By Emily Schopfer
MONMOUTH COUNTY – America’s 250th anniversary is fast approaching and, here in Monmouth County, the celebrations are just getting started. With everything from patriotic block parties and statue unveilings to lecture series, Monmouth County is working to ensure that the county’s unique role in the American Revolution is showcased and honored amid the festivities.
“New Jersey is known as “the crossroads of the American Revolution,” and Monmouth County has a rich history integral to the fight for our Nation’s independence,” notes the website dedicated to the anniversary, monmouthcounty250.org.
The Battle of Monmouth was a pivotal moment in the Revolution, as the biggest and longest one-day battle of the Revolutionary War. The battle was fought June 28, 1778, in what is now modern-day Manalapan and Freehold townships. The annual reenactment of the battle was held June 20 -21.
Jake Rue, Monmouth Chapter president of The Sons of the American Revolution, explained at an April Liberty Tree dedication in Fair Haven that Monmouth County’s role in the Revolutionary War is complicated, as the county was battling its own civil war during the conflict. The county had fewer patriots, with only about a third of residents wanting independence, according to Rue. This turned neighbor against neighbor, families against one another, and makes Monmouth County’s history a unique one to honor on this 250th anniversary.
Warm-Up to Fourth of July
The MonmouthNJ 250 Committee has worked with all 53 municipalities in the county to celebrate this anniversary.
Bell Works in Holmdel is hosting an America250 Gala in support of Friends of the Monmouth County Park System. On June 25, guests are gathering for cocktails, live music by The Infernos, and MonmouthNJ 250 Patriotism Awards.
From Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28, Asbury Park’s Premier Theatre Company is hosting “1776 The Musical!” at the Rumson School District Auditorium. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical follows founding fathers John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson on their journey to convince the members of the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence and sign the Declaration of Independence – all set to stirring music.
On June 28, Middletown will become home base for MonmouthNJ 250, as the township hosts America’s Big Birthday Parade, “Red, White & You!” Organized by MonmouthNJ 250 Committee and Middletown America 250, this semiquincentennial parade celebrates not just America’s birthday but also the Battle of Monmouth. The parade kicks off at 12:30 p.m. and will precede a free Family Festival at Mater Dei Park. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, rides and attractions for all ages, food trucks and lots more. Visit monmouthnj250.org for updated details.
On July 1 at PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, you can start the July 4 weekend early with a patriotic concert of the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus. Tickets are free, but reservations are required and can be made at armyfieldband.com. The show will run from approximately 7 to 10 p.m.
Also, on the eve of America250 and Independence Day, MonmouthNJ 250: The Concert will be held at the new ParkStage at the East Freehold Showgrounds. The musical lineup includes Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Jake Clemons Band, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Gary U.S. Bonds, Low Cut Connie and The Weeklings. As of June 22, tickets are still available via parkstage.org.
Sail4th 250
In the grand finale to America250, the tall ships will return to Sandy Hook Bay for the first time since America’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. More than 50 international tall ships from over 30 nations will gather in the Port of New York and New Jersey between July 3 and July 8 for Sail4th 250.
Seastreak is holding an event cruise into the bay to view the ships up close, departing from the Highlands and Belford, but tickets quickly sold out. Other private charter boats may still be available in Highlands departing from Bahrs Landing Marina. Participating charters can be found on the Highlands Business Partnership website at highlandsnj.com. There are many places on land, such as Veterans Memorial Park, The Sandbox at Seastreak in Highlands, or Sandy Hook’s Officers Row, where onlookers can still view the magnificent ships in the harbor.
Highlands Borough will also be hosting approximately 60 sailors from Italy’s famed training vessel, the Amerigo Vespucci, July 3. Mayor Carolyn Broullon, the borough council and others will take the sailors through town for activities such as welcoming ceremonies, a mayoral proclamation and more.
For anyone hoping to take their boat out on the water to view Sail4th 250, the U.S. Coast Guard New York Sector published a Marine Safety Information Bulletin outlining extensive security zones, navigation and spectator area restrictions, and spectator vessel regulations that will impact boating activity throughout the event. “Due to the scale of the events, its heightened security posture, the anticipated crowd size, and limited on-water spectator areas… displays from shore may provide a safer and more convenient alternative, particularly for smaller
vessels or less experienced mariners,” according to the June 15 report. For any boats going out on the water, the Coast Guard and event sponsors are also strongly encouraging pre-registration via tickettree.us/events/sail-250. The full spectator vessel overview and guidelines can be found on Middletown Township’s website under Sail4th 250.
Celebrate Throughout the Month
The festivities aren’t ending July 4. Middletown Township will be hosting Freedom Fest from 6 to 10 p.m. July 5 at the Bayshore Waterfront Park. Attendees can gather for meals from food trucks, beach games, tours of the historic Seabrook-Wilson House, and even a patriotic drone show. Admission to the event is free for all.
On July 17, Eatontown will host the Eatontown 250 5K and USA 250 Celebration at Gurbisz Park. Runner registration is free for those 14 and under, $20 for adults. From 4 p.m. up until the race at 6:30 p.m., runners and guests can enjoy a DJ, ice cream and more. For more info or to register, visit @eatontownnjrecreation on Instagram.
The Monmouth County 250 Committee has also spearheaded “Talking 250,” a podcast offering discussions about the people, places and history of Monmouth County’s unique role in the American Revolution. Hosted by County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon and Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, episodes also feature guests such as Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Middletown Township Mayor Tony Perry. Episodes are available now on MonmouthNJ250’s YouTube.
Also on YouTube, history buffs can find Revolutionary Reflections, a mini-docuseries created by the Middletown America 250 Committee. Each episode is about five minutes long and is published on Middletown Township’s YouTube page. It explores “real lives, struggles, and choices of Middletown’s residents during the Revolutionary War,” according to Middletown’s June 19 newsletter.
For more hands-on history, you can also take part in a Historic Site Minibus Tour in Middletown, happening July 11, 12, 18, and 19. See middletownnj.org for more information.
The Middletown Township Public Library, in partnership with the Middletown Township Historical Society, created the America 250 Speaker Series, running through September. Catch the July 28 lecture “Divided Loyalties” with Maxine Lurie, a history professor at Seton Hall. Visit middletownnjhistory.org to see additional lecture dates and events.
To get out and enjoy the early summer weather, residents can also check out some of the new Revolutionary monuments at several township parks. On June 14, at Victory Park in Rumson, a bronze statue of a Continental soldier created by Colorado-based artist Sutton Betti was unveiled to the public. The soldier was dubbed “The Patriot” by Betti and is surrounded by six bronze plaques showing pages of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.
At Swimming River Park in Middletown, three groupings of seven life-size bronze statues were revealed on June 4. Holmdel native Brian Hanlon created not just the Swimming River statues, but also the William “Count” Basie sculpture outside the Count Basie Center for the Arts on Monmouth Street in Red Bank. The three groupings depict three soldiers going into battle to represent “the fight,” a drummer and fifer representing “patriotism,” and a soldier alongside a woman holding an infant representing “the family.”
The article originally appeared in the June 25 – July 1, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
