Fireworks to return to Mount Rushmore for nation’s 250th birthday in 2026
Fireworks will be making a comeback at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota in 2026 for a Fourth of July celebration.
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- America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.
- When Trump took office, he signed an executive order to create a task force for America250, a year-long celebration of the country’s birthday.
- America250 kicks off on Thursday, July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
As Americans gear up for Fourth of July 2025 festivities, some are already looking to 2026, the celebration of the country’s 250th birthday.
President Donald Trump has said Americans can expect much pomp and circumstance around the semiquincentennial starting this Fourth of July through 2026, with Trump predicting that the celebration under his watch will reach “extraordinary” levels.
Trump is scheduled to visit Iowa on July 3 this year to kick off the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, marking his first visit to the first-in-the-nation GOP caucus state since his return to the White House.
Here’s what to know about America250.
When is America250?
America will celebrate its semiquincentennial throughout 2026, culminating on Independence Day – July 4, 2026.
However, the kickoff for America250 begins in 2025 at 5 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 3 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump will deliver remarks about the initiative from the fairgrounds at 7:30 p.m. CT. The event is free and to RSVP, folks should complete the necessary online form on the America250 website.
What events make up America250?
A variety of events throughout the country will make up America250, according to the America250 website. Some have already begun and others are still being planned. Here’s a look at what to expect so far:
- America Innovates: A traveling tech exposition that will display the country’s greatest innovations.
- America Waves: An initiative to create events where Americans can come together and wave American flags.
- Time Capsule: A collaboration among all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, to collect items for a time capsule to be buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026.
- America’s Field Trip: A contest for students grades 3-12 to submit writing or artwork in response to the prompt, “What does America mean to you?” (available for the 2025-2026 school year in the fall).
- Our American Story: An oral and visual history effort to collect stories from everyday Americans, funded by Walmart (submit nominees to be interviewed on the America250 website).
- July 4, 2026 Activations: A national celebration in Washington, D.C.
How is America250 being celebrating in your state?
According to the America250 website, every state, U.S. territory and D.C. has a “commission” to “to plan, coordinate, and support commemorative activities.” America250 will add links to each state’s plan when the websites are available. As of July 2, links were available for all states except for Florida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.
How old is the United States?
The U.S. Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence 249 years ago, on July 4, 1776.
Who is behind America250?
In January, Trump signed an executive order that created Task Force 250.
As outlined by the order, Task Force 250 is responsible for planning and executing “an extraordinary celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence” on July 4, 2026. The task force, over the nonprofit America 250, will also oversee the creation of the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture garden first proposed by the president in 2020 that is scheduled to open in July 2026.
The America250 website lists more than a dozen corporate sponsors, including Amazon, Coca Cola and Walmart.
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
