06/05/2026
Bennington Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence!
Bennington’s 250th Anniversary 4th of July Celebration brings together long‑standing traditions and new collaborations for a full day of historic commemoration and community fun. In addition, a very special “Sharing the Spirit of America” event is scheduled for July 8.
The 4th of July commemorations begins at the Bennington Battle Monument, where two long‑running ceremonies—the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Bennington Rotary’s bell‑ringing program—will be combined into a single, expanded event. Live music and seating starts at 11:00 AM. The program begins at 12:00 PM with the Declaration reading, re-enactors and a musket salute, followed by a special bell‑ringing ceremony using a bell borrowed from the Vermont Veterans Home. The combined program will run until approximately 1:30 PM and will include children’s activities, re-enactors, and other festive elements.
In addition to the bell ringing at the Monument… we are seeking others in the community with bells to also participate by ringing their bells 14 times at 1:30 pm on the 4th of July. The first thirteen rings will be in honor of the original 13 colonies, and the 14th is to honor Vermont’s place as the 14th state. Currently we have commitments from the Old First Church, the Town of Bennington, Sacred Heart - St. Francis DeSales Church, and St. Peters Episcopal Church to ring their bells as part of the event. If your building/organization has a bell and would like to participate, contact Town of Bennington Communications Coordinator Jonah Spivak at [email protected] or call 802-445-1335. You can also participate from your own homes and celebrations by ringing your own bells at 1:30 pm.
At 2:30 PM, the celebration continues at the Bennington Battlefield in Hoosick, NY, where interpreters in period garb will present a living‑history signing tableau of the Declaration of Independence. Free hot dogs will be available.
Festivities shift to Willow Park at 5:00 PM for America’s Birthday Party, featuring free cake, vendors, food truck, live music by the 4th Floor and Mojo Birds, and family activities sponsored by the Norshaft Lions and the American Legion Post 13. Free birthday cake will be provided by the VFW Post #1332 starting at 6:00 pm until gone. The evening concludes with a 9:30 PM fireworks display, lighting up the sky to cap off the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Rain date for Fireworks only is July 11. We are grateful to our sponsors: Price Chopper, Casella, MSK Engineering, and our community for supporting this, our biggest fireworks display ever!
In addition to the Fourth of July, the 250th anniversary events continue on Wednesday, July 8, the day of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Called ’Sharing the Spirit of America’, the idea emerged from 250th planner Peter Young, of Hawaii.
The premise of ‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ is pretty simple; to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and its first public reading on July 8, 1776, ‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ is the simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence across the country (and around the world) 250-years later, ‘together’ at the ‘same’ time.
‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ is focused on having people reading of the Declaration of Independence, each at their own local time that correlates with 6 pm (EDT), Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Each location will be reading the entire Declaration of Independence as a distinct activity; however, they are all part of a broader organized program. Because the readings are all commensurate with 6 pm (EDT), July 8, they are all happening simultaneously; thus, we will all be reading ‘together’. A list of all participating locations around the world is available at: https://hawaiiamerica250.org/reading-locations
For Bennington, our location will be at the Bennington Battle Monument. In addition to the reading, there will be a performance by the US Army Band starting at 4 pm. The reading of the declaration will begin promptly at 6 pm.
Fun fact, Peter Young of Hawaii has a very important Bennington connection! His great great great grandfather was Hiram Bingham whose farm was where Bennington College is located today. Hiram Bingham led the first American Protestant missionary company to Hawaii in 1823, and his daughter (Peter’s great great grandmother) was the first white girl born on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu. It’s amazing that this worldwide effort has this unique connection to our town.
For more information about 250th related events and how to get involved, please visit bennington250.org.
