This year, of course, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States. The Semiquincentennial.

Here in Sullivan County, the Semiquincentennial is commemorating the eight years of the American Revolutionary War as well as the Declaration of Independence, so events were held throughout 2025, celebrating 250 years since the start of the War for Independence.

Sullivan County is not alone in that regard. Throughout New York State, where approximately one-third of the battles of the war took place, and in places from Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts to Saratoga, there were special festivities marking the beginning of the 250th anniversary.

Locally, The Delaware Company kicked off the celebration with a fitting event in April of last year, hosting “The British Are Coming” at Seminary Hill Cidery in Callicoon, with the highlight being a performance by Judith Kalaora of History at Play of her one-woman play, “Rendezvous with Rachel Revere,” telling the story of Paul Revere’s legendary ride through the eyes of his wife, who was cut off from him for weeks, with little information about his fate.

A number of other events followed throughout the year, including a few highlighting the newly discovered link between Sullivan County and Revolutionary War General Benedict Arnold. The commemoration resumed earlier this year with a series of special radio programs on Catskills News Talk, entitled, “250 Years: A Look Back,” as well as a special supplement to The Sullivan County Democrat newspaper, and there is much more to come.

America’s 250th birthday will be celebrated on July 4 at Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History in Narrowsburg, NY. There will be cake—the first 50 paying customers that day will receive a patriotic cupcake-- and fun and games with chances to win valuable prizes, as well as a secret surprise celebratory event in the afternoon. As always, the Fort is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but no one is admitted after 4 p.m.

The big weekend for the commemoration this year is July 17, 18 and 19, when a full slate of events will take place at the Minisink Battleground Park.

On Friday, July 17, things get underway at 3 p.m., with a number of historical exhibits and demonstrations. Then at 4 p.m., re-enactor Noah Lewis, who has appeared at Fort Delaware in the past, will present his program on Ned Hector, an African American Revolutionary War hero. The presentation will take place in the Benjamin Tusten Memorial Pavilion at the Battleground. The Fort Delaware Fife & Drum Corps will be performing at 5 p.m., and encampments will be accepting visitors until about 7 p.m.

On Saturday, July 18, the action is non-stop, as Noah Lewis presents “African Americans in the American Revolution” at 11 a.m. in the Pavilion to get things started, Then, the annual reading aloud of the Declaration of Independence and a Loyalist Response will take place at 1 p.m., followed by a skirmish between Patriots and Loyalists. Colonial musician Linda Russell, longtime balladeer at Federal Hall in New York City, will perform at 3 p.m. and the annual commemoration of the Battle of Minisink follows at 4. New York State Historian Devin Lander will deliver the keynote address. Guided walking tours of the Battleground will follow the commemoration for anyone who is interested, and the encampments will again be open to visitors.

On Sunday morning, the 5th New York Regiment re-enactors will present drills and demonstrations beginning at 11 a.m., after which the activities switch to Eldred, where the Town of Highland is hosting an Americana Block Party to celebrate the Semiquincentennial. The block party will feature food, music, games, and much more, and will go on until 9 p.m. Sunday night. Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History will be closed from Friday, July 17 thru Sunday, July 19, so staff can participate in the activities at the Minisink Battleground.

All activities at the Battleground are free, thanks to the event’s sponsors, including The Delaware Company, the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association, the Narrowsburg Union, Bold Gold Media, the Sullivan County Legislature, and the Sullivan County Division of Parks, Recreation and Beautification.

Other events coming up this summer include the one-woman play “A Revolution of Her Own: The Deborah Sampson Story” at the Narrowsburg Union on Saturday evening, August 1, a commemoration of the Battle of Chestnut Woods in Grahamsville on September 5, and a showing of the movie version of the popular musical, “Hamilton” at the Narrowsburg Union on Saturday, September 19.

There is also a revival of the popular Magical History Tour bus trip being discussed for early October, with the itinerary focusing on Revolutionary War landmarks.

Stay tuned...it’s going to be a busy summer!

John Conway is the Sullivan County Historian. Email him at jconway52@hotmail.com.