America250PA Lebanon County Committee chairman Bonnie Loy invites the public to the nation’s 250th birthday bash July 4 at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center & Fairgrounds. 

“We’re hoping to create memories for families that they will cherish,” Loy said, adding the event will be one to remember forever. “It’s one of those historical things. Like, where were you when the first shuttle was launched? Or where were you when you heard JFK was shot? Or where were you on July 4th, 2026, when our country had its semiquincentennial celebration?”

The celebration is from 1 to 9 p.m. and concludes with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. The annual fireworks show is being moved from Coleman’s Park to the fairgrounds to commemorate this special anniversary.

“We’re telling them to come for the car show and stay for the fireworks,” Loy said. “We’ve received donations and we’re spending almost double what normally is spent on fireworks. So it should be really awesome.”

Fireworks display

An event like this deserves special fireworks, and Loy teased that planners are going all out to show local pride in the nation’s birthday celebration.

“It’ll be just as lovely as it is at Coleman’s, but it will also have some extra ground fireworks. It’s going to be a surprise to me too. I had asked for some special patriotic type things when we talked to Mayor Capello,” Loy said. “I’m gonna say it’s two years ago when talks started and the fireworks people started designing things. So there’ll be a part of the ground show that will be something that we’ve never seen before.”

Car show

Loy said the first 250 car owners who register for the car show, scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot by the North and West halls, will receive a special keepsake. Registration is $10 in advance, $15 on the day. Proceeds will help defray costs associated with the event. 

“The first 250 cars will receive a dash plaque. Many car shows repeat every year but this is their only chance to get this dash plaque. And it’s just on July 4th at the Expo Center,” said Loy. “I’m hoping to go over that number, but the first 250 (registrants) are the only ones that will get a commemorative dash plaque.” 

There’s still time for interested car enthusiasts to register their vehicles, she added.

“There are quite a few car clubs that say they’re coming. I don’t know if they’re waiting until the day of, or if they just haven’t sent in their forms yet, but we’re thinking we’re going to get quite a group,” Loy said.

All makes and models of cars, trucks, bikes, tractors and semi trucks are welcome to enter the show.

Event details 

July 4 festivities kick off at 1 p.m. with opening remarks, and vendors and organizations will have educational displays for guests to visit. A special focus will center on history relevant to Lebanon County and the nation.

“We will have seven Conestoga wagons from Lancaster County that will be brought in and set up in the North Hall,” Loy said. 

“Katelyn Reist is with the folks that have the wagons, and she’s going to be talking about the wagons. Her brother is going to bring old anvils and metal type works. He’ll be bringing them and talking about that. We also have a gentleman that will have Revolutionary items and rifles that he’s going to have on display and he will talk about them.” 

Another lecture focuses on what the Fourth of July meant to slaves with the history of the Union Canal will take center stage during a separate discussion, and the Lebanon County Historical Society and representatives from Fort Indiantown Gap will also have historical items on display, Loy said, adding that historical society members will discuss “the effect the Lebanon County area had on the war of independence.” 

Loy noted the event is family-friendly, with an emphasis on fun.

“The kids should have fun. I believe VLV (Visit Lebanon Valley) is talking about doing a scavenger hunt through the fairgrounds, and the kids’ tent should be fun,” she said. “We want to keep everyone busy so they can enjoy their time but we want the kids to learn about our history, too.”

Anniversary quilt auction

The 250th anniversary quilt that includes stitches from over 1,100 sets of hands will be auctioned to the highest bidder at 6 p.m., added Loy.

“As with most quilts, it’s one of a kind, but this quilt was designed and made especially for the semiquincentennial here in Lebanon County. Quilters from the Lebanon Valley area and other people put their own special stitches in it when they came to the county fair last year,” she said. “We have over 1,100 people that have put stitches in. The quilt brings us all together and shows how even small stitches, large stitches, and many hands have made a perfect quilt in honor and in memory of our celebration.”

Volunteers needed

With the event still a few weeks away, Loy said volunteers – especially those with a certain kind of experience – are needed.

“My biggest ask right now is we’re looking for folks that have experience parking cars. I have five people so far and I would like at least five more, maybe half a dozen,” she said.

Other volunteers with a background working with the public are being sought, too. The committee has 250th branded merch for sale, with proceeds paying some of the costs associated with the anniversary celebration. 

“We also need folks to man booths in the center lobby, maybe give some of us on the committee a break. When I say that, I mean, if we’re manning the booth, selling t-shirts and things like that, we also have a spot to hand out programs, run lost and found, help keep things moving, and answer questions,” added Loy.

More information on volunteering opportunities can be found on the committee’s website.

July 4 schedule 

• 12 p.m. – Countywide bell ringing. Loy said churches, fire companies, and anyone who has a bell should ring it at noon to herald the nation’s birth on July 4, 1776. 
• 1 p.m. – Welcome and opening remarks.
• 1-9 p.m. – Historic and vendor displays open, activities.
• 5-8 p.m. – Car show.
• 6 p.m. – 250th Anniversary quilt auction.
• 9:15 p.m. – Fireworks display

The full event schedule is expected to be published on the committee’s website when it is finalized. Parking and admission to the event are free. Lebanon Transit will also provide free service to the fairgrounds throughout the day, beginning at noon. 

Other 250th events

July 1| 8 a.m. – Bridging Three Generations – Liberty Pole in Coleman Memorial Park, 1400 Maple St., Lebanon. City officials and committee members will unearth a time capsule buried during the bicentennial celebration in 1976. Speakers will discuss life in 1776, two 1976 time capsule participants will share their memories, and organizers will look at what life might be like in 2076 for the 300th anniversary. 

July 3 | 6-9 p.m. –  Patriotic parade/fireworks – A privately organized parade and fireworks are scheduled in Jonestown Borough, with the parade starting at Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church at 6 p.m. and running to Jonestown Community Park via Shepherd Street, Jonestown Road, and South Mill Street. Event organizers have announced that the fireworks display will follow the parade along Market Street at 9 p.m.

July 3-5 – Party at the Pool – Fredericksburg Lions Park Pool, Lions Drive, all weekend – Daily admission will be lowered from $9 to $2.50. A 4th of July weekend party at the pool, with a red, white, and blue decorating contest with prizes, is tentatively scheduled. 

July 7 | 12:30-1:15 p.m. – The Big Boy No. 4014 Coast-to-Coast Tour | Lebanon County – 250 8th St. Station, Lebanon. Union Pacific Railroad is operating the special locomotive journey across America. It will be on display during the Independence Day holiday in Philadelphia before beginning its trip back to Cheyenne on the old Reading Lines (now Norfolk Southern) through the Lebanon Valley. The stop at the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Station at 250 N. 8th St., Lebanon, will last 45 minutes.

July 26 | 4-5 p.m. – Perseverance Band America250 Concert – St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 600 S. 12th St., Lebanon. An hour of patriotic favorites and historical music concert will be outdoors, weather permitting. A folding or bag chair is recommended for this free event.

Other America250 events – Kayak tours of the Union Canal Tunnel, bike tours titled “Pedal the Past Bike Lebanon,” and “1776 The Musical” are a few of the other activities listed by America250PA Lebanon County on their events page.

Beyond July 26 

Loy noted the committee will wind down its work by July 26, but will remain together throughout the 250th anniversary year to support other local activities.

“At this point we are not disbanding and I’d say even though we won’t be as visible, we will still be at various community events,” she said.

America250 stories in the Lebanon Valley

From the wooden nickel trail to an exclusive interview during the painting of the local Liberty Bell, LebTown has promoted the committee’s work over the past two years. You can read our extensive coverage of various local 250th anniversary events and about the county’s rich heritage.