Things To Do in Connecticut For America's 250th

Yale: America at 250 Devane Lectures: Danbury Museum & Historical Society, Fridays at 2 p.m.

The Danbury Museum & Historical Society offers showings of Yale's America at 250 series through 2026, screening all 37 hour-long episodes on its big screen in Huntington Hall. Co-sponsored by the Danbury Museum and the Danbury Commission on Aging. Free and open to the public.

Cemetery Interpretation at Wooster Cemetery, Danbury: May 2 and May 16

Interpretive storytelling and a historic tour of notable Danburians' graves, referencing 250 years of history. Free and open to the public.

Whiskey and Its Impact on Early America, Bethel Public Library, May 11

Join the Bethel Library for an exploration of whiskey in early America. Few people are aware that rum was the favored drink of the colonies, but after the Revolution whiskey took hold. Learn about the Whiskey Rebellion, Westward Expansion, and the temperance and anti-slavery movements.

History of the Ohio Firelands, Bethel Public Library, May 18

Eric Chandler presents the history of the Firelands and Connecticut's connection to Ohio. Originally part of Connecticut, this land was settled by many from the state and carries several place names and traditions from our great state. Learn about the cities of Marietta and Cincinnati, which were also founded in part by Connecticut Revolutionary War veterans such as Samuel Parsons.

Historic Grainger House + Peony Garden Tour: The Glass House, New Canaan, May 30

As part of the national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, The Glass House will, for the first time, open the 1783 Grainger House and its celebrated peony and iris garden for public tours. The house sits on one of New Canaan’s earliest registered land parcels and was originally known as the Finch House, named for the early New Canaan family who farmed the land.

The Three Towns Bus Tour: Meets at the Fairfield Museum, May 30

The towns of Redding, Westport, Weston, and Easton are shaped from Fairfield lands. Join the Fairfield Museum & History Center for a special bus tour to discover the unique stories found in Fairfield, Weston, and Easton and explore the shared history among all three towns. At the end of the bus tour, join a special opening reception for the special exhibition “Happy Anniversary! Centenary Celebrations & Beyond” at the Fairfield Museum. Co-presented by Weston History & Culture Center and Historical Society of Easton

The 1776th Sense: Old Burying Ground Walking Tour: Meets at the Fairfield Museum, June 20

As the American Revolution raged on, Fairfield stood firm as a patriot town. Many of Fairfield’s revolutionary figures now rest in the Old Burying Ground, including: Brigadier General Gold Selleck Silliman, daring ship captain Samuel Smedley, Reverend Andrew Eliot, patriots Thaddeus Burr and Eunice Dennie Burr, Caleb Brewster of the Culper Spy Ring, and many more. Discover stories of courage, conviction, and intrigue that helped shape a new nation.

In His Footsteps: A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of James Mars: Connecticut Old State House, Hartford, May 1

Discovering Amistad and Connecticut Old Statehouse invites you to join us in celebrating the life and legacy of an “unsung” American hero – James Mars. Through his own words from his published memoir, and the lived accounts of his descendants, we will explore and elevate the narrative of a man who defined the struggle for true liberty. Born in 1790, James Mars lived the paradox of American freedom – sold as a slave in a state that claimed to be "The Land of Steady Habits."

19th Century Vintage Baseball, Wethersfield

What’s more American than baseball? How about "Base Ball" the way it was meant to be played? The Wethersfield Red Onions play according to 19th-century rules, including period-accurate uniforms and no gloves. 

Founding Mothers, Wethersfield Historical Society, May 14

As part of its American Revolution Program Series, Wethersfield Historical Society presents historian Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks. Parks will deliver Founding Mothers, a lecture about women in Wethersfield and across the colonies who made significant contributions to the American Revolution.

Feuding Founders Collective: The Untold Drama of Silas Deane, John Jay, and the Lees of Virginia: Wethersfield, May 16

Three sites. Three perspectives. Three stories of imperfect men trying to build something that had never existed before. They were allies and rivals. Collaborators and critics. Sometimes all at once. This spring, the Feuding Founders Collective launches at WDS — a multi-site series that strips the marble off the men who built the republic and asks what their struggles with polarization, loyalty, and public reputation can teach us about our own. 

Wethersfield 250 Jubilee, Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, May 23

Come join Wethersfield in the heart of the historic district to honor and remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, America 250 style. After the parade, Webb Deane Stevens' beloved Revolutionary War Encampment joins forces with the Traditional Trades Fair for a free, family-friendly day marking America’s 250th on the museum grounds.

CT Open House Day at Pratt House, Essex, June 13

‍As part of the town-wide Essex Celebrates America 250 celebrations and special for Connecticut Open House Day, Essex Historical Society will host the 5th Connecticut Regiment of Revolutionary War Reenactors on the grounds of Pratt House. Attendance is FREE, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages.

Hartford Bonanza 2026 + America 250, Hartford, July 4

Hartford Bonanza, the Connecticut capital city's Independence Day festival featuring the region's biggest fireworks display, is a free celebration of community and culture through music, art, civic pride, food trucks, recreation, and creative connections. This year, the festival also serves as our statewide commemoration & celebration of American independence with an epic program on two stages, interactive exhibition spaces, activity zones, and diverse history tours to meet the America 250 moment on the Fourth of July in 2026. 

Enfield Fourth of July Celebration, Enfield, July 10-12

The town celebrates 250 years of American history with a parade, live music and entertainment, food, races, games, and much more, ending in with a grand finale of fireworks on Sunday night. 

Illustrating America: Columbia Magazine Covers, McGivney Pilgrimage Center, through Sept. 6

Columbia, the monthly magazine of the Knights of Columbus, featured illustrated covers from 1921 until 1988, at which time color photography replaced the illustrations. Over this period of nearly seven decades, more than 70 different illustrators contributed cover art. As part of the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center’s celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition focuses on works that showcase everyday life in America, depicting humorous, sentimental, and nostalgic moments from the 1950s to the 1980s. 

Homegrown Terror: Benedict Arnold and the Burning of New London, Old Lyme Historical Society, June 6

On September 6, 1781, Connecticut native Benedict Arnold and a force of 1,700 British soldiers and loyalists took Fort Griswold and burnt New London to the ground. The brutality of the invasion galvanized the new nation, and "Remember New London!" would become a rallying cry for troops under General Lafayette. In Homegrown Terror, Eric D. Lehman chronicles the events leading up to the attack and highlights this key transformation in Arnold—the point where he went from betraying his comrades to massacring his neighbors and destroying their homes.

Scenic Trolley Rides & Museum Programming at Shore Line Trolley Museum, East Haven, June 24 to Aug. 30

Explore the charm of yesteryear at the Shore Line Trolley Museum. In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the museum is highlighting the theme “Innovation & Ingenuity.” Electric railways transformed American cities and connected communities in new and remarkable ways. Throughout the season, watch our website for special programming and select days offering free or reduced admission.

1776, Ivoryton Playhouse, June 25-July 26

Join John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as they fight for independence against a deadlocked Continental Congress in a retelling filled with humor, romance, pathos, and nail-biting tension. It’s revolutionary!

So What Do You Do? Work Stories Live, Winsted, May 1

In 2026, American Mural Project observes the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This multi-part program explores how work has shaped our national consciousness and Connecticut communities across history through personal storytelling workshops, live performance, film screenings, exhibits, and lectures. Together, these programs engage participants in remembering pivotal events, amplifying personal stories, and sparking dialogue about how labor continues to shape American culture and civic life today.

Torrington Symphony Orchestra - Music Of American Composers, May 2

The concert is a celebration of the country's 250th anniversary, featuring composers like Copeland, Gershwin, Sill, Barber, and more. Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue will be performed by Kari Miller and vocals will be performed by Emily Baker.

Twilight Talk & Music Presentation: “What a Glorious Crash They Made," Litchfield, May 20

This program features a collection of “new songs” and hymns published in Connecticut during the American Revolution. From the time of the stamp act through the British surrender at Yorktown, Connecticut’s seditious colonists use these works to foment rebellion. Commemorate victory, and give thanks for preservation. Richard Franklin Donahue, Tenor & Harpsichord, will explore this fiery repertoire that in the words of John Adams “Cultivated the sensations of freedom”.     

Joseph Carpenter Silversmith Shop Opens - Market Day on the Norwichtown Green, Norwich, May 2

Experience Norwich history on the Green! At 10 a.m., begin the day with a walk around the Revolutionary Green with Trish Staley. The author of "Norwich in the American Revolution" will lead the tour and discuss the people and events that made the Norwichtown Green an important part of history for the town and the nation.                                                            

The Joseph Carpenter Silversmith Shop was built in 1772, when the Norwichtown Green was the social and commercial center of the town. Appreciate the original walls and the forge of the silversmith as well as displays of the businesses and craftsmen of Norwichtown. Admission to the Silversmith Shop is $5 per person.

"We, the artists ... celebrate our country's 250th year and the Town of Waterford's 225th year of independence" Waterford Town Hall, through Dec. 17

On behalf of the Town of Waterford, First Selectman Rob Brule is collaborating with the Waterford Historical Society to display artwork throughout 2026 in the main hallway of Town Hall, providing a place for local artists to celebrate our country and the signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.

Beginning April 20, the Society’s 2026 “Art In Waterford: Past+Present+Future” juried art show selections will be on display featuring patriotic art by regional artists. Artwork selected by the jurors will hang in Town Hall for five months until September 17. Patriotic artwork by students from the Town’s elementary, middle and high schools will be displayed from September 21 to December 17.

Sea Music with Geoff Kaufman Aboard the Argia, Mystic; May 7, June 4, and Sept. 17

Geoff Kaufman, for decades the Foreman of Interpretive Music Programs & Director of Mystic Seaport Museum's annual Sea Music Festival, will delight ARGIA's passengers with music of the waters and sea chanteys. Bring a picnic basket and a bottle of wine for a unique musical experience under sail.

General Israel Putnam: His Life in Stories, Mansfield Public Library, May 12

Let history come alive! Professor Kenneth Noll portrays General Israel Putnam as the beloved, honorable farmer and patriot that he was. General Putnam will describe his life on his farm, his time as a tavern-keeper, his role in the French and Indian War, as well as his service as second in command to General Washington in the Revolutionary War. 

Special Screening of Ken Burns' "The American Revolution," Mystic Seaport, May 14

Join Mystic Seaport Museum and Connecticut Public for a special military history screening of Ken Burns’ documentary "The American Revolution." The 50-minute segment explores multiple perspectives and examines military strategies. Curator Krystal Rose will share Revolution era stories from the Museum’s collections.

“Uncovering New London” History Tours in Celebration of America 250, Downtown New London, May 22 to Oct. 9

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Uncovering New London Tours invites residents and visitors to explore the city’s rich history through engaging guided walking and bus tours. Discover New London’s role in the American Revolution, its whaling heritage, Black history, Gilded Age influence, and hidden gems, brought to life by knowledgeable local docents.

Tories, Spies, & Traitors: Divided Loyalty in Revolutionary Connecticut, Mansfield Public Library, June 23

Which side are you on? That’s the question that every single person in Connecticut had to answer in 1775, as the thirteen colonies began a rebellion against British rule.  This presentation reveals stories— some well-known, some obscure— of Nutmeggers who risked and sacrificed to support their chosen side. Presenter Natalie Belanger is the Public Programs Manager at the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.