ELDRED — The Town of Highland is preparing for a weekend of Revolutionary War history, community events and local celebration as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Sullivan County Historian John Conway attended the June 9 Highland Town Board meeting to discuss planned programming tied to the semi-quincentennial and the annual commemoration of the Battle of Minisink, fought on July 22, 1779.

Conway said Highland played an important role in Revolutionary War history through the Minisink Battleground, where American soldiers killed in the battle were left unburied for 43 years.

“That makes it a really special place,” Conway said.

The annual commemoration will be expanded this year into a full weekend of events on July 18-19 at the battleground, including encampments, military demonstrations, marching tours, exhibits, food and music. The usual solemn commemoration will still take place Saturday afternoon.

Conway said Fort Delaware will be closed that weekend so staff can assist with demonstrations and programming at the Minisink Battleground. Events at the battleground will be free to the public.

The celebration will also include a community block party in Eldred on Sunday, July 19, from noon to 9 p.m. Route 55 will be closed to through traffic in the area, though residents will still be able to access their homes.

Supervisor John Pizzolato said activities are planned around the four corners in Eldred, with participation from local businesses and organizations. Plans include food, music, children’s activities, historical programming and a dunk tank from the Highland Ambulance Service.

The town also plans to display surviving materials from a 1976 time capsule placed in the Highland Monument at the Minisink Battleground. Conway said many items were damaged by water after the capsule was found partially submerged, though some materials were salvaged and are being dried for display.

A new time capsule is also planned. Pizzolato said student essays from local students will be included, with students writing letters to themselves 50 years in the future.

Pizzolato said the celebration is meant to recognize both Highland’s Revolutionary War history and the community’s present-day character.

“It should be a really wonderful time to celebrate our town,” Pizzolato said.