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Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together
Join us for the official community celebration of the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the United States of America!
Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together is a countywide celebration on July 18, 2026 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds that brings all Garrett County towns together to share their unique chapters of America’s 250-year story through exhibits, music, family activities, a patriotic concert, veteran honors, and a finale drone show.
It honors not just history from the Revolutionary time period but both Garrett County and American history by celebrating the diverse people, places, and stories that have shaped the past 250 years.
Highlights of the day include:- • Special Collaborative Community Project
- • Biergarten (bring a chair!)
- • All-Day Live Music featuring The Remedy, Queen City Funk & Soul, The Jason Shaw Band, and Garrett Community Concert Band
- • Garrett County & Western Maryland History
- • Speakers
- • Veteran Honors
- • Historical Reenactors
- • Interactive Demos
- • Kid's Zone
- • Vendors
- • Local Non-profits
- • Local Food
- • Community Services
- • Car Show
- • More!
GARRETT 250 TENTATIVE EVENT SCHEDULE12:00 PM – GATES OPEN – NO CHARGE FOR ENTRY – DONATIONS ACCEPTED
12:00 pm – 8:30 pm FREEDOM ON WHEELS CAR SHOW
HOMETOWN HEROES COLONIAL VILLAGE STARS & STRIPES KIDS ZONE STARS & STORIES VETERANS PARK HERITAGE HALL TASTE OF AMERICA YOUNG PATRIOTS GALLERY LIBERTY HALL NORTH LIBERTY HALL SOUTH SPIRIT OF ‘76 BIERGARTEN THE ‘76 STAGEAROUND THE GROUNDS12:00 PM – ‘76 STAGE /BIERGARTENQueen City Funk and Soul12:15 PM* – HERITAGE HALLCollectors Coin Giveaway*ADDITIONAL TIMES: 2:15, 5:30 & 6:3012:45 PM – STARTING AT FRONT GATE“The March for Liberty" Parade1:00 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – OPENING CEREMONY2:00 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKERLocal Historian Al Feldstein3:00 PM – YOUNG PATRIOTS GALLERYEssay & Art Contest Award Announcements3:30 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKERAmerican Author, Historian and Journalist Russell Shorto3:30 PM – ‘76 STAGE/BIERGARTENThe Remedy Band4:30 PM – INDEPENDENCE TRACK“A COUNTY UNITED” FLAG UNFURLING*PARTICIPANTS MEET AT 3:45PM (https://bit.ly/a-county-united)5:15 PM – FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKERAuthor Jim Rada6:00 PM SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONEDrone Discovery: A Skyward Salute Preview*MEET AT 5:45 PM AT SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONE SIGN AT END OF KIDS ZONE6:15 PM FOUNDERS STAGE – SPEAKERAuthor & Professional Forester Champ Zumbrun"Story of a Western Maryland Revolutionary Patriot & Liberty Tree"6:30 PM – ‘76 STAGE/BIERGARTENThe Jason Shaw Band7:00 PM – HERITAGE HALL STAGEGarrett Community Concert Band9:30 PM – SKYWARD SALUTE DRONE ZONENight Time Spectacular by Firefly Drones – 300 drones lighting up the night-time skyWeather PolicyThe Garrett 250 Birthday Bash is rain or shine celebration with the exception of the Firefly Drone Show.The Firefly Drone Show has a rain date of Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 9:30 pm ET.In the case of severe weather, updates will be communicated through the Official Text System: TEXT “Garrett250” to 888777 to stay connected.**DRONE SHOW PRIME VIEWING LOCATIONS**Garrett County Fairgrounds fields / parking lot
More information can be found on www.Garrett250.com
The Garrett 250 initiative, a countywide celebration, is commissioned by Garrett County Government.
Date and Time
Saturday Jul 18, 2026
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDTLocation
Garrett County Fairgrounds
270 Mosser Road
McHenry, MD 21541Fees/Admission
Admission by donation. All are welcome at this FREE event featuring local music, history, food, and community!
