US EditionThe nation’s 250th anniversary arrives with a call for year-round community service
The six-night event includes a 250-foot birthday candle projection and visual narratives celebrating America’s history, free to the public, marking the national start of the 250th anniversary.
- Beginning Wednesday, the Washington Monument was illuminated during a six-night projection run on the National Mall, with the display ending on Jan. 5, 2026, organizers said.
- Organizers say the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission launched the projections as part of the 250th anniversary celebration to unite Americans around the `triumph of the American spirit`.
- Featuring a 250-foot birthday candle projection, organizers said the roughly 20-minute show includes multiple image segments and this lighting is only the Monument's second such use.
- The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required, viewable across the National Mall; visitors will not face security screening and can watch online, Freedom 250 said.
- The illumination is positioned to launch a yearlong effort by Freedom 250, with future National Mall events including a May 17 prayer gathering and the Great American State Fair, June 25–July 10.
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Hartford Courant
The Morning CallAmerica’s 250th birthday is the moment Philly museums have been waiting for
By Elizabeth Wellington, The Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA — No one throws a “Happy 250th Birthday, America” jammy jam like a Philadelphia museum. Embedded into the fabric of our nation’s birthplace, Philly cultural institutions are gearing up for high-level deep dives into history, fun, folly, and reflection. Just in time for the Semiquincentennial. Our museums’ dynamic programming for America’s big birthday kicks off on Jan. 1. The Philad…
Washington Monument Display's Stunning Light Show To Kick Off America's 250th Anniversary Celebrations
The National Parks Service (NPS) officially kicked off America’s 250th anniversary celebrations just hours before midnight with an impressive New Year’s light show displayed on the Washington Monument. The light display, titled “The Illumination of America,” served as the nation’s official kickoff of America 250 celebrations to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Organized by Freedom 250 — President Donald…
Washington Monument turns giant birthday candle for America’s 250th anniversary
On New Year’s Eve, the Washington Monument will be transformed into a giant 250-foot birthday candle to kick off yearlong celebrations for the nation’s semiquincentennial, with patriotic projections and a midnight fireworks display.
Washington Monument illuminated for America’s 250th anniversary celebration
The Washington Monument welcomed the new year with a projection show celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. The large-scale projections marked the official start of the year-long commemoration of the nation’s founding, leading up to the semiquincentennial.
LIVE NOW: Freedom 250 Launches With New Year’s Eve Illumination at Washington Monument
The Freedom 250 initiative—led by President Donald Trump to mark the United States’ 250th anniversary—launches with a New Year’s Eve illumination at the Washington Monument on Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. ET. ...
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