America 250th Birthday Events List: TV Programming And Live Celebrations

As America marks its 250th anniversary, there are a wide range of events, programming and unique celebrations planned by major entertainment entities. From theme park celebrations to live event coverage to TV specials, take a look at the list below for an updated sampling.

CURRENT & ONGOING

JUNE

16 – National Geographic launches programming to “explore the nation’s stories”

29 – ABC airs Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness hosted by Deborah Roberts (8 p.m. -10 p.m., PT/ET)

NewsNation launches “Spirit of America,” a special “multi-platform cross-country reporting series celebrating the people, places, and values that make the nation extraordinary.” Runs through July 4.

JULY

1 – Fox Business Network: Mornings with Maria and The Claman Countdown will air live from the New York Stock Exchange on July 1st and 2nd.

2 – Disneyland Resort’s California Adventure Park debuts Soarin’ Across America.

PBS Distribution is launching a slate of free, 24/7 holiday marathons across multiple FAST channels over Independence Day weekend. This includes an immersive America’s 250th Anniversary Marathon on the PBS Documentaries and PBS Ken Burns FAST channels, a Taste of America Marathon on PBS Food and a breathtaking America’s Best Destinations Marathon on PBS Travel. Through July 5.

Patriots and Plotters: Bill O’Reilly’s Unsung Heroes and Villains of the American Revolution will debut on NewsNation. The one-hour multiplatform special program will air at 9 p.m. ET.

3 – ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ABC News Live, ESPN, and ABC Owned Television Stations and affiliates present a 24-hour, cross-platform broadcast led by David Muir (through July 4) that will “explore the people, places, and defining moments of the nation’s 250-year history” across all 50 states. Programming will include “Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash,” “50 States in 50 Weeks: America The Beautiful,” “Innovation and Invention” and “Wonders of America.”

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration will be broadcast and streamed live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. on public television stations nationwide, on American Forces Network and streaming on YouTube. Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Kool and the Gang, Patti LaBelle, Chicago, Angel Blue, Loren Allred, the National Symphony Orchestra and the cast of Broadway’s Just in Time will perform. The event will be hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and feature appearances from Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna. The concert finale will feature a live fireworks show over George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Airs 8-9:30 p.m. E.T.

Fox News Channel will have live coverage of the Times Square ball drop at midnight with correspondent Nate Foy. FNC programs will also emanate from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey during the Sail4th 250 flotilla celebration through July 4th, including Fox & Friends, The Faulkner Focus, Outnumbered, America Reports and The Story with Martha MacCallum.

In New York, the Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show will be live streamed from Times Square. Though on on-site attendance is available, the event can be live streamed. Performers include Mary J. Blige, Brad Paisley and NE-YO. Jim Gaffigan is host and MC. Starts at 9 p.m. ET.

Knott’s Berry Farm will host guests Open House style at its full-scale replica of Independence Hall on July 3 and 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. At stations inside, staff will answer questions and provide historical information. 

The Sail 4th 250 event in New York Harbor will be covered by many national news outlets. It consists of the largest fleet of tall ships and gray hull ships. They will sail into the harbor, pass in Presidential review, and salute the Statue of Liberty.
Similar events were held for the 1976 Bicentennial, the Statue of Liberty Centennial in 1986, the Columbus Quincentennial in 1992, the Millennium celebration in 2000 and the Bicentennial of The Star-Spangled Banner in 2012. From 1-3 p.m. ET on July 3 and 9:30-2 p.m. ET on July 4.

JULY 4

The America’s Block Party concert live at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will feature music from Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris and The Smashing Pumpkins and be hosted by Queen Latifah. Gates open at 3 p.m. Show starts at 6 p.m.

CBS has Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil and ET co-host Nischelle Turner hosting The Great American Block Party 250, a three-hour live primetime broadcast that will take viewers coast to coast for concerts and performances, culminating in what organizers are calling the largest fireworks show in history over the skies of Washington, D.C. Performances broadcast from across the country will include those from Zac Brown Band, Jill Scott, The Roots, Jon Batiste, Goo Goo Dolls and The War and Treaty. Airing 8-11 p.m., ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7.

ESPN.com launches “America 250 Road Trips,” a five-day series of stories

Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier, Harris Faulkner, Sean Hannity, Brian Kilmeade and Dana Perino will host America 250: Celebrating Freedom from 7-11 p.m. ET. All programming will be live from Liberty State Park with special extended weekday editions of Fox & Friends (6-10 a.m., ET), America’s Newsroom (10 a.m.-12p.m., ET) and Outnumbered (12-2 p.m., ET). The Will Cain Show (2-4 p.m., ET) will again be live from Philadelphia ahead of the FIFA World Cup game on FOX Sports. At 4 p.m., ET, Rachel Campos-Duffy, Charlie Hurt and Griff Jenkins will anchor America 250: Celebrating Freedom live from the Salute to America: Grand Fireworks Show through 7 p.m., ET. Additionally, FNC correspondents will be positioned at celebrations across the country to provide viewers a glimpse into America 250 festivities.

Knott’s Berry Farm is offering fireworks to celebrate the holiday.

ABC will broadcast Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash. Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the event will include performances from The All-American Rejects, Boyz II Men, Brothers Osborne, Clint Black, Elizabeth Nichols, Emily Ann Roberts, John Crist, Lauren Daigle, Little Big Town, NE-YO, Nick Jonas, Reba McEntire, Sublime and Tim McGraw. The event also promises one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the country set to a live score by the Nashville Symphony.  Airs live nationwide from 8-11 p.m. ET.

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will be broadcast as part of Disney’s multiplatform holiday marathon. It will feature top-ranked contenders Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo and more. Airs 12:30-1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

NBC News, Telemundo and NBCU Local will produce multiplatform English- and Spanish-language coverage of Sail4th 250’s marquee events featuring tall ships, naval vessels and aircraft from 46 nations (7 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET).

NewsNation will broadcast live throughout the day from the National Mall, kicking off with a special edition of Morning in America, anchored by Anna Kooiman, from 6-9 a.m. ET. Laura Ingle will continue coverage from New York from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET. Anchors Nichole Berlie and Connell McShane will host six consecutive hours of NewsNation Live from the National Mall from 12-3 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. ET, respectively. At 6 p.m., anchor Blake Burman will moderate a special two-hour edition of The Hill from the network’s Washington, D.C. studio. During primetime, the network will present a live four-hour special broadcast hosted by Leland Vittert, Elizabeth Vargas, Katie Pavlich and Chris Stirewalt. 

The One Philly Unity Concert will feature a July 4th Concert and Fireworks celebration. Performers include Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jill Scott, The Roots, Meek Mill and Seal. Music starts at 5 p.m. ET. Fireworks at 11:45 p.m. ET. Paramount Plus will stream the full concert via the ET Live Channel.

The Salute to America Celebration and Fireworks taking place in Washington D.C. is an all-day celebration being held on the grounds of the Washington Monument. It will culminate with a 9 p.m. ET speech by President Trump and what’s being billed as “the largest fireworks show in history.” The latter is said to consist of “850,000 fireworks shells launched from 10 sites: Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, 8 Potomac River barges, and West Potomac Park.” Beforehand, there will be a rodeo, military flyovers and a musical performance by a “multi-platinum & Grammy-nominated superstar known for some of the biggest club anthems of a generation.” Begins at 1 p.m. ET.

SportsCenter celebrates “the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture” (2 p.m.-4 p.m. PT / 5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET)

Universal Studios Hollywood plans an elaborate fireworks display, live performances and themed décor.

July 5

Fox & Friends and Fox News Sunday are broadcasting live on Fox News Channel from the National Mall.

NBC’s Kristen Welker anchors a special edition of Meet the Press examining America’s founding and the future of American democracy with Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ken Burns and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III.