Monday, July 4, 2022 @ 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm EDT
This Fourth of July, Don’t Hold Back…Rock Your Bells and Let Freedom Ring!
Ridgefield Historical Society leads the town in bell-ringing tradition
On this Fourth of July, Ridgefield will be celebrating Let Freedom Ring, a long-standing tradition in which local churches, institutions, and individuals ring their bells 13 times at 2:00pm to celebrate our freedom and independence.
The community wide event is being organized by the Ridgefield Historical Society with the support and encouragement of the Town of Ridgefield and First Selectman Rudy Marconi. Participating institutions include Jesse Lee, St. Mary, St. Stephen’s, Sacred Heart, Saint Patrick’s in Georgetown, The Meetinghouse/Ridgebury Congregational Church, the Peter Parley Schoolhouse, and Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center.
With the Town’s permission, a group of patriots will also be congregating on Bailey Avenue to give the old fire bell 13 tolls for independence — a melodic reminder of our liberty and good fortune.
Please Listen and Ring Your Bells
All those in Ridgefield at 2:00pm on Independence Day are invited to participate. Take a moment to listen to the sound of our freedom; or participate with your own bell; or use our quick and easy audio file, 13 Tolls for Freedom.
Typically, bells are rung 13 times, representing the 13 colonies that fought for freedom and independence in 1776.
For those who want the full experience
Join the Ridgefield Historical Society team on Bailey Avenue, or visit Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center for their Fourth of July Celebration. A reading of the Declaration of Independence will follow the chiming bells — and free museum tours, games, watermelon, and a dunk tank will be on hand to remind us all that liberty is not only precious, it can also be a lot of fun!
Free Popsicles for Those Who Post
All those who post videos and photos on Facebook of themselves, friends, and family rocking their bells on July 4th earn a free popsicle from the Historical Society’s Scott House (4 Sunset Lane) during open hours in the month of July. Use the hashtag #LetFreedomRingRidgefield2022.
About the Tradition
The Let Freedom Ring tradition was made official in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy proclaimed July 4 to be “National Bell Ringing Day” through U.S. Congressional Resolution Number 25, where all across the nation Americans would ring bells to celebrate freedom and patriotism, as the founding fathers would have done when the Revolutionary War was won in 1783. Historic sites like the Liberty Bell, many National Parks, Pearl Harbor, and the Alamo have participated in this event, and locally the Norwalk Historical Society has hosted this event in the past.
To learn more, or to join the list of participating organizations, please contact the Ridgefield Historical Society at [email protected] or 203-438-5821.
