Special Events for America's 250th Anniversary

Rock Creek Park has iconic features worth seeing during every season.

NPS Photo/Tony DeYoung

Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary at Rock Creek Park through Freedom 250, a series of engaging programs that connect the past, present, and future of our parks and communities. This page serves as your guide to upcoming events, where you’ll find details on family-friendly activities, ranger-led programs, and special celebrations happening throughout the year. Join us as we explore 250 years of history, stewardship, and civic engagement—and discover how you can be part of the story moving forward.

Check this page regularly for the latest updates, newly added programs, and event details as they become available. You can also explore regularly recurring programs and events happening throughout the year on our calendar.

Jump to: August | September | October

 

Learn about the delicious history of ice cream!

Friends of Peirce Mill / Bill Mills

Friends of Peirce Mill Ice Cream Making Demonstrations

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Time: 11 am - 12 pm
Location: Peirce Mill

Come learn about old-fashioned ice cream, made famous by Dolly Madison (Quaker friend of Betsy Peirce), and invented by Augustus Jackson, who was the White House chef from 1817 until 1837. We’ll show how ice cream was made in the early 19th century–and talk about why it was such a rare and special treat.

Kids can watch the ingredients being poured into the dasher, learn about the brine that freezes the cream, and take a turn cranking the handle to make old-fashioned ice cream. A historic recipe by Thomas Jefferson with a modern adaptation will be available to take away. After the demonstration, the Friends of Peirce Mill will have free ice cream treats for the kids!

Free public programs at Peirce Mill are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Rain date: Sunday, August 9

 

People square dance at dusk in the Peirce Mill courtyard

Friends of Peirce Mill

Summer Square Dance

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

Celebrate National Park Week with an evening of music, dancing, and community at historic Peirce Mill! Join the DC Square Dance Collective as they bring the mill yard to life with live music under the twinkling lights. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or trying square dancing for the very first time, everyone is welcome. A caller will teach each dance and guide you every step of the way—no partner, lessons, or prior experience required.

As part of the National Park Service's Freedom 250 commemoration, this program also celebrates the traditions, music, and community gatherings that have helped shape our nation's history. Bring your friends and family, enjoy a lively evening of dancing, and experience the joy of connecting with your community in your national park.

Free public programs at Peirce Mill are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Rain Date: Sunday, August 30, 2026

 

The 102nd Commemoration of Lincoln-Thomas Day

Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
Location: Fort Stevens

Step into history as the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc. (NACWC) and the Military Road School Preservation Trust (MRSPT), in cooperation with the National Park Service's Civil War Defenses of Washington (CWDW), invite the public to the 102nd Commemoration of Lincoln-Thomas Day.

This special event invites visitors to explore the stories of freedom, courage, and civic action that continue to shape our nation. Gather on the historic grounds of Fort Stevens to honor the enduring legacies of President Abraham Lincoln and Elizabeth Proctor Thomas, whose family's land became the battlefield in July 1864

 

Visitors enjoying an activity at Rock Creek Park Day

NPS / Michelle Edwards

Rock Creek Park Day – Parks for Tomorrow

Dates: Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2026
Time: Programs offered throughout the day (times vary by location)
Location: Various Locations throughout Rock Creek Park

Celebrate 136 years of Rock Creek Park with a weekend of free programs and activities for all ages! Discover the park through ranger-led walks, hands-on nature and history activities, demonstrations, family-friendly experiences, and special events hosted at locations throughout the park.

This year's theme, Parks for Tomorrow, celebrates our shared responsibility to care for Rock Creek Park so future generations can continue to enjoy its forests, streams, wildlife, historic places, and inspiring stories. Meet park rangers and community partners, explore the park's natural and cultural treasures, and discover how small actions today can help protect our national parks for tomorrow.

On Saturday evening, continue the celebration at historic Peirce Mill. Bring a picnic supper, relax on a blanket or lawn chair, and enjoy a free outdoor concert as you celebrate the close of summer in the beauty of Rock Creek Park.

 

A singer performs at the Picnic in the Park

Friends of Peirce Mill / Bill Mills

Picnic in the Parks

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Peirce Mill

Bring a picnic supper to Peirce Mill, enjoy a free concert, and savor the waning days of summer in Rock Creek Park.

Free public programs at Peirce Mill are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Rain date: September 27

 

A traditional tortilla making demonstration at the Peirce Mill Grain Fair

Friends of Peirce Mill / Bill Mills

Peirce Mill Grain Fair

Time: 10am to 4pm
Date: October 18
Day: Sunday

The Peirce Mill Grain Fair celebrates the long history of farming, milling, and baking in DC and the Mid-Atlantic. Enjoy hands-on activities, cooking demonstrations, and live music at this free, family-friendly festival in Rock Creek Park. And purchase local, whole grain foods at our Shoemaker Street Market.

Stay tuned for more details!

 

Wreaths Across America at Battleground National Cemetery

Date: Saturday, December 19, 2026
Time: 12 – 1 pm
Location: Battleground National Cemetery

Honor the men and women who served our nation by laying fresh evergreen wreaths at the gravestones of 41 Civil War soldiers who are buried at Battleground National Cemetery.

 

Ranger Programs

Below is a calendar listing of all programs, beyond the special events mentioned above, that Rock Creek Park and the Civil War Defenses of Washington will host in 2026 related to Freedom 250.