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March 19, 2026 America’s Downtowns Celebrate 250th Anniversary
Each state, territory, and the District of Columbia has formed its own commission to plan, coordinate, and support commemorative activities. And at the local level, thousands of organizations are planning celebrations, through hometown parades, festivals, community gatherings, public art projects, and celebrations of local history. In Wilmington, DE, for example, the Wilmington 250 Committee will incorporate recognition of the country’s 250th anniversary into many of the city’s ongoing events. For example, there will be a citywide toast during Greater Wilmington Beer Week, dining events in partnership with Restaurant Week, and public art activities. The city will also reimagine annual traditions like the July 4th riverfront celebration and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival to incorporate recognition of the Semiquincentennial anniversary. More on celebrations nationwide appears in the March issue of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter. Click below to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors. 
6" x 9", softcover, 205 pages, $32.
Recommended ReadingCompleting our StreetsThe complete streets movement is based on a simple idea: streets should be safe for people of all ages and abilities, whether they are walking, driving, bicycling, or taking the bus. Completing Our Streets provides the strategies, tools, and inspiration needed to translate this idea into real and lasting change in cities and towns of all sizes. Completing Our Streets begins with the story of how the complete streets movement united bicycle riders, transportation practitioners and agencies, public health leaders, older Americans, and smart growth advocates to dramatically re-frame the discussion of transportation safety. It explores the policy changes needed for a successful complete streets program, and it discusses how to get the process started. Completing Our Streets shares stories from places big and small that are adopting a complete streets approach to all of their transportation projects. Completing Our Streets is just one of the many books on improving parking & access available from the Downtown Development Center. |
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Cities and towns across the United States are celebrating the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of the Declaration of Independence. There will be a yearlong series of events and activities including historical reenactments, parades, festivals, concerts, and educational exhibits. As the lead organizer for the event, America250 has set a goal of “350 by 250,” aiming to engage all 350 million Americans by the nation’s 250th anniversary.