Town to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in the fall: Birthday bash to be held at Riverfront Park Sept. 26
- Peter Marteka
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
By Peter Marteka
Editor
Parks and recreation director Lisa Zerio found out something when the 250th anniversary working group started brainstorming ideas to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial.
“What we discovered was that all those organizations in town,” she said, “already do things so well. So, everybody kind of took a different spin on it...every department has come forward to come up with something.”
She noted events like social services doing a special luncheon each month. There was an intergenerational trivia night. Youth and family services did 250 ideas for acts of kindness. There’s also a 2026 fitness challenge to walk, run, bicycle, swim - any distance-based activity – 250 miles.
The working group is made up of members from parks and recreation, youth and family services, senior and social services, the Welles-Turner Memorial Library along with the town’s marketing and communications. There are also representatives from the Glastonbury Historical Society, the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative, TALK, the Glastonbury Rotary Club, Glastonbury Pride, and the Glastonbury Town Center Initiative.
“This collaborative group has been instrumental in coordinating activities, sharing resources, and ensuring broad community engagement,” Town Manager Jonathan Luiz said. “To date, several events and programs have already been successfully held, contributing to early momentum and public awareness of the anniversary celebration.”
A birthday bash has been scheduled for Sept. 26 (rain date of Sept. 27) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the grounds of Riverfront Park. The event will include live entertainment, community groups, food and non-food vendors, and a variety of activities designed to engage residents of all ages. The Town Center Initiative will feature a dedicated children's area with games, activities, and a DJ.
The recreation commission recently approved plans after Zerio spoke to members during a meeting.
“The recreation commission can speak to the diligence and thoughtfulness of the presentation,” commission chairman John Langmaid said. “Lisa and her staff have done an incredible amount of brainstorming and reaching out to members of the public for additional ideas. We can’t be more supportive.”
The event will also take full advantage of the town's riverfront location, with potential partnerships involving Slipaway Tours and L.L. Bean to enhance the overall experience. In addition, plans are underway for a ticketed event at the Boathouse.
“It will be something special if you want something more upscale,” Zerio said.
The evening will conclude with a 200-drone show, offering a memorable finale to the celebration.
“The energy has been incredible,” Zerio said. “Then we sat down and said, ‘Ok, so what’s our signature event?’ Now I know back in September we said we’ll probably do two or three signature events. But then we realized, let’s just do one, big, wonderful event.”
Fundraising efforts are currently underway, with more than $15,000 raised to date, which is more than one-third of the $40,000 fundraising goal. To help promote visibility and community engagement, a fundraising thermometer is displayed at the entrance to Riverfront Park.
“If you are one of our households in MyRec and you’re registering for swimming lessons, there’s a button that says would you like to contribute? You can contribute as low as $1 and people have been doing that...We feel confident we’ll raise the money for the event,” Zerio said.
Town council member Tom Gullotta suggested a historical talk by Jim Hallas. He noted he recently wrote a book - “Glastonbury and the Revolutionary War.”
“He did a wonderful presentation at the Welles-Shipman-Ward House,” he said. “And it was extremely well received. He’s an excellent public speaker.”
Zerio said there are also 250-themed merchandise for sale to help with the fundraising. The merchandise includes: $15 for trucker hat; $22 for a patriotic hat; $16 for a t-shirt; and $25 for a mug.
“Planning continues to progress, and the working group remains focused on delivering a memorable and inclusive celebration that reflects the significance of this historic milestone,” Luiz said.
A special “My Town” exhibition is planned for Oct. 24 and 25 at the Glastonbury Art Center, 1396 Hebron Ave. connecting America's 250-year story with Glastonbury's history through historical and contemporary images, including photographs, paintings, prints, collages, portraits, landscapes, and interpretations of the Connecticut River, farms, industries, and people. The event is open to young creators from pre-kindergarten through high school.
Art size requirement: 8 ½-inches by 11-inches. Labeling: Print your name, age, address, phone number/email address on the back of each entry. Drop-off artwork no later than Oct. 2 at Glastonbury Arts Gallery at 1396 Hebron Ave. The mailbox is located at the back steps. Artwork can also be dropped off at Pinwheels Toys and Games, 60 Hebron Ave. or Killam & Bassette Farmstand, 1098 Main St. in South Glastonbury.
The art will be judged by a panel of local artists. Contact exhibition coordinator Lynn Damon at 860-818-2491 or lynndamon@gmail.com. To donate to the birthday bash and a full calendar of events and programs visit: www.glastonburyct.gov/Americas-250th. GL