America250 Celebration Toolkit: Showcasing America’s Cities, Towns & Villages

Choose one book that reflects an important aspect of the American identity or local history and encourage the community to read. Take it a step further and host a community discussion about the book.

Lead school tours, social groups, or community members on a walk through your community, highlighting key sites, landmarks, or events that shaped its history. Consider connecting with your local historical associations, cultural societies or Daughters of the American Revolution chapter.

Invite residents to tour city hall or local landmarks and learn how local government is preparing the community for the future.

Host a public reading or reenactment of the Declaration of Independence to educate and celebrate the founding values of the United States.

Partner with libraries in the celebration by creating themed displays, sponsoring a reading contest, or curating a reading list that reflects what the nation’s anniversary means to your community.

Host a public forum or panel on civic dialogue, bringing residents together to discuss how communities can strengthen civil discourse or the importance of local democracy.

Honor veterans or notable residents with new or refreshed grave markers in community cemeteries.

Host an event to rededicate historic graves or monuments, providing an educational and reflective experience for residents of all ages.

Collect letters, items, or artifacts that capture what your community has accomplished or what it hopes to achieve in the future. Consider partnering with schools or youth groups.

Create public art or community challenges using the theme of 250 (e.g. 250 flowers planted, 250 thank you notes written).

Select and plan to light up a building on July 4, 2026.

Encourage creative submissions (e.g. essays, art, photography) focused on local history, the meaning of 250 years, or your community’s vision for the future.

Celebrate your community’s America 250 story with a public billboard.

Design banners showcasing your community’s local history or the history of the United States. Consider partnering with schools, civic groups, or local artists.  

Offer commemorative America 250 items to build excitement and raise funds for local events.

Organize traditional celebrations like a parade or fireworks that bring the community together.

Recognize individuals who embody the spirit of service or your community. Consider a local version of the Champions initiative being organized by LocalGov 250.

Utah introduced the potluck for its state celebration of A250. Consider hosting your own community potluck where residents bring dishes that represent their family traditions, cultures or local history.

Collect books for the Little Free Library in your community.Don’t have a Little Free Library? Visit Little Free Library’s website to start your book exchange.

Host a donation drive of new or gently used books for readers of all ages related to the American Revolution. Find a date and distribute them among Little Free Libraries in your community.

Organize volunteer days to commemorate America250 through community service. Events could include planting commemorative trees, cleaning up parks or graves, or assisting veterans. Partner with your local volunteer and service organizations. Record your project with America Gives.

Encourage residents to register and join in. Make the activity accessible for all ages and abilities. For example have participants sign up for a 2-miler, 5-miler, 50-miler, etc. Make it fun!

with sports of then v. now. Sports can range from the 1700s to present day with demonstrations. Invite local schools to participate. Examples of sports:

• Lawn bowling
• Town ball (early baseball)
• Cricket
• Archery
• Tug-of-war

Connect with Major League, Minor League, College and High School sports teams to host short history presentations during breaks. This could be trivia-related, recognizing a local history teacher, etc.

Celebrate America250 by designing commemorative patches for team jerseys.