Somerset 250 Top Events

THIS IS A VIRTUAL SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM EVENT. JOIN WITH THIS LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87080738958 When we think of the American Revolution, we often picture a parochial drama: thirteen colonies squaring off against the British Crown in a spirited bid for independence. But this version of the story is only half the truth—and perhaps not even the most interesting half. In this riveting program, historian and author Richard Bell invites audiences to rediscover the Revolution as a world war that unleashed chaos, opportunity, and transformation across six continents. From the sugar fields of the Caribbean to the court of the King of Mysore, from refugee camps on the Canadian frontier to political uprisings in Sierra Leone and Peru, the war that gave birth to the United States was never simply America’s own. It was a seismic global event that redrew maps, toppled hierarchies, catalyzed migration, and accelerated new movements for liberty—and for empire. In this program, Bell traces the far-flung reverberations of the war through the lives of the people it displaced, empowered, or destroyed. Patrons will encounter a Native matriarch struggling to preserve a transatlantic military alliance, a Prussian officer reinventing himself in a foreign army, and a Boston schoolteacher

The Annual fireworks display on the lawn at Montgomery High School will include a special program featuring speeches and photo opportunities with three pivotal characters – Stives, Washington, and Rochambeau. Some of the actors will be parading around on horseback. The Rev 250 Committee will host a row of booths where folks can learn more about local organizations, first responders, and history. “While the community knows about Gen. Washington, we need to tell broader stories about the Revolution,” Paul Blodgett told The Montgomery News.

??? Americana 2026 on the Farm ??? ? June 27, 2026 | ? 11 AM – 4 PM ? Hidden Spring Lavender & Alpaca Farm | Skillman, NJ Join us for a fun-filled day for the whole family as we celebrate America’s 250th (Quincentennial) in the most charming setting—surrounded by blooming lavender fields and adorable alpacas! ?? ? Spend the day enjoying: ? Live music by Bakersfield Band and B Squared ? Delicious food vendors ?? Handmade goods & local artisans ? Alpaca parades throughout the day ? Apple Pie Baking Contest (pre-registration required by emailing hiddingspringlavender@outlook.com) ? Kids’ crafts & activities (additional charge on site) ? Bring your lawn chairs and relax with us! Shop, eat, explore, and soak in the beauty of the farm—it’s the perfect summer day out with family and friends. ? We’re still accepting a limited number of artisans and curated vendors whose work reflects quality, craftsmanship, and timeless Americana style. Register here: https://forms.gle/ijipkMR6nJxtsMey5

THIS IS A VIRTUAL SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT. JOIN THE PROGRAM WITH THIS LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84635988283 For eight grueling years, American and British military forces struggled in a bloody war over colonial independence. This conflict also ensnared Native American warriors and the armies and navies of France, Spain, the Dutch Republic, and several German principalities. From frozen Canada to tropical Florida and as far west as the Mississippi River, the Revolutionary War included hundreds of campaigns, battles, and skirmishes on land and sea in which soldiers and sailors fought and died for causes, crowns, and comrades. In this masterful, yet accessible narrative of America’s fight for liberty, John R. Maass identifies the five decisive events that secured independence for the 13 hard-pressed but determined colonies. These include not only the obvious military victories such as Trenton, Princeton, and Yorktown but also the leadership and reforms that ensured Washington’s forces were capable of enduring the harsh conditions of the winter of 1778. Similarly, King Louis XVI’s decision to supply Continental troops during the Saratoga Campaign with desperately needed soldiers, arms, money, and fleets is also detailed as a key factor. These turning points, not all of them triumphs on the battlefield, delivered

Game Highlight (2): Fireworks Don’t miss the best fireworks in New Jersey after the game. Game Highlight: Somerset Semiquincentennials The Patriots will play as the Somerset Semiquincentennials to commemorate America’s 250th Celebration!

Game Highlight (2): Fireworks Don’t miss the biggest fireworks show of the year to celebrate America’s 250th! | Presented By Operation Shoebox New Jersey Game Highlight: Somerset Semiquincentennials The Patriots will play as the Somerset Semiquincentennials to commemorate America’s 250th Celebration!

Promotion: T-Shirts Fans will receive a Somerset Semiquincentennial t-shirt when they enter the ballpark. | Presented By Bill Leary AC & Heating | First 2,000 Adults and 500 Kids Game Highlight (2): Somerset Semiquincentennials The Patriots will play as the Somerset Semiquincentennials to commemorate America’s 250th Celebration! Game Highlight: Kids Run The Bases After every Sunday home game, kids get to run the bases! | Presented By Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

* Use this link to join our virtual program: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82198822203 Eighteenth-century Philadelphia was a complex place where global trade brought new goods and new ideas to the people who became revolutionaries. Follow one artifact — a punch-bowl uncovered in an archaeological dig on site of the Museum of the American Revolution — on a virtual tour of the city, and find yourself in market stalls, coffeehouses, illegal taverns, churches, and the halls of government.

* Use this link to join our virtual program: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84669859863 The inspiring story of a little-known hero’s pivotal role in the American Revolutionary War. During the brutal winter of 1775-1776, an untested Boston bookseller named Henry Knox commandeered an oxen train hauling sixty tons of cannons and other artillery from Fort Ticonderoga near the Canadian border. He and his men journeyed some three hundred miles south and east over frozen, often-treacherous terrain to supply George Washington for his attack of British troops occupying Boston. The result was the British surrender of Boston and the first major victory for the Colonial Army. This is one of the great stories of the American Revolution, still little known by comparison with the more famous battles of Concord, Lexington, and Bunker Hill. Told with a novelist’s feel for narrative, character, and vivid description, “The Noble Train” brings to life the events and people at a time when the ragtag American rebels were in a desperate situation. Washington’s army was withering away from desertion and expiring enlistments. Typhoid fever, typhus, and dysentery were taking a terrible toll. There was little hope of dislodging British General Howe and his 20,000 British troops in Boston–until Henry Knox

* Use this link to join our virtual program: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86171095302 Warren Township NJ was named after Joseph Warren who was a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution. Joseph Warren was the foremost Patriot leader in 1775. He alone made the decision to ignite the American Revolution when he sent his good friend Paul Revere to call out the militia to confront the British in Lexington and Concord. Warren then worked tirelessly to bring military and governmental order out of chaos in the weeks leading to his ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Bunker Hill. British General William Howe declared Warren’s life equal to 500 ordinary colonials. It was Warren who united the First Continental Congress. It was Warren who implored his friends in Philadelphia to appoint a commander in chief—even suggesting that George Washington be that man. (Washington himself referred to Warren as the commander in chief.) Streets, towns, and counties have been named for him—and for more than a century every schoolchild in America knew his story. Today, the true story of this extraordinary man lies buried beneath the dust of time. Joseph Warren was the essence of Liberty. Presenter: Janet Uhlar. Author, lecturer,

THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE AT BRIDGEWATER LIBRARY, 1 VOGT DRIVE, BRIDGEWATER, NJ 08807 In his new book, “Winning the Ten Crucial Days: The Keys to Victory in George Washington’s Legendary Winter Campaign,” David Price examines this pivotal moment in the War of Independence through an interpretive framework that centers around five key factors: leadership, geography, weather, artillery, and contingency. His focus differs from earlier works that are largely a chronological account. The confluence of these overlapping factors seemingly conspired to frustrate British designs at a critical moment in their effort to overpower the American rebellion. Although each was important in its own right, their aggregate influence on the course of events reflected the mutually reinforcing nature of these elements. They enabled George Washington’s army to win the “Ten Crucial Days” and propel the revolutionary cause into a lengthy war of attrition that eventuated in American independence. According to the author and historian, Edward G. Lengel, Price has given us “a timely and intriguing reappraisal of George Washington’s most outstanding military campaign.” Author and historian Mark Edward Lender notes, “the approach is novel and revealing.” Jack Kelly, author of several books on the Revolution, calls this “a fascinating and insightful look

Game Highlight (2): Fireworks Don’t miss the best fireworks in New Jersey after the game. | Presented By RWJ University Hospital Somerset Game Highlight: Chance To Win $10K Fans (21+) will have the chance to win $10,000 at the ballpark during the game! | Presented By Heineken Silver