Most Americans did not know the word “semiquincentennial” in 2025 — but they will in 2026. The term, meaning “half of 500,” marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, which will occur on July 4, 2026.

With that milestone approaching, a broad coalition of Newtown organizations gathered at the community center on Thursday evening, January 15, for the first planning session on how the town should commemorate the occasion. With many groups already considering events for the Semiquincentennial, First Selectman Bruce Walczak and Community Center Director Matt Ariniello recognized the importance of coordination.

“There’s tremendous energy across town,” Ariniello said. “If we coordinate our efforts, we can leverage one another’s resources, avoid duplication, and create something far greater than any one group could do alone.”

The meeting, organized and facilitated by Ariniello, brought together representatives from American Legion, the Borough of Newtown, C.H. Booth Library, Daughters of the American Revolution, Democratic Town Committee, Newtown Conservation Coalition, Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, Newtown Historical Society, Newtown Lions Club, Newtown Rotary Club, and several members of the Legislative Council.

It should be noted that Legislative Council members are not acting in their official roles as Council members. They are participating in their capacity as representatives of their associated nonprofit organizations and community groups.

A number of civic-minded residents also participated.

A Different Kind Of National Celebration

First Selectman Walczak emphasized that the 2026 Semiquincentennial will look very different from the highly centralized Bicentennial of 1976.

“The federal government is taking a lighter touch this time,” he explained. “Instead of a top down national celebration, 2026 is meant to be built from the ground up — shaped by local stories, local history, and local communities.”

Where 1976 featured extensive federal branding, funding, and national programming, the 2026 approach encourages local, grassroots, community driven commemorations. Newtown’s early planning aligns squarely with that national direction.

Why Newtown’s Story Matters

While America’s 250th birthday will be celebrated nationwide, the anniversary carries particular meaning locally. As Legislative Councilman Arnie Berman noted during the meeting, “Newtown stood at the crossroads of the American Revolution — geographically, when Rochambeau’s troops camped here on their march to Yorktown, and politically, as a town where neighbors held differing allegiances.”

That layered history gives this milestone special resonance for Newtown.

In June 1781, French General Rochambeau and his troops camped in Newtown on their march to join George Washington in New York. The combined forces would continue south to Yorktown, where the decisive victory of the war was won. Newtown’s fields — and the stretch of the Rochambeau Trail along Reservoir Road — witnessed this pivotal movement toward independence.

Early in the war, Newtown was known for its Loyalist leanings. Neighbors often held opposing allegiances, and the town reflected the political tensions of the era. That complexity is part of what makes Newtown’s Revolutionary story so compelling today.

Next Steps

The next meeting of the Newtown 250 Committee will be Thursday, February 5, at 6 pm, at Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street.

All organizations planning — or considering planning — Semiquincentennial events are encouraged to participate.

Those wishing to attend may contact Matt Ariniello at matthew.ariniello@newtown-ct.gov.