the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial. It is spearheaded by the congressionally appointed U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and its nonprofit supporting organization, America250.org, Inc., together known as America250. America250 aims to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country on its journey toward becoming more perfect as envisioned by our Founding Fathers, and renew our commitment to the values on which our nation was founded. The 250th anniversary will be the largest and most inspiring celebration and commemoration in our nation’s history. With strategic partners, iconic sponsors, and a powerful grassroots network across all 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia, America250 is making space for all Americans to tell their stories, serve their communities, and create a global platform of unity. Our multi-year effort kicked off with America’s Invitation on July 4, 2023—a national campaign inviting Americans to share their stories and hopes for the future. Since then, America250 has announced a number of initiatives that are unprecedented in scope and scale, each designed to engage communities at the local, state, and national level. Put together, our programs aim to engage all 350 million Americans by the 250th anniversary—a goal we call “350 for 250.”Now, America250 is heading into 2026 with extraordinary momentum. We are creating once-in-a-generation moments of celebration, while building enduring movements that will continue to engage and unite Americans long after the fireworks fade. The moments will include unforgettable, unifying milestones on our national stage. The movements are our lasting legacy—America250’s value-based programs designed to educate, engage, and connect Americans at every level, and extending into international spectacles such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics. This work is possible thanks to strong support from Congressional leadership, extensive collaboration with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and scores of partners nationwide. We are also proud to be supported by the Congressional America250 Caucus, the largest bipartisan, bicameral caucus in Congressional history, as well as a coalition of honorary national co-chairs and ambassadors.
The America250 Playbook: Our Journey to 2026
Join Waterbury’s America 250th Celebration Planning Committee!
In 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, and Waterbury is getting ready to celebrate!
The City of Waterbury invites residents, community leaders, business owners, students, veterans, artists, historians, and anyone with civic pride to take part in planning this historic milestone.
What Is the America 250th Planning Committee?
The committee’s purpose is to:
- Plan and organize community events and programs commemorating America’s 250th anniversary
- Celebrate Waterbury’s unique history and contributions to our nation
- Promote civic pride, education, and community engagement
- Coordinate partnerships with local organizations, schools, cultural groups, and businesses
- Ensure inclusive, meaningful celebrations that bring our entire community together
Get Involved!
If you would like to participate in Waterbury’s America 250th Celebration Event Planning Committee, please contact:
Ali DeGirolamo / adegirolamo@waterburyct.org / 203-574-6712
Let’s work together to make Waterbury’s America 250th celebration memorable, meaningful, and truly representative of our great community!
