Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Although the July 4, 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence was considered a traitorous act by Britain’s King George III, our founding fathers valiantly moved forward. Two hundred and fifty years later, the proclamation that set our independence in motion is something to celebrate.
The Ridgefield Commemorates America at 250 committee (RCA250) was appointed by the Board of Selectpersons and has spent the past two years collaborating with town stakeholders, ensuring that the year-long celebration underway is a worthy one.
On the Calendar so far…
Ridgefield CT Commemorates America’s 250: The time is now to mark your calendar and add ridgefieldct250.org as a go-to website. Already live with a great historical timeline, the site grows daily, listing all townwide commemorative events under one roof. RCA250, an affiliate of the America 250 Connecticut Commission, coordinates with the state to share resources and ideas. While the committee’s immediate focus has been this year’s townwide kickoff, other goals include an update to the aging Museum in the Streets. Plans for a historical scavenger hunt are already underway, as is work on the grand finale on July 4, 2026. From swag to a soiree called the Liberty Ball, a parade, and a period festival in Ballard Park, this committee is going full throttle to make the year-long celebration one to go down in history.
Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center: Fife and Drummers take the lead in a march from Main Street to the KTM&HC for a much-enhanced version of the annual July 4th family day, the kick-off to the town’s year long RCA250 initiative. It’s a jam-packed event with an impressive line-up offering something for all ages, including costumed presenters demonstrating historic trades such as shoemaking and weaving. Live music, dance, food, an art show by the Guild of Artists, and the popular King George Dunk Tank culminate in the reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by America the Beautiful and Frederick Douglas’ July 4th speech. Programs throughout the rest of the year focus on the meaning and impact of the Declaration and how events of the past connect to the present and shape the future. Not to be missed: The fifth season Poetry in the Garden, a series held in the walled garden on Monday evenings through July, rain or shine. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and hear voices from marginalized America. The poets slated to appear range from National Book Award winners to Pulitzer Prize finalists.
The Ridgefield Library: In a collaboration with the KTM&HC called Declaration Deep Dive, the Library will host Dr. Akhil Amar in an interactive discussion with Todd Brewster entitled “BORN EQUAL & the Legacy of the Declaration of Independence.” Dr. Amar, a Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, is renowned for his expertise in Constitutional Law, has been cited by Supreme Court justices across the spectrum in more than fifty cases. Additional programs also underway throughout the year include a deep dive into Revolutionary Artifacts and the stories they tell.
Ridgefield Historical Society: Ground penetrating radar, magnetometers, and metal detectors might be state of the art, but make no mistake, these contemporary tools are being used to answer some long overdue questions. Throughout the year, RHS will scour historical locales in a hunt for artifacts that might unveil more information on the Battle of Ridgefield. Also underway is the continued effort to uncover the history behind the skeletons found during the renovation of a Main Street basement. “It’s a perfect alignment to have top archaeologists in the state, studying and lecturing on the findings that these contemporary tools unveil,” says Executive Director Stephen Bartkus. RHS kicks off their portion of Ridgefield’s 250 with a July 1st celebration of General Rochambeau’s 300th birthday at the Meetinghouse. There will also be town walking and bus tours. Circle your calendar because a reenactment of the Battle of Ridgefield for April 2027 is already locked in.
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum: Modern, yes, but still giving a nod to the past, the museum has already begun its celebration with the Scrollathon, a program with artists Steven and William Ladd, which they hosted earlier in 2025. The Ladds are currently creating a collaborative artwork with participants in each of the 50 states called Uniting America, which will be presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in DC in 2026. In June of 2026, the Aldrich will present The Decennial: New Art Made in Connecticut, an exhibition that will survey art making in the State, asking the question about the very nature of the State during this milestone anniversary. •
