Friday, July 4 @ 11:00 am – 3:00 pm EDT
July 4 Event Begins Year of Celebration
Ridgefield Commemorates America at 250 Commission’s year of townwide initiatives to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence starting on July 4, 2025, with the Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center’s traditional July 4 celebration from 11 to 3. The Ridgefield Historical Society will be at the event and we invite everyone to stop at our table to say hello and to talk about the amazing history of our town. Bring questions – we love them!
Bell ringing has long been a part of July 4 celebrations, so stop by the Ridgefield Historical Society table to pick up your own bell to herald the beginning of a year of celebration of the freedoms our forefathers fought for. Traditionally, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is “tapped” at 2 pm on July 4 in a ceremony honoring the signing of the Declaration of Independence on that date in 1776. Many towns across the country ring church bells and school bells at the same time.
If you’ve wondered about the name of the street or road on which you live, come ask for its history. We’ll be equipped with Ridgefield Names by Jack Sanders, which includes not only streets and roads, but also interesting place names, some of them pretty amusing. (Ever heard of a place called Peespunk? Do you know where the Wolf Pits were? What’s one of the most misspelled road names in Ridgefield?)
The day will begin with a fife and drum duo marching down Main Street to KTM&HC. Throughout the day, visitors will enjoy a wide range of family-friendly activities, including: museum tours; costumed reenactors; demonstrations of historic crafts such as spinning and shoemaking; kids’ games, crafts, and a scavenger hunt; live music and dance on the tented terrace; a dunk tank to dunk King George; a vintage firetruck; an art exhibit in the barn curated by the Ridgefield Guild of Artists; free watermelon; assorted merchandise; and more! Grilled BBQ menu options and other refreshments will be on sale. The event will culminate with the reading of the Declaration of Independence by community members, followed by a rendition of “America the Beautiful” and a reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Free admission. No onsite parking. The event will begin with a fife and drum duo marching down Main Street to KTM&HC. Throughout the day, visitors will enjoy a wide range of family-friendly activities, including: museum tours; costumed reenactors; demonstrations of historic crafts such as spinning and shoemaking; kids’ games, crafts, and a scavenger hunt; live music and dance on the tented terrace; a dunk tank to dunk King George; a vintage firetruck; an art exhibit in the barn curated by the Ridgefield Guild of Artists; free watermelon; assorted merchandise; and more! Grilled BBQ menu options and other refreshments will be on sale. The event will culminate with the reading of the Declaration of Independence by community members, followed by a rendition of “America the Beautiful” and a reading of Frederick Douglass’s speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
Free admission. No onsite parking. All proceeds from the BBQ to benefit the RCA250 town committee.
As Ridgefield’s United States Semiquincentennial year gets underway, it’s a great time to learn about and celebrate the history of our town and delve into how it fits into the fabric of our country. Events will continue throughout the next year, culminating in the town’s 250th celebration on July 4, 2026. For more information, visit ridgefieldct250.org.
