Plainville's America 250 celebration, originally rained out, is now set for Saturday, according to the New Britain Herald, with organizers planning a full day of Revolutionary War reenactments, classic cars and live music at the town's historic airport.
The event was first scheduled for Sept. 26 but was postponed because of a nor'easter, per the New Britain Herald. The America 250 Plainville CT Committee had posted a notice on its site confirming the celebration was postponed and that a new date would be announced, after originally listing the event for Sept. 26 with a rain date of Sept. 27. The committee describes itself as a temporary body created to plan and coordinate community events and displays commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The rescheduled celebration is set to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Robertson Airport, 62 Johnson Ave., according to the Herald. Admission and parking are both free, per the same report.
Why Robertson Airport Was Chosen
Town Manager Michael Paulhus said the airport was selected for its historical importance, the Herald reports. Robertson Airport was originally established in 1911 and is described on the town's website as the oldest airfield in Connecticut, which is also municipally owned. The town of Plainville bought the airport in 2009 and has maintained its operation ever since, according to ConnecticutHistory.org.
Paulhus said he expects more than 1,000 people to attend, the Herald reports, and said the community will come together to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. The America 250 Plainville CT Committee meets weekly, according to the same report, as it finalizes plans for the rescheduled gathering.
What's Planned for the Day
The lineup includes historical reenactments with Revolutionary War reenactors, a touch-a-truck display, a classic car show, live music and a DJ, food vendors, a craft and vendor fair, and local history displays, per the Herald's report. The committee's own event listing for the original September date also described a historical re-enactment focused on local and national history, along with clowns and face painting for children, according to the town's save-the-date announcement. The committee's page also lists a presentation titled “Tories, Spies and Traitors: Divided Loyalty in Revolutionary CT,” focused on divided loyalties among Connecticut residents during the Revolutionary era.
Part of a Statewide Push
Plainville's celebration is one piece of a much larger statewide effort. In 2026, the United States is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, according to CT250.org, and Connecticut has organized activities in almost all of its 169 cities and towns, as reported by WSHU. That statewide programming has emphasized the contributions of groups historically underrepresented in the American story, per the same report.
Other America 250 events around the state have drawn large crowds and elaborate programming. A July Fourth celebration at Bushnell Park in Hartford was expected to draw more than 50,000 people, WSHU reported, while a 160-foot Dutch tall ship arrived in Greenwich Harbor in June as part of the statewide commemoration. The State Capitol also hosted a public reading of the Declaration of Independence, and a Revolutionary War encampment featuring mock battles is planned in Durham on Oct. 17, according to WSHU.
