wo area communities celebrated America 250 and their own heritage this past weekend.

Nesquehoning celebrated its heritage on last Saturday jointly with a salute to America’s 250th anniversary. The highlight of the day was a visit to the borough by the largest steam locomotive in the nation.

In addition, there was an America 250 Nesquehoning 202 parade held as well as a festival, which featured food trucks, kid rides, vendors, games and free musical entertainment.

Other highlights included a spectacular fireworks display, a coal shoveling contest and an arm-wrestling competition.

The parade was led by the Nesquehoning Police Department, a color guard of the Nesquehoning VFW, and a wagon, pulled by two Clydesdale horses, in which were the grand marshals, Nesquehoning’s oldest living residents, John Glovatsky, 92, and Mary Stockmal, 102.

Palmerton held its America250 Semiquincentennial Celebration last Sunday in the Palmerton Borough Park. A gathering of more than 200 people enjoyed the various programs held in the park.

Mayor Bo Rodrigues thanked Palmerton Area Historical Society President Lynn Shupp and the committee.

The day started with an ecumenical service in the bandshell in the park. The Rev. Will Hoffman, pastor of St. Matthew’s EC Church, Kunkletown, served as emcee and introduced those at the service.

Following the ecumenical service, the official opening ceremonies were held, featuring the Palmerton United Veterans Organization.

There’s more to come.

Here is a schedule of some of the area events. More details will follow.

Here is a list of area America250PA events to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. To add to this list, email details to tneditor@tnonline.com

• Lansford: From noon to 2 p.m. today, join the Lansford Historical Society in the basement of St. John’s Byzantine Church directly across from the museum for a special showing of the first five parts of the long-awaited documentary “Follow that Rail,” the story of the Lehigh and New England Railroad System in Pennsylvania. This special documentary program was created and produced by John Panulla better known as JPanThe RailFan.

• Schuylkill County will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday with a massive parade, fireworks and an all-day party on June 27 in Pottsville. Parade begins at 11 a.m.

.• Lansford is celebrating its 150th anniversary, hosting a concert on June 28 featuring the United States Army Band at 2 p.m., followed by M&J Big Band at 4:30 p.m., Jimmy Sturr at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 8:55 p.m. in the Panther Valley Football Stadium.

• Country Junction’s America 250 Celebration, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 27.

The all-day celebration will feature live music, carnival rides, food trucks, pro wrestling, a cornhole tournament, and a spectacular drone light show finale designed to bring the community together for an unforgettable day of fun and patriotism.

Headlining the entertainment lineup is the popular retro band M80, joined by DJ Jimmy and additional entertainment throughout the day. Fee for admission, with proceeds to benefit the Forever 6 Foundation.

July

• Join the Church of the Great Redeemer as it gives glory to God for this country and prays for its future. There will be a worship service at 6 p.m. on July 1 at Eurana Park under the outside shelter. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the pavilion. Refreshments with “All American” favorites will be available.

• Big Boy 4014, the largest operating steam locomotive, owned by Union Pacific Railroad, will travel from Jim Thorpe to Pottstown. The train will likely stop for 10 to 15 minutes at the Tamaqua Train Station at a time to be determined. According to a schedule posted by Union Pacific, the train will leave Jim Thorpe at 9 a.m. and arrive in Reading at 1:30 p.m. It will reach Pottstown at 3:30 p.m. and spend July 3 in King of Prussia.

• West End Fair Celebration Fest, July 2-4, food, vendors, enactments, fireworks, and more. Fee per car.

• The Lehighton Band is inviting area singers to join a community chorus for a patriotic concert at 8 p.m. on July 2. The free concert will take place at Lehighton’s Amphitheater Park and will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, with a program of stirring and reflective music honoring the country’s history, service members, and shared civic traditions.

• Jim Thorpe hosts its America 250th Anniversary Celebration starting on July 2 at Memorial Park with a community festival.

July 4

• Weissport, the home of the county’s Liberty Tree and America250 Liberty Bell, will host the county’s Fourth of July parade on July 4. The Fourth of July party shifts to Lehighton with a block party starting at 4 p.m. at Lehighton Borough Park ahead of the annual fireworks spectacular along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard at 9:30 p.m.

• West Penn Township will celebrate the 250th birthday of America on July 4 with fireworks, food and entertainment.

The community celebration will be held from 6-10 p.m. from the J.E. Morgan Memorial Park, 49 Cold Spring Road. The rain date is July 5. For more information, call 570-386-4507 or email westpenntwp@yahoo.com.

• July 4 will be the biggest celebration day for many municipalities, including Jim Thorpe’s community events, a parade in Weissport and ending with fireworks in Lehighton

• Tamaqua will have a program at 10 a.m. on July 4 at Tamaqua Liberty Tree Park, home of Schuylkill County’s Liberty Tree, at 31 N. Railroad St. The site is across from the Tamaqua Train Station.

The ceremony will open with a welcome from Tamaqua Mayor David Clemson and will include music by the Cressona Band, participation by Tamaqua’s C.H. Berry American Legion Post No. 173, prayer by Pastor Josh Nemeth of St. Peter’s Church in Mahoning Valley, and participation by the Tamaqua/Mahanoy Chapter of the Masonic Lodge.

The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Don Searfoss, and the national anthem will be performed by area vocalist Carly Green. A recitation of Thomas Paine’s poem “Liberty Tree” will be offered by Steve Ulincy, a Benjamin Franklin impersonator and American history teacher at Tamaqua Area High School.

The program will also include a reading by Angelique Ramirez, the winner of the fifth-grade essay contest on the theme “What America’s 250th means to Me.”

• Monroe County Independence Day parade, 10 a.m. on July 4 at Stroudsburg High School, travels on Main Street and ends at East Stroudsburg High School.

• Independence Day Ceremony at Riverview Park Pavilion at noon, hosted by the East Penn Township Park Commission, featuring “The Liberty Song – Modern Arrangement,” a message from “Benjamin Franklin to America in 2026,” and tributes to the call for independence. The program concludes with the Roll Call of the Colonies, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem.

July 8

• Declaration Ceremony at Marvin Gardens at 6 p.m. July 8. The arrival of the rider bearing the Declaration, recorded patriotic music, and a community reading of the document that first proclaimed liberty across Pennsylvania. Residents are invited to gather for reflection and fellowship as East Penn Township honors the voices of 1776.

Both events are free and open to all ages.

July 25

• Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton, will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with a monthlong celebration every Saturday and Sunday in July. Guests are invited to enjoy complimentary festivities featuring live music, made-in-America artisan vendors, family-friendly activities and patriotic programming in the resort’s courtyard. Admission is free.

The celebration reaches its peak on Saturday, July 25, with an all-day event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. featuring extended live entertainment, local vendors, activities for all ages and a fireworks display beginning at 9 p.m.