Plans for America’s 250th anniversary for Rochester and Monroe County were announced at ESL Ballpark on May 6.
The America 250 Celebration, titled Evolution of the Revolution, will be the main event of a yearlong series of regional programs and initiatives set to mark the 250th anniversary.
“This year’s theme — recognizes the ideals that this country was founded on. Freedom, opportunity and equality didn’t arrive fully formed,” said Mayor Malik Evans. “They’ve been shaped over time by communities like ours, like Rochester, like Monroe County. We’ve always been a part of that story.”
A full year of celebrating America
The series of programming will be hosted in conjunction with local towns, cultural institutions, community organizations and educational and public engagement initiatives across Monroe County.
Some of the events include:
Independence Day Celebration at Genesee Country Village & Museum
Churchville Summerfest: Stars and Stripes 250
Monroe County Parks’ Movies in the Park series
For more America 250 events, visit visitrochester.com/250th.
Evolution of the Revolution
The main event, sponsored by COMIDA and Monroe County, will take place on July 12 at ESL Ballpark. The event is free to the public and has a variety of features to cater to a wide audience. Much like the rest of Rochester’s festival season, the events will include live music from local bands, food and drinks and interactive all-age activities.
The celebration will also feature inflatables, rock climbing and other large-scale attractions, sports and skilled based activities, community partner activations, exhibits and engagement opportunities, facepainting, temporary tattoos, balloon artists and fireworks.
The first 250 attendees will receive a free ice cream and commemorative poster, and the first 250 children will receive a commemorative coloring book.
Vendors and organizations interested in participating can table at the event with no vendor fee attached. Vendor applications must be submitted by May 30.
“This occasion is a wonderful reason to pause and celebrate both all that we’ve accomplished as a community and all of the things that are yet to come,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County.
— As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard — the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s 19th Ward. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Free July 12 America 250 festival planned at ESL Ballpark
Reporting by Justice Marbury and Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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