SUMMER OF CELEBRATION

Noon–2 p.m select Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays Gather Place at the Old African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Yardley 188 South Canal Street Take a stroll into history at the Gather Place Abolitionist Trail Hub. Start in the 1877 AME Church, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the church, which sits next to the Delaware Canal and towpath, visitors can follow a map of a dozen places, either documented or speculated, as locations of the Underground Railroad or active abolitionist activity. Check out the historic displays at the museum, celebrating the untold stories of African Americans, women, Yardley, and Pennsylvania’s Quaker founders.

Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie 6 p.m.: Biochemist, beer enthusiast, and history buff Dr. Jessica Zinskie will talk about the role of beer during the revolution, with the chance to try four historically inspired brews.

7 p.m.: A party in the beer garden with assorted drafts, food vendors, and live music. Tickets required.

2 p.m.: Main Street, Flemington Hunterdon County’s anniversary parade will feature Revolutionary War militias, a bagpipe corps, bands, and floats. Sponsored by the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

4–8 p.m.: 400 Pennsbury Memorial Road, Morrisville Tap into history and enjoy beer tastings, live music featuring classic rock and the Motown sounds, and food trucks along the banks of the Delaware River at the idyllic forty-three-acre estate of William Penn. Wander through the gardens and enjoy colonial-era brewing demonstrations. Tickets required.

Bluegrass PA 250 Celebration at Moravian Pottery & Tile Works Grab your pals, a beach chair, and a picnic blanket and enjoy some incredible bluegrass music in the TileWorks courtyard on two Sunday afternoons this summer. On June 28, get down to The Jason Carter Band, Shane McGeehan, The Bushwick Mountain Boys, and Full Steam. On July 26, do-si-do to The Price Sisters, Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, and Joe Cirotti Bluegrass Quartet. There will be food trucks offering food, craft beer, cider, and water. All shows are rain or shine. Tickets required.

Cross the Delaware—and then back again—to enjoy three days of celebrations of our nation’s independence along both banks of the river and a fireworks and drone show that will make your patriotic spirit soar.

1 p.m.: Head to the New Hope river promenade for a family-friendly talk with Abigail Readlinger, author of the children’s book The Young Federalists. 2 p.m.: An afternoon of historical entertainment at the river promenade stage featuring actor portrayals of George and Martha Washington, Admiral François Joseph Paul, and General Henry Knox.

2 p.m.: Historical re-enactors portraying Ben Franklin and George Washington will give thirty-minute talks with audience interaction. 3:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.: Roxey Ballet featuring twenty dancers will perform “The New Jersey Ballad,” an interpretation of the Delaware crossing. 4:20 p.m.: A patriotic “Stars and Stripes” performance presented by Music Mountain Theater. 9 p.m.: A patriotic fireworks show over the river from two launch boats, 200 drones creating patriotic images. July 4 2 p.m.: Revolutionary Pub Crawl starting at Lambertville Station and ending at the New Hope American Legion, where live music is scheduled to ring out starting at 5:15 p.m. The lineup includes ABBA and Donna Summer tribute performances and the New Hope–based Sam Ryan Band. (Ryan’s other gig is as the lead singer for Blood, Sweat, and Tears.)

12-4 p.m.: Come to Fonthill Castle, Henry Mercer’s concrete palace, for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun, food, games, crafts, and entertainment. Highlights include a decorated children’s bike parade, wheelbarrow, and sack races, live music, and food trucks. Tickets required.

10 a.m.: A community “Freedom Parade” starting at the New Hope American Legion parking and ending at the Lambertville Station.

11:30 a.m.: Dragon Boat Races on the river. Noon: Programmed festivities will conclude at noon with a simultaneous bell ringing and a rendition of “God Bless America” by performers from Bucks County Playhouse and Music Mountain Theater.

Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse 71 Main Street, Flemington 2:30 p.m.: After the Declaration of Independence was finalized by the Continental Congress, riders were sent to spread the news. The first reading outside of Philadelphia took place on July 8, 1776, at the Hunterdon County Courthouse, then on Warren Street in Trenton. Al Nardi, the deputy mayor of East Amwell, New Jersey, will read the Declaration to the crowd, including huzzahing Patriots and booing Loyalists. Afterward, historical interpreter Noah Lewis will portray Black Revolutionary War hero Ned Hector delivering an impassioned speech designed to inspire the audience to join the Patriot’s cause. Presented by Hunterdon 300th and Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Deer Path Park 120 West Woodschurch Road, Readington, New Jersey 7 p.m.: Re-enactors will muster modern-day troops of kids to serve in the Continental Army, and Noah Lewis reprises his role as the Black Revolutionary War hero Ned Hector. 8 p.m.: Concert by The Hunterdon Symphony with an all-Americana program, including pieces by John Philip Sousa, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein.

After the concert a fireworks show will light up the sky.

9 a.m. to 10 p.m.: downtown Easton 9 a.m.: Along History Row, across from Easton Public Market, more than a dozen exhibitors cover regional and colonial history, World War II, and the Civil War, with demonstrations of blacksmithing, weaving, soap-making and more. Noon: A re-enactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Centre Square.

1 p.m.: Music Fest & Block Party begins, including performances by Son Little, Rayland Baxter, The Deslondes, JD Clayton, Kassi Valazza, Matthew Logan Vasquez, and Lehigh Valley’s own Brittany Ann Tranbaugh.

9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., various locations in Newtown Honor America’s 250th birthday and celebrate Newtown’s rich history starting with a graveyard tour at the Old Presbyterian Church of Newtown. Learn about the British encampment on the grounds of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Listen to period music from a Civil War band at the historic Newtown Theatre. See antique fire trucks and equipment on display at the Newtown Fire House Museum. The day’s highlights will include a re-enactment of a Revolution-era skirmish between British troops and a local militia and a re-enactment of the notorious Doan Gang robbery of the county treasury in Newtown. Organized by the Newtown Historic Association.