America is celebrating a pretty big birthday this year. Who needs cake when you’ve got war re-enactments, live arts performances, festivals, history lessons and more? Take advantage of your proximity to all the semiquincentennial events in and around the nation’s capital by filling your calendar with fun.
This list will be updated throughout the year as more activities become available.
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
Three new free exhibits connect to America’s big birthday. The first is “Celebrating 250 Years: A Journey Through America with Robert Friemark,” a collection of 50 color screen prints by the abstract expressionist that represent each of the 50 states. Take a free gallery tour of this show March 26, noon-12:30 p.m. The second exhibit is “The Spirit of 2076,” which asks visitors to answer this question: “As we celebrate 250 years of the United States of America, what will the next 50 years look like?” Lastly, “Here from the Start. At the Heart of Progress. Building the Future.” explores the history of financial systems in the United States. 1503 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Alexandria Festival of the Book:Â Portraying America 1776-2026
Readers and history buffs, listen up. On March 14, a one-day festival will explore the art, architecture and literature that have defined American since the revolution. Part of Alexandria’s America 250 celebrations, the event has two sessions. From 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., authors will talk about George Washington’s life in the city, his winter at Valley Forge and untold stories of his heirs. From 1:30-3:30 p.m., learn about the Gilded Age to the Jazz Age, specifically the work of portrait artist John Singer Sargent and the friendship between architect Stanford White and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The afternoon session will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The festival is free and open to the public. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 228 S. Pitt St., Alexandria
Spilling the Revolutionary Tea
Sounds of Home at 250 by Little City Concerts
Arlington’s 9th Street Quartet will present this program about how music instills a sense of belonging. The venue—the Falls Church Episcopal Church—is meaningful, the website notes, because it has been a community focal point since 1723, when George Washington and George Mason were parishioners. It also served as a recruiting station for the Fairfax Militia during the Revolutionary War and was a site where the Declaration of Independence was read to the locals in the summer of 1776. The April 18, 7:30 p.m., show costs $25 and is free for students. 166 E. Broad St., Falls Church
America’s Torchbearers Showcase
As part of its America 250 celebrations, The Military Child will present April 26, noon-4 p.m., performances and a torch-passing ceremony at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. The event is free and open to the public. 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington
Arlington HistoryFest 250
Commemorate the American Revolution on May 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with an outdoor festival featuring live re-enactments, musical performances, historical storytelling, hands-on demos, arts and crafts, and, of course, food. It’s free and family-friendly. Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington (Glencarlyn)
In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness at the National Museum of American History
The museum will launch May 14, an exhibit on the Declaration of Independence. Visitors can review 250 significant objects, including the desk Thomas Jefferson used to draft the world-changing document and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat. 1300 Constitution Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Arlington 250 at Arlington Public Library
APL is celebrating all year. Stop at any of the system’s eight libraries to participate in the “Put Yourself on the Map” project. It invites visitors to share a memory of visiting any library in the country. On May 21, join a community event to discuss All the President’s Men, a book by the Washington Post reporters who uncovered the Watergate scandal. July 18 will bring a summer festival that celebrates libraries and includes a chance to write letters to future Arlingtonians that will be put into a time capsule. And look on Aug. 29, author Rossi Anastopoulo will talk about her book Sweet Land of Liberty, which tracks the history of America in 11 pies. Get an overview of all the plans direct from APL Director Diane Kresh. Check the library’s website for event locations and times.
American Icon: The US Flag in Art at the National Gallery of Art
From June 6-Dec. 6, check out the exhibition on the Stars and Stripes. It will highlight more than 30 works from the late 1800s to today that show the flag’s changing uses and interpretations. 6th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C.
Sails on the Potomac
The signature event of Alexandria’s America 250 celebrations will happen June 12-14 at the waterfront. George Washington’s hometown, Alexandria played a pivotal role in the country’s founding. And that role will be honored at this event with music, family activities, tours, public art and more. Plus, check out several tall ships: Gazela, Kalmar Nyckel, Providence and Sultana. Robinson Terminal South, 2 Duke St., Alexandria
Great American State Fair
Details are still in the works, but the website promises coast-to-coast pride, “from Maine lobster rolls to Hawaii’s shimmering hula stage, Texas-sized steaks to Alaska’s towering ice carvings.” Look for more details on the fair, which will be on the National Mall from June 25-July 10. Between Constitution and Independence Avenues S.W., Washington, D.C.
Happenings in Jamestown and Yorktown
Hop on I-95 south for a couple hours and land in the seat of American history: Jamestown, the first settlement in the New World, and Yorktown, where the Revolutionary War ended. Check out “Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation,” an exhibit running July 1-Jan. 31, 2027, at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown to exhibit Virginia’s role in America’s founding. Through July 12, the Jamestown settlement site is showcasing 31 Ming porcelain vessels from archaeological digs as part of “Following the Dragon: Chinese Ming Porcelain in Early Jamestown.” If you’ll be in the area before May 3, catch “Fresh Views of the American Revolution,” which pairs historic folk art with contemporary community artworks.
Civic Jam
The Little City is readying for a big party July 3, 6-10 p.m. There won’t be fireworks, but go to dance and jam out to music that highlights Falls Church. other features include a beer garden and “classic summer fun.” Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church
Fourth of July Celebration on the National Mall
Obviously, July 4 is *the* date, and the National Mall might be the very place to be on it. The National Archives will host a historic re-enactment of the Declaration of Independence. The National Park Service’s National Independence Day Parade will take over Constitution Avenue for three hours, including marching units representing all 50 states and themed floats. At night is the annual A Capitol Fourth event, a celeb-studded concert on the Mall followed by a fireworks show. Check the website for more information as the date draws closer.
1776 Singalong & Discussion
The city of Alexandria and Emerging Revolutionary War, which provides free content on the historical event, will host a sing-a-long and panel discussion about 1776, a movie that came out in 1972. Beforehand, check out Stories of U.S.: Collections Capture Our History, an exhibition at The Lyceum. Tickets to the sing-a-long and discussion on July 25, 7-9:30 p.m., are $10. 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria