Greene County gearing up to celebrate America’s 250th

CATSKILL―July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States of America.

Communities across the country will be hosting Semiquincentennial events in honor of our nation’s history and Greene County is no exception.

The Greene County Tourism Office has been working for the last year to plan a grand ceremony and celebration that will take place along Main Street in Catskill from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, July 3.

“The ceremony is going to occur in front of the Greene County Courthouse,” explained Tourism Director Patty Austin, who updated legislators this week on the plans.

The approximately hour-long observance begins at 5 p.m. with Honeyford Memorial American Legion Post 110 Commander Tom Andreassen serving as master of ceremonies. It will include the posting of colors, songs, prayers, guest speakers, a gun salute, cannon firing and a reading of the Declaration of Independence, as well as remarks from veterans and Greene County Historian Jonathan Palmer.

There will also be a dedication of two historical markers, mounted prior to the ceremony, on the sides of the courthouse steps, Austin explained.

A flag folding ceremony will also take place, with the flag then placed in a time capsule that will be entombed in the county’s new Justice Center.

Following the ceremony, Austin explained, festivities will kick off all along Main Street.

There will be sidewalk sales, exhibits, kids’ activities, face painting, a photo booth, live music by Second Chance and fellow musicians, line dancing, vendors, food trucks, demonstrations and more. Roaming the street will be a magician, balloon artist, street chalk artist and even a Martha Washington interpreter.

Austin said she is working on a map of all the goings-on and there will be a limited number of commemorative posters available.

For additional 250th anniversary events within the county, visit www.greatnortherncatskills.com/rev250-events.