The official kickoff celebration for the Semiquincentennial or 250th Anniversary of the United States of America will take place in our counties throughout the weekend.

In Carbon County this Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside Memorial Hall on East 10th Street in Jim Thorpe.

Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250-PA will be the guest speaker and will present the official Carbon County America250PA flag to Carbon County Commissioner Michael Sofranko.

Local communities will have representatives to present their plans for the celebrations in their towns, and Lansford Alive will be selling yard flags as a fundraiser.

There will be a raffle, and refreshments will be served. The public is encouraged to attend.

In Schuylkill County, the kickoff will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Schuylkill County Courthouse, 401 N. Second St., Pottsville.

Coleman will attend, as well as state Rep. Tim Twardzik and Lawrence Padora, Schuylkill County Commissioner Chair and America250PA Schuylkill County Advisor.

The event launches a year of historic programming, cultural showcases, and community engagement across Pennsylvania.

“This celebration is for everyone in our community, to reflect on our past and to spark excitement for the future,” said Gary Hess, Schuylkill County commissioner. “We welcome all residents and visitors to be part of this historic kick-off.”

Other kickoff ceremonies this weekend include:

• Lehigh County, 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Lehigh County Historical Courthouse, 503 W. Hamilton St., Allentown, with Coleman, state Sen. Nick Miller, Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel and Fadia Halma, America250PA Lehigh County Advisor.

• Northampton County, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the County Courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton, with Coleman, state Rep. Robert Freeman and County Executive Tara Zrinski

• Monroe County, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the courthouse, Seventh and Main streets, Stroudsburg, with Coleman, state Sen. Rosemary Brown, state Rep. Tarah Probst, President Judge Jon Mark, Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County, and David Parker, Monroe County commissioner and America250PA Monroe County Advisor.