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Old Sturbridge Village, Independence Day

July 1, 2023 - July 4, 2023

old sturbridge inn
Join us in celebration of Independence Day! Experience fife and drum music, cannon demonstrations, games, a parade, and more. Hear special readings of poetry and the Declaration of Independence. Join in a game of baseball, or watch a toy hot air balloon take flight. On July 4th only, you can also join us for a special Citizen Naturalization Ceremony.

Tickets

Up to three kids ages 17 and under are admitted for FREE per adult paying full price ($30). Additional youth are admitted at the standard rate of $15. Pre-registration is recommended. Click your preferred date to purchase tickets.

Saturday, July 1, 2023

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Monday, July 3, 2023

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Highlighted Kid Activities Include:

  • Create a 4th of July thaumatrope
  • Play baseball by the 19th century rules
  • March in the parade around the Village Common

Each day of the celebratory weekend visitors can experience:

  • Morning flag raising ceremony
  • Citizens parade
  • Declaration of Independence reading

Welcoming New Citizens

On July 4th only, at 11:00 a.m., watch and be inspired by a citizen naturalization ceremony on the Village common. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present candidates to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and they will pledge their Oath of Allegiance to the United States for the very first time.

Parade of musicians around the village common during Independence Day Celebration

“Declaring Independence” Returns

Six costumed interpreters will render the words of the Declaration line by line, assisted by a narrator who sets these words in their rich historical context. Some lines will be familiar to all; others – especially the many grievances that justified altering an ancient government – will receive background and commentary. As the interpreters dramatize these 18th-century words and ideas, the narrator will draw out their meaning and challenge the audience to consider their relevance and power for today.

“Declaring Independence” is part of a multi-year joint initiative of Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area and the American Antiquarian Society to engage citizens in the ideas and transformative potential of the Declaration of Independence. This initiative includes researching the ways in which independence was conceived and debated within colonial communities in the years leading up to 1776; tracing how the Declaration’s role evolved in American communities; and considering the challenges and potential of this living document for Americans today.

Independence Day Celebration Package

Show your Patriotic Spirit during Old Sturbridge Village’s 4th of July Celebration, kids admission rate is free! Book an overnight stay at Old Sturbridge Inn & Reeder Family Lodges and March into the Commons to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy a BBQ meal out on the Common with a $15 Food Voucher when booking a room. This package includes 2 standard daytime admission tickets and a $15 food voucher for any food outlet at the Village. Additional tickets booked are discounted by 50%.Continental Breakfast will be available at the Front Office by the Front Desk. We offer Free Wi-Fi, Coffee Amenities, Flat Screen TV, Safe, Refrigerators, and Parking when staying at the Lodge. The outdoor fireplace will run during the warmer season with s’mores and storytelling, weather permitting. A 25% Deposit will be placed under the reservation when booking. The cancellation policy will refund the deposit when the reservation is confirmed canceled within 48 hours. Please Contact the Front Desk at (508) 347-5056 or email [email protected] for any questions or concerns.

Honoring American Heroes

This Weekend – and All Year Long!

As we reflect on and remember the people who died while serving in the United States armed forces on Memorial Day Weekend, there’s no better time to kick off our annual Field of Flags campaign.

Learn More & Donate

As a Blue Star Museum, Old Sturbridge Village offers free standard daytime admission to active duty and veteran military and their families (up to 6 people). Your generous gift to the Field of Flags campaign allows you to honor a loved one who is serving or has served in the military and helps provide a recreational and educational experience for military service members and their families free of charge.

Details

Start:
July 1, 2023
End:
July 4, 2023
Website:
https://www.osv.org/event/independence-4th-of-july/

Venue

Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
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Phone
(800) 733-1830
View Venue Website