America 250
Come celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in Dixon!
Where the Celebration Will Be.
The Dixon Park District, in collaboration with City of Dixon Illinois Government and Dixon Chamber & Main Street, has been awarded a $22,000 “Celebrate America!” grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities!
This funding will support exciting local programming in honor of America’s 250th Anniversary, bringing our community together to reflect, celebrate, and honor our nation’s history.
See all the details below!
City’s America 250 Event Highlights
June 27:
Red, White, and Blue Ball
5:30 to 6:30: Red Carpet Arrival/Cocktail Hour
6:30 to 7:30: Yorkville Big Band
7:30 to 8: Wounded Warrior guest speaker Danielle Green
8:00 to 10:00: The Time Bandits Band
As our nation marks 250 years of independence, this special fundraiser will bring our community together for a night of celebration and purpose.
Guests will enjoy live entertainment from the nostalgic Yorkville Big Band and the crowd-favorite Time Bandits Band, keeping the dance floor full all evening long.
In between the two bands, we are honored to host Wounded Warrior guest speaker Danielle Green. Danielle Green is a U.S. Army veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and former University of Notre Dame basketball player who was injured while serving in Iraqi.
This is a 21+ event. A suggested donation of $50 per person is requested, with proceeds benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project and its mission to honor and empower wounded veterans.
Click here to reserve your tickets today!
If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring the Red,White, and Blue Ball, please contact Mary Oros at [email protected] or Chris Bishop at [email protected] for details.
July 4:
Pedestrian Bridge Dedication at 11 a.m.
Please join city officials and local representatives in celebrating the completion and dedication of the new pedestrian bridge. More details to come.
Dixon Petunia Festival Celebrating America 250!
Dixon Petunia Festival is looking forward to seeing everyone celebrating the 250th birthday of America!
The CGH Medical Center Entertainment Venue will be open July 2-5.
Pre-sale tickets will continue to be sold until July 1, and headquarters hours will be announced later this spring.
Entertainment will be announced when the entire schedule is finalized.
More America 250 in Dixon Events:
Faith Christian School to Celebrate America 250
The community is invited to attend a free outdoor concert celebrating America’s 250th birthday and featuring students from Faith Christian School on Friday, May 15 at the school, 7571 S. Ridge Rd., Dixon.
Schedule: Grounds open at 5 p.m. and concert begins at 5:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair; and wear red, white, and blue. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the school gym.
Concessions will be available for purchase, featuring an all-American menu including hamburgers, hot dogs, and more.
Art Exhibit Celebrates America 250
“Power of Place, We the People, Doing History” is an art exhibit that run from June 15 to July 31 at the Dixon Public Library, 221 S. Hennepin Ave.
In partnership with The Next Picture Show, the exhibition will feature original works utilizing all forms of media exploring themes celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America.
Contact the Next Picture Show for an application.
Dixon Township and Dixon Public Library present “The Founding Mothers”
See “The Founding Mothers” at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27 at Dixon Public Library, 221 S Hennepin Ave., as a part of the week-long USA 250th celebration.
The “Mothers” of America aren’t often mentioned – the women whose influence on the early years of the United States reverberated for centuries afterwards. Whether they assisted in the years-long Revolutionary War, or had one brief moment of heroism, their actions had long-lasting and nation-building effects. Learn about soldiers, writers, printers, scholars, farmers, artists, and spies – all women, and all vital to our nation’s history.
Laura Keyes graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies, and has been portraying women from history and lecturing on historic topics for over 15 years.
Brush & Bloom to have America 250 Theme
There will be an America 250 theme included in this year’s Brush & Bloom, an annual community painting event provided by Discover Dixon on Friday, July 3. You’ll be able to find all the details at the Brush & Bloom event page.
Patriot Concert on Courthouse Lawn
The Dixon Municipal Band will perform its annual Patriot Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, July 3 on the Old Lee County Courthouse Lawn, 112 E. Second St.
Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.
Celebrate America 250 with the Reagan Run
Grab a group of friends and challenge yourself with a 5K this year! Registration is now live for the Reagan Run, which will be held on Saturday, July 4. The kids can even join in on the fun with the Fun Run! Click here to get signed up!
Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home
Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and Young America’s Foundation will host several events in 2026 that will celebrate America 250!
These include:
May 29: Roundtable luncheon with Wynton Hall, Co-Author, YAF Alumnus, and Founder of Wynton Hall & Company, at Northwest Territory Historic Center, 205 W. 5th St. Registration and book signing from 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by the roundtable luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. $25 per person, and free for students. Click here to register.
July 15–17: High School Conference. The conference sessions will be limited to students, but the roundtable will be open to the public. The event will conclude with a public rally on July 17, featuring a musical act.
Sept. 11: Roundtable memorial commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Oct. 2 or 9: Roundtable luncheon
