Union County expands Fourth of July celebration with 250th events

The Union County Veterans’ 4th of July Committee has partnered with America250PA to expand Lewisburg’s patriotic celebration into a semiquincentennial observance, officials announced this month. The committee plans a two-day celebration June 26 and 27 featuring a 250-drone light show, fireworks and a historic flyover, and says the slate of events will cost about $100,000 with a $20,000 grant from America250PA helping to offset expenses.

Organizers say the June 26 program will begin at 5 p.m. at Wolfe Field with food vendors and an evening concert by the Lucky Afternoon Band at 7 p.m. At dusk, Hire UAV Pro will perform the county’s first-ever drone light show using 250 drones, followed by fireworks presented by Bixler Pyrotechnics. The June 27 schedule opens with a three-loop flyover at 10 a.m. by Luck of the Irish, a Douglas C-47B Skytrain flown by the Air Heritage Aviation Museum, and continues with a parade starting at the Greenspace Center and traveling east on Market Street to Third Street.

Terry Burke, president of the committee, framed the expanded program as part of a yearlong commemoration. “Given that it’s the 250th anniversary, this year is going to be special,” Burke said. “It’s not just the Fourth of July. We should be celebrating this entire year. We want to keep that momentum going.”

To help cover costs, the committee will host two fundraisers. The first, 250 Years Young, is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at Open Discourse Coalition, 239 Market St., featuring Blue River Soul with Karen Meeks; tickets are $50 and include the show, beer, wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres. The second fundraiser, Red, White and Bingo, will run 1 to 4 p.m. March 15 at the Lewisburg American Legion, 127 Buffalo Road; advance tickets are $40, $50 at the door, and only 100 tickets are available.

Raffle prizes listed by organizers include a Traeger grill, a Blackstone grill, designer purses, business packages from the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, Campus Theatre tickets, tickets and pit passes for Pocono Raceway NASCAR races, Navy football tickets, Bucknell University men’s and women’s basketball season tickets, gift cards and more. The committee is also seeking veterans to participate in the parade and local sponsors to support the events.

The expanded celebration carries several local implications. The scale and cost of the program should provide an economic boost to Lewisburg merchants and cultural institutions that participate as vendors and partners. Residents should anticipate street closures and heavier traffic along Market Street, near Wolfe Field and around the Greenspace Center on parade day. Public health and safety considerations will be important for large crowds and fireworks, and organizers are encouraged to ensure accessible seating and accommodations for veterans, seniors and people with mobility needs to keep the event equitable.

For Union County residents, the celebrations offer both a civic moment and practical planning needs: buy fundraiser tickets early if you want to help underwrite the celebration, watch for parade registration and sponsorship information from the committee, and prepare for changes to traffic and parking during the June weekend. What follows is a year of heightened attention on local history and downtown life, with community organizations and small businesses likely to feel the effects as planning continues.