On July 18, 2026, the Garrett County community will do something really special. From noon until 10:00 p.m. at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, every town, every story, and every chapter that shaped this mountain county will come together for the Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together, a signature event honoring America’s 250th anniversary through the lens of Garrett County’s own past, present, and future.
The Garrett 250 initiative is a coordinated, countywide effort commissioned by the Garrett County Government to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial; the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But instead of looking only at national milestones, Garrett 250 asks a powerful question: What does America’s story look like when told through the people and places of Garrett County?
The answer, organizers believe, lies in the individual communities that make up this region. Places like Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Loch Lynn Heights, Mountain Lake Park, Oakland, and the surrounding rural areas that shaped life here long before modern borders existed.
“This is about celebrating America’s story through Garrett County’s story,” said Sarah Myers, Chair of the Garrett 250 Committee and Communications Coordinator for Garrett County Government. “Every town represents a different chapter such as settlement, industry, transportation, recreation, faith, and service. Together, those stories form something much bigger than any one place.”
The Garrett 250 Birthday Bash event is designed as an immersive, all-day experience, bringing together residents, students, veterans, families, and visitors for a shared moment of reflection and celebration.
The event will feature live music throughout the day, including performances by Queen City Funk & Soul, The Remedy, and the Garrett Community Concert Band. Historical speakers, reenactors, and storytellers will bring the past to life, while interactive demonstrations, exhibits, and hands-on experiences will invite attendees to connect directly with Garrett County’s heritage.
Families will find activities in a dedicated kids’ zone, while local nonprofits, civic groups, and vendors will offer opportunities to engage with the organizations that help shape the county today. A car show, veteran honors, and historical displays will round out the daytime programming.
As the evening unfolds, attention will turn skyward for one of the most anticipated moments of the celebration: a night sky drone show at 9:30 p.m., creating patriotic imagery above the fairgrounds and symbolizing both the legacy and future of the community.
Admission to the event will be by donation, ensuring accessibility for all who wish to attend. Organizers anticipate attendance exceeding 8,000 people, making it one of the largest coordinated community gatherings in Garrett County’s history.
While July 18 will serve as the culmination, Garrett 250 is not simply a one-day event. It is a year-long project designed to document and preserve Garrett County’s contributions to the American story. Through support and coordination with the Maryland Two Fifty Commission’s “Once in a Generation” program, the initiative will help create a lasting archive of of some of Garrett County’s lesser-told history. Videographers and historians will work with municipalities to capture footage, photographs, and oral histories, documenting how each community contributed to the development of the region and the nation.
The program will also support exhibits, storytelling presentations, promotional materials, and a civic engagement initiative known as the Citizen Card program, an interactive experience designed to help residents learn about local government, civic institutions, and how citizens participate in democracy.
For more information or to get involved, visit www.Garrett250.com.