By Patrick Olivero
MIDDLETOWN – On June 28, Monmouth County marked the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary with “America’s Big Birthday Parade: Red, White & You!,” a countywide celebration that stepped off from the Middletown train station and ended with a festival at Mater Dei Park.
The parade also fell on the 248th anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth, fought June 28, 1778, tying the day’s red, white and blue celebration to the county’s Revolutionary War history. Parade viewing areas included the Middletown Township Public Library, New Monmouth Elementary School, New Monmouth Baptist Church and the Middletown Marketplace Shopping Center.
Along the route, spectators sat in lawn chairs, waved small American flags, and watched as police honor guards, marching bands, Scout troops, fire trucks, tractors and patriotic floats moved through Middletown. At Mater Dei Park, attendees were welcomed by food trucks, games, a bounce house and other festival activities.
Middletown Mayor Tony Perry took the stage at the festival with members of the Middletown Township Committee, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, County Commissioners Thomas Arnone, Ross Licitra and Nick DiRocco, Monmouth County Surrogate Maureen Raisch and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon.
“What a heck of a parade,” Perry said, thanking residents for lining the streets – and thanking county and township workers for helping organize the event. Arnone and Hanlon are co-chairs of the Monmouth NJ 250 Committee, which was led by executive director Ted Maturo, who was on site to oversee the parade.
Arnone said the parade was three years in the making and credited Middletown, county staff, emergency services and public works crews with helping coordinate the large-scale event. “Middletown, you were a gigantic part of this,” he said.
Hanlon said the county’s last countywide parade was held 50 years ago during the bicentennial in 1976, making the current celebration another opportunity to bring all 53 Monmouth County municipalities together. She said Middletown was a fitting host because of its partnership with the county and the area’s Revolutionary War history. There were more than 100 skirmishes in Monmouth County, as well as the most famous Battle of Monmouth.
“To cap off the parade, we wanted to create a memorable patriotic festival that families and visitors of all ages could enjoy, and Mater Dei Park was an ideal venue for this celebration of our nation’s heritage and community spirit,” she said in a statement. “We have so much to be proud of, so much to celebrate.”
The article originally appeared in the July 2 – 8, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
