Join the party out West with unforgettable group experiences that bring history and culture to life
By Lorelei Skurzewski
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, communities around the country are marking the anniversary with special events that honor American history and bring people together. Across the Frontier Mountain West, cities and towns are planning festivities that highlight the region’s traditions, landscapes and local pride From speakers’ series to rodeos, art exhibits and outdoor adventures, these are some of the standout events for America’s 250th year.
Your next group adventure starts here! Get your free copy of Leisure GroupTravel magazine and explore the best destinations, itineraries, and travel ideas.
A Milestone Year in the West
America’s upcoming birthday will bring more than the usual fireworks and parades. Across the Frontier Mountain West, cities and historic sites are preparing special celebrations that highlight the region’s role in shaping the country. From national parks and frontier towns to Indigenous cultural centers and iconic landmarks, communities will honor the past while creating meaningful experiences for today’s travelers.
Spotlight Events Across the Region
The West will host a lineup of immersive celebrations that blend education, entertainment and outdoor adventure. Visitors can expect reenactments, living history programs, concerts, guided tours, and family-friendly festivals that showcase the stories and landscapes that helped define America. Below is your curated roundup of must-see America250 events happening throughout the region (in alphabetical order).
On April 18, 2025, Arizona celebrated the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, kicking off the state’s Semiquincentennial festivities. Photo credit: America250AZ Facebook
ARIZONA America 250 Events
Event: Passport250
When & Where: Statewide across Arizona, now through 2026. Access the digital pass here.
What’s Happening: Passport250 offers a mobile check-in pass that guides you to more than 250 destinations and experiences, including historic sites, cultural attractions, restaurants, stargazing spots, breweries, and anniversary events. Visitors can track their stops and celebrate their progress as they explore Arizona.
Why It’s Not to Miss: It turns the America 250 celebration into your own personalized Arizona adventure. You’ll discover new places, learn statewide history, support local communities, and experience the best of the Apache State in a fun, interactive way.
Pro Tip: Choose one category at a time, like Treasures 250 or Dark Skies 250, and make themed weekend trips so you can see more in fewer miles.
Other Statewide Initiatives:
- Traveling Museum: The Arizona America250 Traveling Museum will take the state’s replica Liberty Bell on a tour of 15 counties before its permanent installation at the Arizona State Capitol. The interactive exhibit highlights American history and Arizona’s past, present, and future. Groups and communities can apply to host the museum.
- Read250: Arizona libraries are inviting readers of all ages to celebrate America250 by reading 25 books or 250 minutes in 2026. Participants can earn fun prizes like stickers, bookmarks, and other giveaways. Visit your local library for details.
- Vote250: The Vote250 Initiative is rallying 250 organizations and individuals to host voter registration drives by 2026. With ready-to-use toolkits and resources, anyone can take part. Click here to get involved and help make history.
- Operation Freedom March: Arizona is partnering with the Arizona Trail Association for “Operation Freedom March,” a year-long initiative from July 4, 2025, to July 4, 2026. Veterans, service members, families, and supporters are invited to hike, ride, or go horseback through sections of the Arizona National Scenic Trail in a shared tribute to service and unity. Click here to learn more and register.
- Mesa America 250: Mesa’s America 250 Planning Committee, led by Mayor Mark Freeman, is organizing a series of events that honor our nation’s past while looking toward its future. The celebrations will conclude with the Arizona Celebration of Freedom on July 4, 2026. To learn more, visit here.
- Chandler America 250: Chandler is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a year-long lineup of events for all ages. Take part in community activities, earn prizes with the new Red, White, and Blue Pass, and share your input through a city survey that will help shape this historic celebration.
- Surprise America 250: America turns 250 in 2026, and Surprise will celebrate with a full year of events beginning in July 2025. Enjoy monthly America250 activities and special library programs leading up to the milestone.
Patriotic drone shows will light up the skies across Colorado. Photo credit: Visit Denver Facebook
COLORADO America 250 Celebrations
Event: Colorado Passport Program
When & Where: Statewide in 2025–2026, with interactive check-ins at attractions, towns, historic sites, and local businesses across Colorado.
What’s Happening: Colorado is marking 150 years of statehood and America’s 250th anniversary with complimentary, mobile Colorado Passports. Participants can check inat destinations across the state, earn prizes, and discover cultural sites, downtown districts, museums and local shops as part of the celebration.
Why It’s Not to Miss: It is a chance to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime dual anniversary while exploring Colorado in a new way. The passport program makes it easy to uncoverhidden gems, support small businesses and connect with Colorado’s history through memorable, real-world experiences all year long.
Other Statewide Initiatives:
- Drone Shows: Stories in the Sky: Colorado is celebrating America’s 250th and its own 150th with Stories in the Sky, a series of nearly 150 drone shows across the state from September 2025 through December 2026. Highlights include a statewide tour bringing free community shows to cities and towns, plus Denver’s Mile High Holidays Nightly Drone Spectacular, lighting up the skyline for 40 nights each holiday season.
IDAHO for America 250
Event: Our 250th at the Idaho State Museum
When & Where: May 1, 2025–December 31, 2026, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Idaho State Museum, 610 Julia Davis Dr., Boise, ID
What’s Happening: Visitors are invited to share short messages reflecting their hopes for the nation as the US approaches its 250th anniversary. Submitted messages will be displayed online throughout 2026, connecting Idahoans to a nationwide celebration of history and civic reflection.
Why It’s Not to Miss: This initiative allows participants of all ages to actively contribute to a historic milestone, leaving a personal mark on the country’s 250th anniversary while engaging with inspiring exhibits at the Idaho State Museum.
Other Statewide Initiatives:
- Melaleuca Freedom Celebration: The 32nd Annual Melaleuca Freedom Celebration lights up the Snake River with over 18,500 fireworks on July 4. This free, award-winning show honors America’s Founding Fathers, veterans, andservice members.
- Post Falls: TheEarly Years: The Post Falls Historical Food Festival on May 30, 2026, celebrates America’s 250th and the city’s culinary heritage with food tastings, live music, family activities, and historical demonstrations.
- America250 TFC (Twin Falls County): A free, family-friendly celebration ofAmerica’s 250th birthday on June 27, 2026, at the Twin Falls Visitor Center. The event will feature live music, patriotic performances, games, food trucks, and local historical booths, bringing the community together for a memorable once-in-a-generation celebration.
- Boise Philharmonic Symphonic Concert Series: Join the Boise Philharmonic Symphony for their 65th season as they celebrate America’s 250th birthday, with every Classical Symphony concert opening with a piece by an American composer. Don’t miss the Treasure Valley’s milestone as BPMC marks 50 years of Choral Music, culminating in a performance of Carmina Burana!
MT 250 Commission Chair Chris Averill (right) and National History Day in Montana Executive Director Cathy Gorn (left) with the 2025 National History Day students who won special awards funded by Montana 250. Photo credit: Montana Historical Society
MONTANA America 250 Events
Event: Montana Reads: The Treasure State’s Book Club
When & Where: Each second Thursday of the month, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Zoom. Register under the Montana 250 Initiatives.
What’s Happening: Montana is kicking off a year-long virtual book club in July 2025 tocelebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Each month, readers can dive into powerful stories from the US, Montana, and Tribal history and join live discussions with presenters and special guests.
Why It’s Not to Miss: This series offers Montanans a rare chance to explore US, state, and Tribal history in one place while engaging directly with historians and special guests. It is an accessible, community-focused way to deepen understanding ahead ofAmerica’s 250th birthday.
Other Statewide Initiatives:
- MT 250 Special Awards: Funded by the MT 250 Commission and in collaboration with National History Day in Montana (an academic program serving 4-12th graders), three special awards were given to students in 2025: one for Montana Achievers and Achievements, another for Excellence in Indigenous History and Culture, and a third for Excellence in Veterans’ History. In continuing to expand educational opportunities, MT 250 has also awarded National History Day in Montana a substantial grant to provide teacher workshops in 2026.
Historical reenactments bring history to life in Nevada. Photo credit: America250 Nevada Facebook
NEVADA America 250 Celebrations
Event: Our Nevada Stories
When & Where: January 2026 through July 4, 2026, statewide (virtual and in-person programming)
What’s Happening: Nevada is marking America’s 250th with a statewide oral history initiative that collects and shares personal stories from Nevadans. The program includes a podcast series, community events, and storytelling projects that highlight the voices of mining towns, tribal communities, military families, hospitality workers, educators, and everyday residents whose lives have shaped the state.
Why It’s Not to Miss: Instead of focusing only on prominent historical figures, Nevadaputs its people at the center. This celebration offers a chance to hear authentic stories that reflect the state’s diverse heritage and show how local experiences connect to theAmerican story.
NEW MEXICO America 250 Events
Event: Americana At 250: Eagles, Flags, and Uncle Sam
When & Where: Art displayed through January 18, 2027, at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe.
What’s Happening: The museum is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with an exhibition that highlights classic symbols of national pride. The collection features eagles, flags, Uncle Sam, and other iconic imagery that reflect how Americans have expressed patriotism through art and culture.
Why It’s Not to Miss: This is a rare chance to explore how national identity has been shaped, celebrated, and questioned over time through visual interpretations. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on American ideals and what they mean today, making it timely, thoughtful, and visually striking.
Pro Tip: Join the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and explore the New Mexico History Museum as often as you like with free, unlimited admission year-round.
Utah’s Washington County Fair puts on a historic performance in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Photo credit: Washington County Fair Facebook
America 250 Events in UTAH
Event: Walk 250
When & Where: July 2025–July 2026, across Utah. Participants can walk, bike, or complete activities on any trail or route, including state parks, local libraries and designated Walk 250 trails.
What’s Happening: Participants are challenged to complete 250 miles of outdoor activity in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Progress can be tracked using any fitness app, and entries can be submitted online. The program offers commemorative stickers, opportunities to win prizes, and highlights historical routes, such as the Dominguez-Escalante expedition.
Why It’s Not to Miss: Walk250 Utah combines fitness, exploration and history, encouraging residents to experience Utah’s landscapes while connecting to the state’s and nation’s heritage. It’s a fun, inclusive way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence.
Pro Tip: Use local libraries, state parks and Every Kid Outdoors events as checkpoints to discover new trails and earn stickers along the way.
Other State Initiatives:
- Washington County Fair: The Washington County Fair in southern Utah, a community tradition for more than 160 years, is expanding with more concerts, rodeo events, family activities, and exclusive America 250 celebrations, including the Freedom Pageant and Founders Festival. The fair is hosted in Hurricane, Utah, from April 10-18, 2026.
- America250: “Celebrating the Beauty of Our Natural Landscapes”: A community art exhibit at Stokes Nature Center invites artists of all ages to submit work celebrating America’s natural landscapes. Visitors can view the display, vote for their favorites, and enjoy a showcase of creativity across many art forms.
- And more!
Wyoming Educational Trunks provide a unique glimpse into Indigenous cultures and Wyoming state history. Photo credit: Wyoming State Museum Facebook
WYOMING America 250 Events
Event: Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition: Honoring America’s 250th
When & Where: February 9–August 8, 2026, at the Wyoming Capitol Gallery, 200 W.24th Street, Cheyenne
What’s Happening: The Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition is a biennial juried show featuring the work of Wyoming artists. For America’s 250th anniversary, the exhibit will spotlight pieces that reflect the state’s landscapes, history and communities. Selected works will become part of the Capitol or Wyoming State Museum collections, while additional pieces will be available for public purchase.
Why It’s Not to Miss: This exhibition offers a chance to see Wyoming’s story told through local artists during a milestone moment in American history. It blends state pride, creative expression, and national celebration in one memorable showcase.
Other State Initiatives:
- Wyoming History Trunks: A Journey Through Time: From July 14–31, 2026, Wyoming teachers can bring hands-on American history lessons to their classrooms with the Wyoming State Museum’s free educational trunks, filled with artifacts, curriculum materials, and optional virtual fieldtrips for grades K–6.
- Virtual Voyages with the Wyoming State Museum: The Wyoming StateMuseum is offering free virtual field trips through July 31, 2026, connecting schools and organizations around the world with interactive lessons on Wyoming’s natural and human history.
- Wyoming Supreme Court Commemorates the 250th Anniversary: Oral Argument: The Wyoming Supreme Court will hold special public oral argument sessions at the State Capitol from late 2025 through spring 2026 in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. These events highlight the importance of the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and Wyoming’s long-standing role in shaping the nation’s legal history.
Enhance Your Itinerary with Local Experiences
Round out your America250 travels with nearby attractions that highlight each state’sunique character. Visit local museums, art galleries, cultural centers, and heritage sites that complement these milestone events. Or unwind at regional restaurants, breweries and scenic parks along the way. From Colorado’s mountain towns to Arizona’s expansive starry skies, every stop offers a chance to connect American history, culture and community across the Frontier Mountain West.
Map Out Your Journey
Consider building a multi-state route or a themed adventure that ties your America250 stops together. For even more planning support, explore additional itineraries and group-travel tools available on LeisureGroupTravel.com.
