New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ – Two of America’s most famous twin river towns are teaming up for a giant July 4th weekend celebration for America’s 250th birthday. Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce and America Celebrates Inc. announce a three-day spectacle on Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, 2026 in New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey. The “New Hope-Lambertville America 250 Festival” will bring together over 50 community, tourism and hospitality organizations to take over both sides of the famous Delaware River for fireworks, drones, parades, marches, music, theater and patriotism in the very place where George Washington was a regular during Revolutionary times.
Friday night highlights include New Hope’s largest fireworks and drone show in history (two barges, 200 drones!), Music Mountain Theatre performing Stars and Stripes, Roxey Ballet presenting NJ Ballad and period actors on both riverbanks. Saturday highlights include reenactors playing George Washington, Anna Strong, Samuel Adams and a Continental Army soldier lead a pub crawl across the bridge into New Hope, and the America 250 Celebrates Concert with The Sam Ryan Band, Forever Donna (Donna Summer Tribute) and Dancing Dream (ABBA Tribute). Sunday’s highlights include the Freedom Parade, Relentless Dragon Boat Race America vs Great Britain, Declaration of Independence Readings with New Hope and Lambertville Mayors (past and present), “God Bless America” performance with church bells on both sides of the river. All events are no charge and family friendly – except the pub crawl and concert, which require separate tickets. For details and additional events, visit visitnewhope dot com. Follow @visitnewhope for updates and tag on social media.
New Hope and Lambertville both have documented roles in the American Revolution. New Hope was then known as Coryell’s Ferry, a strategic Delaware River crossing that Congress ordered defended in the spring of 1777. Major General Benedict Arnold, three years before his treason, established his Continental Army headquarters at the Logan Inn at the corner of Ferry and Main streets. George Washington stayed at the same tavern multiple times during the war. The Logan, originally built as the Ferry Tavern in 1727, still serves food and drinks today as one of the oldest continuously running inns in the country. The basement where dead Continental soldiers were stored through the frozen winters until the ground thawed for burial is still down there.
“New Hope and Lambertville played a critical part in our country’s history,” said Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce President Michael Sklar. “As you walk down Main Street, you are walking where George Washington walked 250 years ago. You can be part of history again as we join forces to bring a giant celebration to the Delaware River.
“We are proud to team up with America Celebrates and over 50 other organizations for a riverbank to riverbank celebration unlike anything ever produced here before. The three-day extravaganza will include a record-setting fireworks and drone show to light up the skies, reenactors bringing history to life, cultural performances, and an epic Dragon Boat Race pitting the colors of America against the colors of Great Britain. The line-up has something for every age and every vibe – from intimate historical events to high-energy moments and dancing with thousands of people at the July 4th concert. We have a little something for everyone. Also look for decorations, food specials, theme drinks, sales and more at dozens of our local small and independent businesses. They are the heart of New Hope and Lambertville – and together we can’t welcome the country to our front doors and riverbanks.”
“In addition to the fantastic concert at the New Hope American Legion lot, we have planned three days of wonderful educational and celebratory events over the July 4th weekend,” said Dick Creter, President of America Celebrates Inc. “We can’t wait to activate the banks of the twin river towns. We are especially excited for the America 250 pub crawl from Lambertville to New Hope and the ‘revolutionary tavern’ set up at the concert area at the Legion lot. The crawl-goers can stay for the concert and enjoy the entertainment.”
America Celebrates, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announced today the full schedule for America Celebrates 250, a Friday-through-Sunday festival running July 3, 4, and 5, 2026 across the twin river towns of New Hope, Pennsylvania and Lambertville, New Jersey. More than a dozen regional charities and community partners are producing the festival together and will also team up with dozens of local small businesses.
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026
The festival opens Friday, July 3 with afternoon and evening performances on platform stages on both sides of the river. Children’s author Abigale Readlinger will lead a discussion of The Young Federalists on the New Hope River Promenade beginning at 1:00pm, with complimentary copies of the book provided to the public.
Through the afternoon and evening, professional actors in full period costume will play George Washington, Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Admiral DeGrasse, General Henry Knox, and other figures of the Revolutionary era.
Roxey Ballet will perform NJ Ballad, a 30-minute recreation of Washington’s Crossing and the road to Trenton, in two shows at the Lambertville Station stage at 5:00pm and 8:15pm. Music Mountain Theatre will perform “Stars and Stripes” between the two ballet shows.
Friday closes at 9:00pm with a 20-minute spectacular over the Delaware River. Fireworks launched from two boats anchored mid-river will pair with a 200-drone patriotic light show and a fully synchronized soundtrack of patriotic music. The drone show is twice the size of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce’s annual display. For the first time ever,stadium-quality speakers will be installed throughout downtown New Hope and downtown Lambertville so that everyone walking either side of the river hears the same music at the same moment, as the same fireworks burst overhead and the same drones form patriotic images in the sky. The whole of both downtowns becomes a single open-air theater for twenty minutes.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2026
America’s actual 250th birthday, opens at 2:00pm with a ticketed Revolutionary Pub Crawl presented by Revolutionary Crawls and Events, leaving Lambertville Station. Reenactors playing George Washington, Anna Strong, Samuel Adams, and a Continental Army soldier in full kit lead the crawl across the bridge into New Hope. Crawl-goers stop at the Promenade Stage for first-person acco unts of wartime leadership, the Culper spy ring, and revolutionary tavern culture, and arrive at the New Hope American Legion lower parking lot at 41 New Street around 4:00pm, in time for the concert.
DJ Wodi serves as master of ceremonies for the evening, spinning from 4:00pm as crawl-goers arrive and warming up the crowd ahead of the live sets. The concert at the Legion lot runs from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. The Sam Ryan Band opens the night, fronted by New Hope native Sam Ryan, who tours nationally as lead singer of the three-time Grammy-winning band Blood, Sweat & Tears. Forever Donna: The Ultimate Donna Summer Tribute starring Rainere Martin follows, and Dancing Dream, a New York City-based ABBA tribute band founded in 2009 and featured on the Stephen Colbert Show, closes the show. Entry to the concert area is $10. Food tents and a full bar will be on site.
SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2026
The festival closes Sunday, July 5 with the 10:00am Freedom Parade. The march steps off from the New Hope American Legion lot, crosses the bridge, and ends at Lambertville Station. Actors in period dress with fife and drum lead the column, followed by veterans of both American Legion posts, scout troops, the Tri-County Band under director Karen Reavy, and the New Hope Eagle Fire Company’s antique Mack truck engine alongside the Lambertville Fire Department.
At 11:30am, the Relentless Dragon Boat Race launches under the bridge that connects the two towns. Two crews compete on the same river that decided so many of the founding battles. One boat will carry the colors of America. The other will carry the colors of Great Britain. Mayors and dignitaries will deliver dramatic readings of the Declaration of Independence on platform stages on both shores. At 12:00 noon, singers from Bucks County Playhouse and Music Mountain Theatre will perform “God Bless America” simultaneously, one chorus from each side of the river, while church bells ring in unison across both towns to mark America’s 250th. One sound, one river, two states.
ALL WEEKEND LONG
Look for decorations, specials, features, sales, store promotions, exhibitions and more at three dozen (and growing) small businesses.
Restaurant highlights:
Cellar Pub
$1 hot dogs; $8 Adult Lemonade Water Ice (vanilla vodka, lemon, simple syrup) with complimentary sparkler. Valid ID required.
Country Fair Chocolates
“Red, White & Blueberries” — white chocolate, blueberries & raspberry. July 4–5 (48-year tradition).
Ferry’s End
$2.50 “Redcoats/Bluecoats” Bud & Bud Light; $2.50 “Go Birds” Kenwood Lager; $12.50 “Ben’s Elixer” (Traveller Whiskey, Linvilla cider, brown sugar syrup); $12.50 “America The Beautiful” (Michter’s bourbon, elderflower, grapefruit, honey, walnut bitters).
Fran’s Pub
“Red, White & Blue” Long Island Iced Tea. GreenHouse New Hope 4th of July specialty cocktails, dessert & appetizer available.
John & Peter’s Place
“The Liberty Bloom” blueberry margarita — tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice, blueberry puree & Rose’s lime.
Nomad Distillery
“The 1776” (corn whiskey, Miners root beer, cherry); “Founding Father’s Old Fashioned” (noble bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel); “The Betsy Ross” (blackberry bramble brandy, lemonade, club soda, blueberries).
Poppa Frank’s
“Freedom Pancakes” — stack topped with strawberries, blueberries & whipped cream. Reed’s Breakfast Bar “AmeriConi Float” — blueberry nitro coffee float with strawberry whip.
Spatola’s Pizza
“Star Spangled Parm Pizza” — chicken parmesan, vodka sauce & fresh mozzarella.
Giovanni’s Dillicious Pickles
Complimentary American flag with any purchase; $5 Cherry Pickle; $5 Blue Razz Pickle.
Gelato Shop
10% off when dressed in Red, White & Blue
Store and Retail highlights:
A Nightmare in New Hope
20% off entire store + admission to the Horror Gallery. Closed July 4
Dark Moon Crystals & Curiosities
10% off crystals and jewelry.
Ditto Vintage “4th of July Rack” — $5 sale items available.
Esoterica
Enter to win a $50 GC when you spend $50 or more.
Farley’s Bookshop
Enter to win a $100 GC when you spend $20 or more.
God Save the Qweens
Donate an unopened bag of cat/dog food or treats, get $25 off any pair of Dr. Marten’s.
Goody Bag & Basket Co.
25% off salt water taffy.
Love Saves The Day
Enter to win a $25 GC when you spend $25 or more.
MainStreet Harvest
Enter to win a surprise gift when you spend $25 or more.
New Hope Apparel Co.
Enter to win a $50 GC when you spend $25 or more.
Olive & Grape
Enter to win a GC + 6-pack when you spend $25 or more. Plus a “4th of July Sale” and “Tahini with Honey.”
Steam Soapery
Enter to win a surprise gift when you spend $25 or more.
Sunbeam General Store
10% off when dressed in Red, White & Blue.
Suzie’s Hot Shoppe
One complimentary gift per group when dressed patriotically.
Syn Boutique
10% off when dressed patriotically.
The Cat Walk of New Hope
Enter to win a $50 New Hope Apparel Co. GC when you spend $25 or more.
The Creeper Gallery
Enter to win a surprise gift when you spend $25 or more.
The Den
Complimentary “The Den” t-shirt with any purchase of $20 or more.
Wax N Scent Studio
Take any candle-making workshop and get half off the “Heat Lamp Candle Warmer” — $15 (reg. $30).
Whatever’s Hot
10% off when dressed patriotically.
GENERAL
Most events across the weekend are no charge to the public. Saturday’s evening concert at the American Legion lot has a $10 entry. The pub crawl also has a separate fee.
For concert tickets and the most up-to-date info on the weekend celebration, visit Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce by following @visitnewhope on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, visiting visitnewhope.com and joining the “New Hope, PA” Facebook community group. For festival schedule and pub crawl tickets, visit americacelebrates.org.
About the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce
The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce is a collaborative organization that supports and promotes local businesses, fostering economic growth and community engagement in New Hope, PA. With a rich history rooted in one of Bucks County’s most vibrant towns, the Chamber works tirelessly to enhance the visitor experience and support its members through events, networking opportunities, and marketing initiatives. From seasonal celebrations to cultural festivals, the Chamber plays a vital role in showcasing New Hope as a premier destination for locals and visitors alike.