Scotch Plains to Celebrate Nation’s 250th Anniversary on June 26 and 27
Scotch Plains will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States with two days of community celebrations on June 26 and 27.
The celebration begins Friday, June 26 – the anniversary day of the 1777 Battle of Short Hills which took place in what is now Scotch Plains and Edison – with an afternoon and evening of historical tributes and family-friendly festivities. The celebration continues Friday, June 27, with the Township’s annual fireworks at the Shady Rest Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Rd.
“We have a wonderful slate of events planned for residents as we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation,” Mayor Josh Losardo said. “Scotch Plains is a destination that is rich with Revolutionary War history; these special commemorative events will be a wonderful opportunity to explore what makes our community so special, generation after generation.”
Friday’s events begin at 4:30 p.m. with a ceremony and wreath-laying at the Scotch Plains Baptist Church, 333 Park Ave., honoring the patriots and soldiers of the American Revolution interred there. Members of the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution will participate. The public is urged to attend.
At approximately 5 p.m., a parade led by Gen. George Washington on horseback portrayed by John Koopman, a professional reenactor who has appeared in films and written books about Washington, along with reenactors portraying General Rochambeau and a Dragoon Officer, will proceed down Park Avenue to the steps of Scotch Plains Town Hall to join the Mayor and local officials to unveil and open a time capsule that was buried on October 14, 1984.
The time capsule was buried during the Township’s 300th anniversary celebration and sealed with instructions to open it in 2026. It will be unearthed and opened at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Festivities continue from approximately 6-7:30 p.m. on the Alan M. Augustine Village Green with food, music and activities. The historic Stage House Tavern built in 1737 will sponsor and donate food for the event. Local historic organizations — including the Frazee House, Preserve Shady Rest and the Scotch Plains and Fanwood Historical Society — will share information about the township’s heritage, educating the young and old.
“Scotch Plains is to be commended for honoring its Patriots who risked their lives so that we could live in a free nation," said Chris Sands, president of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. "We look forward to bringing our Honor Guard to participate in the cemetery ceremony and in the parade afterwards."
The 90-minute program is made possible in part by a 2026 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
The event is also supported by RevolutionNJ, a statewide partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the non-profit Crossroads of the American Revolution, which is responsible for planning the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey. The Township Council passed a resolution in 2023 to become an official RevolutionNJ community.
Saturday evening’s celebration starts at 5:00 p.m. at Shady Rest and will feature live music performances by the JB Barns Jazz Band and Glen Alexander and Shadowland starting around 6:30 p.m., followed by an amazing fireworks display at dusk.
Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Saturday’s live music is sponsored by Preserve Shady Rest, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and preserving the history of Shady Rest.
“I would like to thank all the people and organizations working to bring these celebrations to life,” Mayor Losardo said. “Scotch Plains: you’re not going to want to miss a minute of this.”
To learn more about the Township’s plans for Revolution 250, please visit https://scotchplainsnj.gov/index.php/government/revolution-250
