Welcome to a celebration of America’s 250th Birthday!
Let freedom ring & let’s have fun!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, July 2, 5:30pm – 9pm • Friday, July 3, 3pm – 9pm • Saturday, July 4, 5pm – 8pm
EXHIBIT: The National Archives’ “Freedom Plane National Tour” is taking original Founding-Era documents around the U.S. this summer. The Park Theatre has obtained copies of the documents and large blow-up posters of the items will be put on display in the theatre lobby from July 2 – 4. The admission is free. They include:
Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, 1823
Articles of Association, 1774: Signed by all 53 delegates.
George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance, 1778.
Treaty of Paris, 1783: Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay.
Secret Printing of the Constitution in Draft Form, 1787: A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution in draft form
Thursday, July 2, 6:30pm (Eppes Auditorium) • Friday July 3 and Saturday July 4 (King Screening Room), both 6:30pm
MOVIE: The new film, Young Washington. The film stars Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, and William Franklyn-Miller as Washington. Before he led a nation, George Washington was a young soldier thrown into a global conflict. With alliances crumbling and war closing in, he must choose who to trust and confront the leader he’s becoming. Young Washington will also play on July 3 and 4 in the 4K upgraded King Screening Room. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS ($10/$9)
Friday, July 3, 3pm – 7pm
FOOD: The Monadnock 250 Main Street Cookout. This outdoor cookout will offer a wide variety of traditional Independence Day foods for sale, including hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst sausage, homemade chili, salads, chips, sweets, and more. The Kona Ice Truck will be on hand to serve up traditional Hawaiian shaved ice in a variety of flavors, from classic to exotic. The theatre’s bar will open as well (ID is required).
Friday, July 3, 7pm
LIVE CONCERT: The theatre presents a variety show salute to America hosted by “Fred Marple” (Ken Sheldon), the fictional New England character who has charmed audiences for decades with his stories of the mythical town “Frost Heaves.” The Fred Marple Salute To America Variety Show has a power line-up of talent, including magician Ben Pratt, the Cheshiremen Barbershop Chorus, Ivy and Chum & The Puppets, comedian Jody Sloan, and pianist Kyle Trombley. More talent to be announced. Tickets are $30 (children under 12 are $20.) CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.
Saturday, July 4, 2:50pm
EVENT PROJECT: In honor of America’s 250 Birthday, The Park Theatre is assembling a varied selection of items to be placed in a time capsule. The America 250 Time Capsule will not be opened for 100 years. So, if you are around on July 4, 2126, stop by the theatre to see it opened! Items might be photos, recordings, newspapers, artwork, historical artifacts, and more. The public is being asked to help select the items to be placed in the capsule that best represent our town and the Monadnock Region in 2026. Email your ideas (with your name and telephone number) to timecapsule250@theparktheatre.org. The time capsule will be sealed on July 4 and buried at 2:50pm. The public is invited to the event. More info about the event to follow. It will also be broadcast LIVE on Facebook.
Saturday, July 4, 6pm
MOVIE: The theatre will present on its giant screen, the restored classic musical movie, 1776. Originally a highly successful Broadway musical that debuted in 1969, it was produced as a movie in 1972. The Warner Bros. film stars many actors from the Broadway cast, including William Daniels, John Cullum, Howard da Silva, and Ken Howard. 1776 follows the Founding Fathers as they debate and shape the birth of the United States in a lively musical adaptation of the Broadway hit. Gathering in Philadelphia, leaders like Benjamin Franklin and John Adams urge Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence announcing freedom from British rule. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.