New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ are staging a three-day festival across both sides of the Delaware River this July 4th weekend for America’s 250th birthday — most of it free, all of it rooted in one of the most historically significant Revolutionary War sites in the region. The New Hope Lambertville America 250 Festival runs Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, with fireworks, 200 drones, Revolutionary reenactors, a Dragon Boat Race, a pub crawl, a concert, and a Freedom Parade.

The New Hope Lambertville America 250 Festival earns its location. New Hope was known as Coryell’s Ferry during the Revolution — a strategic Delaware River crossing that Congress ordered defended in the spring of 1777. The Logan Inn at Ferry and Main, built in 1727 and still serving food and drinks today, was Continental Army headquarters and a regular stop for George Washington during the war. The basement where Continental soldiers were stored through frozen winters until the ground thawed for burial is still down there.

Friday, July 3 — The Drone and Fireworks Show

The New Hope Lambertville America 250 Festival weekend opens Friday at 9pm with a 20-minute fireworks and drone spectacular over the Delaware. Fireworks launched from two boats anchored mid-river will run alongside 200 drones forming patriotic images overhead, with stadium-quality speakers installed throughout both downtowns so that every person on either bank hears the same synchronized music at the same moment. For those twenty minutes, both downtowns become a single open-air theater.

Also Friday: Roxey Ballet performs NJ Ballad — a 30-minute recreation of Washington’s Crossing — at Lambertville Station at 5pm and 8:15pm, with Music Mountain Theatre’s Stars and Stripes between the two shows. Professional actors in period costume as Washington, Franklin, Martha Washington, and other Revolutionary figures walk both riverbanks through the afternoon. All Friday events are free.

Saturday, July 4 — The Pub Crawl and the Concert

America’s actual 250th birthday opens at 2pm with a ticketed Revolutionary Pub Crawl leaving Lambertville Station. Reenactors playing George Washington, Anna Strong (the Culper spy ring operative who fed Washington critical intelligence throughout the war), Samuel Adams, and a Continental Army soldier in full kit lead the crawl across the bridge into New Hope, arriving at the American Legion lot around 4pm. The crawl has a separate ticket; details at americacelebrates.org.

The evening concert at the Legion lot runs 5–10pm, $10 entry. The Sam Ryan Band headlines — New Hope native Sam Ryan fronts the group as lead singer of the three-time Grammy-winning Blood, Sweat & Tears, and the Legion lot is his hometown stage. Forever Donna (Donna Summer tribute) and Dancing Dream (ABBA tribute, Stephen Colbert Show alum) follow. Food tents and a full bar on site.

Sunday, July 5 — The Freedom Parade and Noon on the River

Sunday opens at 10am with the Freedom Parade stepping off from the American Legion lot, crossing the bridge, ending at Lambertville Station — fife and drum, period actors, veterans from both American Legion posts, scout troops, the Tri-County Band, and antique fire engines from both towns. At 11:30am, the Relentless Dragon Boat Race launches under the bridge: one crew flying American colors, one flying British colors, racing on the same river where the Revolution turned. The boat race alone is worth the trip.

The New Hope Lambertville America 250 Festival closes at noon exactly, singers from Bucks County Playhouse and Music Mountain Theatre perform “God Bless America” simultaneously — one chorus from each side of the river — as church bells ring in unison across both towns to mark the 250th. One sound, two banks, one river, 250 years. All Sunday events are free.

The New Hope Lambertville America 250 Festival is being produced by over 50 community organizations at a place where the actual Revolution happened, on the actual river it happened on. Dozens of local businesses are running specials and promotions all weekend. Most events are free; the Saturday concert is $10. Festival schedule at visitnewhope.com. It is worth every one of the 40 miles from Philadelphia this weekend. Happy 250th, America.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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