Digital toolkit available for those hosting neighborhood events.
On March 26, America250 launched its official 100-day countdown to the Fourth of July with a wave of national announcements, unveiling the first five host cities for July 3-4 “America’s Block Party” events alongside a historic call to action to give back for the Fourth and new ways to participate.
“America250 is creating the largest synchronized Fourth of July celebration in U.S. history through America’s Block Party,” said Rosie Rios, America250 chair. “The Fourth of July has long been synonymous with neighborhood block parties – we’re turning up the volume on this beloved tradition by scaling it into a nationwide celebration anchored in live music.” All 350 million Americans can take part in the shared experience by attending America’s Block Party events or tuning into the livestream on the iHeartRadio app from their own neighborhood gatherings.
New York – Historic July 3 Times Square Ball Drop: For the first time in its 120-year history, the Times Square Ball will drop outside of New Year’s Eve. On July 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET, the Ball will illuminate in a custom America250 design before descending at midnight into July 4. The Ball’s crystals for 2026 were custom-made for America’s 250th anniversary, featuring three distinct designs – Infinite Life (1.5-inch), Infinite Liberty (3-inch) and Infinite Happiness (4-inch). Each design features interwoven curves and circular motifs to reflect the shared ideals at the heart of America’s story.
Los Angeles – July 4 Concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: On July 4, America250 will host a family-friendly concert at the coliseum, bringing together major musical artists and patriotic tributes for an in-person audience up to 50,000 and a nationwide livestream audience. Headlining talent will be announced in the coming weeks.
Milwaukee – America’s Block Party at Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance: Set along Lake Michigan, Summerfest will serve as an official America’s Block Party location, welcoming fans from across the country for its July 4 celebration presented by Harley-Davidson. The event will feature a full day of live music, including performances by Jelly Roll, Sam Barber, The Temper Trap, BoDeans, Soul Asylum, Joywave, Jonah Kagen and more.
Fort Campbell, Ky. – Fort Campbell Festival: The home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will host a July 4 festival for military families and the public, featuring the Legend of Charlie Daniels Tribute Concert with special guests Aaron Tippin, Eric Lee Beddingfield and the 101st Airborne Division Band. Expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees, the event is powered by Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram, and produced by Fort Campbell MWR, 8 Track Entertainment and MOTR Music.
Charleston, S.C.: SC250 Charleston will host an Independence Day Celebration in Waterfront Park: Charleston played a crucial role in the American Revolution and advancing the nation’s founding ideals. The celebration will feature a peninsula-wide fireworks display, the largest in the Southeast.
More details, ticket information and additional city announcements will be available at america250.org. There, Americans can also register to host official neighborhood events to receive a digital toolkit with signage, celebration ideas and games. Because no block party is complete without music, America250 also announced iHeartMedia as an official audio partner of the Semiquincentennial. As the largest audio company in the United States, iHeartMedia is listened to by more than 250 million Americans every month across its broadcast radio network, streaming and digital platforms.
“iHeartMedia reaches 90% of Americans every month, and we are honored to partner with America250 to use the unique scale and reach of our broadcast radio and digital platforms to connect communities across America, helping to bring this once-in-a-generation celebration to life in a way that reflects the spirit of the moment,” said Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia.
By National Executive Committee resolution, American Legion departments and posts are encouraged to connect with their state and local America250 commissions. An online directory is available to contact these commissions at america250.org/our-partners/state-and-territory-commissions. Share your stories of involvement on Legiontown, and send details of your post or department events to magazine@legion.org.
- USA250