The United States of America will turn 250 years old on July 4, and leaders in Washington, D.C., have been making plans to celebrate for a long time.
More than a decade ago, Congress created the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, an official government body with a mandate to “plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate” ways to commemorate the historic milestone. Preparations have ramped up as the date comes closer. Less than two weeks into his second term, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.
Since then, there has been a flurry of announcements detailing events that will take place throughout the year to honor the occasion. Two main groups are at the center of planning: The commission, now operating under the name America 250, and a new organization started by Trump called Freedom 250.
Some of the events on the calendar are what you might expect: fireworks, parades, concerts. Others are more surprising: professional fights on the White House grounds, a high-speed IndyCar race around the National Mall and more.
Here’s a rundown of the biggest events and commemorations.
UFC Freedom 250 (June 14)
The White House will host a series of mixed martial arts fights on its south lawn as part of UFC Freedom 250, an event hosted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The headlining bout will feature Ilia Topuria facing Justin Gaethje for the lightweight championship. The event is being held on Flag Day, which is also Trump’s 80th birthday.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of big events. I have never had an event that has had more interest than the UFC fight we have right at the front door,” Trump said recently.
He has also said that a temporary 4,500-seat arena will be constructed for the fights, with a larger crowd of up to 100,000 spectators watching the fights on “massive screens” elsewhere on the White House grounds.
UFC CEO Dana White is a vocal Trump supporter who has hosted the president at several of his company’s major events.
Great American State Fair (June 25-July 10)
Last week, Freedom 250 unveiled plans for a massive fair to be held on the National Mall during the two weeks surrounding the country’s 250th anniversary.
“We are going to absolutely transform the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol all the way through the Washington Monument,” Monica Crowley, a representative of the America 250 commission, told Fox News.
Each of America’s 50 states and six territories will have its own pavilion on the National Mall where they will be able to highlight “what makes every state special,” Crowley said, adding that it will include a 110-foot Ferris wheel, games and rodeo competitions.
Each day throughout the fair will have its own theme, including “Heritage & Legacy,” “Horsepower of America” and “MAHA Monday.”
Times Square ball drop (July 3)
New York City’s iconic New Year’s ball will drop on a different date for the first time ever on the night of July 3 to kick off America’s 250th birthday. The event, which will be broadcast live, had initially been planned to be open to the public. But that changed in early April after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an emergency order to limit public gatherings that might overstretch the NYPD’s resources during a busy summer when it will also be hosting games for the World Cup.
A view of Times Square ahead of the this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
(Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
Various events (July 4)
The anniversary of the country’s founding will unsurprisingly be the centerpiece of the celebrations, with a slate of events scheduled in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
The nation’s capital will host its traditional Independence Day parade and other events before capping off the evening with a fireworks display on the National Mall. July 3-4 will also be the dates for what organizers are calling America’s Block Party, with official America 250 celebrations held in various cities throughout the U.S. Currently, there are events planned in Charleston, S.C.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; and Milwaukee. More block parties in other cities may be added.
A time capsule designed to be opened in 2276 will be buried on July 4 near Independence Hall in Philadelphia beneath the site of a planned sculpture inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s famous “Join, or Die” political cartoon. The exact contents of the time capsule haven’t been fully revealed, but it will include a “carefully curated collection of letters and artifacts” that includes submissions from every state and territory, along with sports memorabilia, a commemorative flag and items from the 2026 Rose Parade.
A family-friendly concert will be held at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. New York and New Jersey will also be hosting an International Naval Review, featuring military ships from more than 20 countries, 100 Navy aircraft, the Queen Mary 2 and a British aircraft carrier. Many of the ships will dock nearby after the review and will be open to the public until July 8.
Freedom Grand Prix (Aug. 22-23)
The streets of Washington, D.C., will be turned into a race track for an official IndyCar road race at the end of August. The 1.66-mile track for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix will take drivers past some of the most iconic locations in the nation’s capital, including the Washington Monument, Smithsonian museums and the U.S. Capitol building.
Patriot Games (Fall 2026)
Late last year, Trump announced the creation of the Patriot Games, a national competition for the best high school athletes from across the country. The four-day event will feature “one young man and one young woman from each state and territory” participating in a series of challenges. Details of the event, including the dates and the names of potential celebrity coaches, have not been announced yet.
Other events
There are a variety of smaller events planned to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Those include a fleet of six mobile museums known as Freedom Trucks that have been visiting schools, fairs, and community celebrations in dozens of locations since they first hit the road in February. They will continue to make stops at various locations at least into the fall.
There are national competitions for kids, including a student art contest and America’s Field Trip — a contest requiring young Americans to answer the question: “What does America mean to you?”
The Treasury will print new $100 bills featuring Trump’s signature to mark the anniversary as well. Trump will also appear on the front face of commemorative coins that will be minted for the occasion.
One event that will not be happening is the opening of Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes, a monument that Trump proposed in his first term that features statues of hundreds of important figures in the country’s history. The garden was initially meant to open on America’s 250th anniversary, but that plan was scuttled when former President Joe Biden paused the project. Trump put the process back in motion when he returned to the White House, but there is currently no scheduled date for its completion.
