When Americans gather to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026, Boyle County will be right in the middle of the party.
For the past several months, a large group of volunteers who are part of the Boyle County’s America 250 committee have been hard at work making plans for events that will take place in the spring and summer of 2026, leading up to a very special Fourth of July weekend.
“It is a distinct honor to chair Boyle County’s formal effort at commemorating and celebrating the semiquincentennial birthday of this great nation,” said Tony Wilder, chairman of the Boyle County America 250 committee. “Our experienced and capable planning committee had and will continue in the coming months to diligently work to offer events and activities that will educate, commemorate and celebrate our people, culture and our community’s significant role in forging Kentucky’s statehood, and providing the gateway for the westward expansion of these United States of America. Look to celebrating with you in 2026!”
The first event in Boyle County to celebrate the 250th anniversary will be a showing of the film “The Shot Heard Round the World”: The Battles of Lexington and Concord. The viewing will be on Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Boyle County Performing Arts Center in Danville.
A few weeks later on May 9, “McDowell Night” will take place at the Norton Center for the Arts at Centre College at 7 p.m., with a chautauqua performance highlighting the significant impact of early American statesman and Revolutionary War officer Samuel McDowell, known as the “Son of Virginia, Father of Kentucky.” McDowell presided over nine of the 10 constitutional conventions held in Danville from 1784-1792, leading to Kentucky’s separation from Virginia. He was also the father of Dr. Ephraim McDowell, a pioneering surgeon who performed the first successful ovariotomy in 1809 in Danville.
During the McDowell Night events, the original copy of Kentucky’s constitution will be on display, along with historic political papers and meeting minutes from the constitutional conventions. In addition, the Norton Center’s own exhibit – titled “Be The People” – will also be on display.
Beginning June 30 and running through July 18, Pioneer Playhouse will join in the 250th celebration by presenting an adaptation of the book The Iron Baby Angel, which tells the story of a nine-year-old Chicago boy visiting Danville back in 1909. Robby Henson, the producer/artistic director at The Playhouse, will be writing the play.
A few days after Iron Baby Angel performances begin, there will be two days of events around the Fourth of July holiday, with a large patriotic concert on Friday, July 3, with a musical group that will be announced once those plans are finalized. Then on July 4 there will be a military-themed parade at 11 a.m. in Danville, followed by a long rifle shooting event at Traveler’s Rest, the historic home place of Kentucky’s first governor, Isaac Shelby. That evening there will be live music, inflatables and other activities at Millennium Park, with a fireworks show at dusk.
Though the Fourth of July is the culmination of American’s 250th anniversary, events in Boyle County will continue on into the fall with educational outreach opportunities through local schools. Local historic walking and driving tours are also being planned.
The basic plans for Boyle County’s America 250 events are in place, but more information will be released as details are finalized. You can keep up with the latest details as they become available on the Facebook page “Boyle County’s America 250,” as well as the “America’s 250th page that will be added here at www.danvillekentucky.com