America 250 Years

Washington Monument Illumination Kicks Off Yearlong Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday

Freedom 250’s roster of 2026 events will include the Great American State Fair, a UFC fight at the White House, and the Patriot Games.
Washington Monument Illumination Kicks Off Yearlong Celebration of America’s 250th Birthday
The Washington Monument is illuminated with Freedom 250 projections in Washington on Dec. 31, 2025. As part of a New Year’s Eve celebration, each side of the monument features storytelling projections throughout the evening to kick off the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Jeff Louderback
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On the campaign trail in his bid for a White House return, President Donald Trump pledged to give America “the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen” in 2026, when the nation will celebrate 250 years of independence. Celebrations started on New Year’s Eve with the projection of images depicting the country’s history on the Washington Monument and will continue throughout the year.

America250, the bipartisan organization established by Congress in 2016 to lead the commemorations, is sponsoring field trips and oral history recordings, and burying a time capsule, among other events in 2026.
Jeff Louderback
Jeff Louderback
Reporter
Jeff Louderback covers major news and politics, including the Make America Healthy Again movement and regenerative farming. Since joining The Epoch Times in 2022, he has covered national elections, the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presidential campaign, the East Palestine train derailment, and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Jeff has 30-plus years of professional experience as a reporter, editor, and author.