★ AMERICA 250 ★
America turns 250 this year, and Central PA is not sitting this one out.
I've been pulling together every event, exhibit, and experience I can find within about an hour of the west shore — from big produced celebrations to small-town historical society gatherings — and compiling them here in one place. This is a living document, so you might want to bookmark it so you can check back as more events are added and details get confirmed.
Events are listed in chronological order and organized by month. Scroll to the end for ongoing exhibits and experiences that don't fit neatly into a single date.
Price guide:
🟢 = Free
🟠 = Paid or partial cost (I include pricing whenever I can find it — if it says TBD, check the link before you go)
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If you know of an ‘America 250’ event that is not listed here and want to share: email us at [email protected]
MAY 2026
BAPS Charities Walk/Run – America 250 Block Party
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2026 | Time: 10:30 AM
Cost: 🟢 FREE EVENT 🟢
Hosted by: BAPS Charities
Location: Willow Mill Park, 80 Old Willow Mill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Community walk/run and block party celebrating America's 250th anniversary with themes of unity, service, and civic engagement. Part of the nationwide BAPS America 250 Block Party series.
Included: Walk/run, block party activities, community celebration. Family-friendly.
JUNE 2026
Strasburg Rail Road Founders Day Makers Market
Date: Saturday–Sunday, June 6–7, 2026 | Time: All day
Cost: 🟢 FREE PORTIONS & 🟠 PAID PORTIONS · Market admission is free, train ride requires regular excursion ticket.
Hosted by: Strasburg Rail Road
Location: Strasburg Rail Road, 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
Kickoff event for America250PA at America's oldest continuously operating railroad. Local makers market celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary.
Included: Makers market, local artisans, train experience.
Upper Adams Parade & America 250 Events at Oakside
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 | Time: 1:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: Boroughs of Arendtsville, Bendersville & Biglerville and Townships of Butler & Menallen
Location: Oakside Community Park, 2880 Table Rock Rd, Biglerville, PA 17307
A full day of America 250 community celebration in Adams County, starting with a parade through Biglerville and rolling into an evening of live music, family activities, and fireworks at Oakside Park.
Parade (1:00 PM): Kicks off at Biglerville High School and proceeds down Main Street to the Hanover Street intersection.
Events at Oakside (2:00 PM – 9:30 PM):
~ Live entertainment: Faith Noel, The Brahman Noodles, Apple Core Band, Austin Rife, and The Willys
~ Car & tractor show
~ Cornhole tournament
~ Silent auction
~ US Flag retirement ceremony
~ Step Up to History Walk
~ Food and alcohol vendors
~ Fireworks display to close out the night
Commonwealth Concert Series – The Avett Brothers & Joan Jett
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026 | Time: 7:00 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE EVENT ⚠️ Tickets required
Hosted by: America250PA
Location: Hersheypark Stadium, 100 W Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA 17033
Part of the 5-city Commonwealth Concert Series celebrating PA's role in America's history. The Hershey show honors Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage.
Included: Live concert — The Avett Brothers & Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
⚠️ Tickets required even though it's free — check availability now. Limit 4 per transaction and it is GA - no assigned seating. As of the time of writing this there were still tickets available.
NCR Semiquincentennial American Exhibition
Dates: Saturday–Sunday, June 27–28, 2026
Cost: 🟢 FREE PORTIONS & 🟠 PAID PORTIONS
Hosted by: Northern Central Railway
Location: Northern Central Railway Station, 22 Railroad Ave, New Freedom, PA 17349
A two-day America 250 celebration where historic steam trains run along scenic tracks while living historians bring national and York County railroading history to life. Includes live music, interactive exhibits, lectures, local food vendors, and family-friendly activities. The ground-level exhibition area — featuring displays from multiple local historical organizations — is free to walk through. Train rides are ticketed separately.
Saturday, June 27:
10:30 AM — Golden Era Limited with live music by Derek Reed
11:00 AM — Glen Rock Journey aboard Steam Locomotive No. 17 with President Lincoln
2:00 PM — Glen Rock Express with Steam Locomotive No. 17
Sunday, June 28:
10:30 AM — Lincoln & The Hanover Junction Experiences aboard No. 17
11:00 AM — Rivets & Rails with Rosie aboard the Mid Century Trail Sisters
2:00 PM — Glen Rock Express with Steam Locomotive No. 17
Both days: Free ground-level displays from area historical societies, food vendors, family activities.
🎟️ Train ride ticket prices seem to vary by excursion/seat — check northerncentralrailway.com or call (717) 942-2370. I saw pricing in the ranges of ~$37-50 adults, ~$26–38 kids. Ground exhibits appear free.
Ephrata Cloister 1776: An America250 Celebration
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Cost: 🟠 $5/person · Members free · Under 3 free
Hosted by: PHMC / Ephrata Cloister
Location: Ephrata Cloister, 632 W Main St, Ephrata, PA 17522
From December 1777 to June 1778, the Ephrata Cloister served as a Revolutionary War hospital — accommodating 260 soldiers, 60 of whom died and are buried on the grounds. This special America 250 event brings that history to life with performances, demonstrations, lectures, and music, exploring how the military hospital affected the site's pacifist religious community.
Event highlights:
~ Lantern Tours reprise — the military hospital brought to life (wristband required, first-come first-served after admission)
~ Special performance by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus in the Amphitheater to close out the day
~ Visit the witness tree on property and the monument honoring soldiers at Mount Zion Cemetery
~ Lectures, demonstrations, and family-friendly activities throughout the day
~ Food and drink available for purchase
250th Anniversary Celebration – The Mercantile
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 | Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: The Mercantile
Location: 13 East Main St, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Local shop on Main Street Mechanicsburg celebrates America's 250th with freebies and community fun. (Full disclosure- this one looks more like a happy celebration than educational.)
Included: Complimentary hotdogs, popcorn, apple pie themed treats, Lonely Monk coffee, board games, giveaway entries.
More info →
July 2026
Celebrate America250 at Historic Rock Ford
Date: Thursday–Friday, July 2–3, 2026 | Time: TBD
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: Historic Rock Ford
Location: Historic Rock Ford, 881 Rock Ford Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Two-day free event celebrating America's birthday at the 1794 estate of General Edward Hand — Washington's Adjutant General and one of the Revolution's key military leaders.
Included: Live music, living historians in period dress, self-guided tours of the General Hand Mansion.
America 250 at Penn Medicine Park
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026 | Time: 5:00 PM – end of fireworks (fireworks at 10 PM)
Cost: 🟢 FREE GENERAL ADMISSION | 🟠 VIP $75 + fees
Hosted by: Lancaster Stormers / Penn Medicine Park
Location: Penn Medicine Park, 650 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Massive America 250 celebration on the entire property of the Lancaster Stormers stadium. One of the biggest July 3rd events in the region — the whole property is taken over from 5 PM through fireworks.
General admission includes: Lancaster Symphony performance (8:45 PM), fireworks (10 PM), bounce houses, petting zoo, pony rides, Three Legacies Wrestling, Crazy on Clay Car Show, reenactments, stage entertainment, vendors, lawn games, hot dog eating contest, pie eating contest, pig roast. Food & beverage available for purchase 5–10 PM.
VIP ($75 + fees) includes: AYCE buffet (BBQ spareribs, Angus beef sliders, grilled chicken, hot dog bar with chili/sauerkraut/beer cheese, mac & cheese, loaded potato salad, roasted corn salad, fresh tomato-mozzarella salad, root beer floats, cookies & brownies), exclusive access to the air-conditioned Silverball lounge, water & soda included. Limited spots available.
📌 Bring your own chair for the symphony and stage entertainment areas. General admission is completely free — no tickets needed.
250th Celebration – Genesis Church York (3-Day Event)
Dates: Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5, 2026
Cost: 🟢 FREE (food trucks available for purchase)
Hosted by: Genesis Church – York
Location: Genesis Church – York, 1405 Seven Valleys Rd, York, PA 17408
Three-day America 250 celebration spanning the holiday weekend with something different each day — movie night, a full family fun day with live music, and a special guest worship service to close it out.
Friday, July 3 | 5:30–8:30 PM — Movie Night
Yankee Doodle Dandy on the big screen in the auditorium. Concessions available.
Saturday, July 4 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM — All-Out Family Fun
Mini golf (10 AM–1 PM), games, food trucks (Sarah's Creamery, Trailer Trash Nacho Co., Good Spirit BBQ Co.), live music from Jake Mach (11 AM–12 PM) and Elly Cooke (12–1 PM). Jake Mach is the Best Male Country Artist winner at the Central PA Music Awards 2025 & 2026.
Sunday, July 5 | 9:30 AM — Special Guest Sunday
Regular worship service featuring guest speaker General Thomas Solhjem, followed by a Q&A session in the Student Center.
America250 at Hershey Gardens
Dates: Saturday–Sunday, July 4–5, 2026 | Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Cost: 🟠 Included with regular garden admission
Hosted by: Hershey Gardens
Location: Hershey Gardens, 170 Hotel Rd, Hershey, PA 17033
Special America 250 programming woven into the garden experience over the July 4th weekend. Stationed tour guides highlight historically significant plants throughout the grounds, with family activities in the Children's Garden.
Included with admission: Guided highlights of the Lincoln cultivar rose, Franklinia alatamata, American Heritage Chestnut, and more. Educational activities on community design and animal/plant habitats in the Children's Garden.
🍦 Ice cream from Sarah's Creamery available at additional cost starting 11 AM. Check hersheygardens.org for current admission pricing before visiting.
Big Boy No. 4014 Whistle Stop – Lebanon
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 | Arrives: 12:30 PM | Departs: 1:15 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: Union Pacific / Norfolk Southern
Location: Lebanon Station, 250 N. 8th St., Lebanon, PA
The world's largest operating steam locomotive makes its first-ever East Coast tour as part of the America 250 celebration. Big Boy No. 4014 weighs 1.2 million pounds and stretches 132 feet long — there is nothing else like it anywhere.
Included: 45-minute public viewing of Big Boy No. 4014, accompanied by Norfolk Southern's special America 250 commemorative locomotives and Heritage Fleet passenger cars.
⚠️ Arrive early — this will draw massive crowds. Wear your red, white & blue. This is one of the longest public whistle stops on the entire tour.
Big Boy No. 4014 Whistle Stop – Lewistown
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 | Arrives: 12:45 PM | Departs: 1:15 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: Union Pacific / Norfolk Southern
Location: Lewistown Station, 150 Helen St., Lewistown, PA
A second chance to see Big Boy No. 4014 the day after Lebanon — a good backup option if the Lebanon stop draws too large a crowd, or a reason to see it twice.
Included: 30-minute public viewing of Big Boy No. 4014.
AUGUST 2026
America 250 Drone Show – Springettsbury Township
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Cost: 🟢 FREE
Hosted by: Springettsbury Township & Dave Bray USA
Sponsored by: Hollywood Casino York
Location: 1501 Mt. Zion Rd., York, PA 17402
Concert and patriotic drone show celebrating America's 250th. Over 2,000 people had marked themselves as interested on Facebook as of late May — plan to arrive early for a good spot.
Concert: Dave Bray USA, 7:00 PM
Drone show: 8:45 PM
Food trucks: Brickers French Fries, Sarah's Creamery, Wilson's Funnel Cakes, Mac Stack, The Taco RV, The Pig Place, Kona Ice, Food Adventures, Stacy's Orangeade
RUNNING ALL SUMMER
Pennsylvania 250 Exhibitions – The State Museum of Pennsylvania
On view through: August 2, 2026 | Hours: Regular museum hours
Cost: 🟠 Check statemuseumpa.org for admission pricing
Hosted by: PHMC
Location: The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Two exhibitions created specifically for the America 250 celebration: Pennsylvania 250: The Keystone of American History, and Illuminating Independence — featuring 35 original hand-illuminated copies of the Declaration of Independence created by Harrisburg penman Sherman Notestine in the 1920s.
America 250 Lecture Series – Landis Valley Museum
Remaining dates: Jun 27 · Jul 31 · Aug 28 · Sep 25 · Oct 30 · Nov 18
Time: Happy hour style (check for specific times)
Cost: 🟠 TBD
Hosted by: Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
Location: 2451 Kissel Hill Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
Monthly happy hour-style lectures with historians exploring Lancaster County's people, culture, and role in early America. A different topic each month, last Friday of the month through November.
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