Barrington 250 Events

Barrington 250 events continue! Explore local history, public history resources in our community, and programs that invite reflection on what history is, why history matters, and the many methods that inform our understanding of the past. (Scroll down for the full calendar of events through July 2026!) 

Through February: Visit the Barrington Public Library's Jennifer English Gallery (281 County Road, Barrington; 2nd floor) to view Barrington 250's exhibit Red, White, and Barrington: Local Perspectives on American Independence: 1776 - 2026. 

As part of our town’s commemorations of America’s 250th, Barrington High School students are leading an effort to create a community time capsule that will be opened on our nation’s Tricentennial in 2076. All residents of Barrington are invited to contribute objects and documents -- stay tuned for details coming soon about submission guidelines and collection events. Also mark your calendar for the time capsule ceremony on Saturday, July 11, 2026! 

What will people in the future remember about 2026, and how will they learn about our experiences of life in Barrington today? What kinds of questions about the past do we wish we could ask people who lived 250 years ago? Fifty years from now, at the 300th anniversary of American independence, what do we want future members of our community to find preserved in the time capsule we bury at Town Hall this year?

Ideas percolating? Here are some resources about time capsules to explore, for kids (American Museum of Natural History) and adults (Library of Congress, JSTOR Daily, New York Times, Smithsonian). Did you know Samuel Adams and Paul Revere buried a time capsule under the cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House in 1795? View the MFA Boston's video & slideshow of what was inside.

Build on our reflections on the past to collectively imagine and shape designs for our shared future. Explore how our town's places and public spaces contribute to community wellbeing, in the spirit of our nation's guiding principles intended to "form a more perfect union."

Can't make it to an in-person event or just want to explore some Semiquincentennial topics and themes on your own? Check out Barrington 250's collection of resources -- from books and articles, to movies and music, to podcasts and digital public humanities content ... and more!

Civic engagement programming inspired by spring renewal, gathering, and growth.

Honoring local individuals and communities that have advanced democracy over the past 250 years, through selfless sacrifice, leadership, and a commitment to American ideals.

Celebrating our community's commitment to the collective good & collaborative problem-solving, in alignment with Civic Season.

Barrington 250’s grand finale ceremonies and signature events that celebrate our vibrant community; our connections with our town’s history; and our hopes for our shared future.

Use the icon in the top right-hand corner of the image to print or download a one-page calendar of Barrington 250 events. (Check back for updated files as future event details are confirmed!) 

Personalize your commemorative brick to help support our town's 250th events and planning activities! Your brick will become part of a commemorative site at Town Hall that, paired with our town’s Liberty Tree planting, will create a lasting legacy of our town's celebrations of the 250th anniversary of American independence. We appreciate your support! 

Not sure what you want the text of your brick to say? For inspiration about this celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (on July 4, 1776), you may wish to read the text of the Declaration, explore the RI250 Commission’s website, or explore information about the history of Barrington’s Brickworks, which inspired this commemoration!

Write a Love Note to your favorite place in town as part of Barrington's local celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Your Love Note will contribute our community's stories of beloved spaces and places to Rhody Love Notes, a statewide collective mapping project, be added to a July 2026 town time capsule, and may be included in a Barrington 250 commemorative publication. Also keep an eye out for in-person opportunities to write your Love Note at future Barrington 250 events!

The American Revolution, the landmark documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, examines how thirteen American colonies unite in rebellion, win an eight-year war to secure their independence, and establish a new form of government that inspires centuries of democratic movements around the globe. The American Revolution is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App. 

Watch a special screening of a 45-min synopsis of the full series on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 1pm at the Barrington Public Library! 

Also watch: Ocean State Media’s Ian Donnis in conversation with Ken Burns during a recent visit to Providence, discussing the importance of history, the legacy of the American Revolution, and Rhode Island’s contribution to the country’s founding.

Join the planning committee, become a sponsor or partner, volunteer for events, share your ideas! Be part of the team working to create a town-wide celebration from January-July 2026 that will showcase our community’s rich history and vibrant spirit in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Your ideas and passion are crucial for planning this special milestone. Together, we can make Barrington 250 an unforgettable experience for everyone!

Honoring the 250th Anniversary of American Independence

Barrington celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence with festivities Fall 2025-July 2026 that will invite neighbors and visitors of all ages to commemorate our town’s rich history in establishing and sustaining a democratic nation; celebrate our present community and its engagement with American ideals of freedom, equality, enlightenment, and independence; and build on our reflections on the past to collectively imagine and shape designs for our shared future. Presented in collaboration with community partners, programs will feature winter educational events, spring civic engagement activities, and signature ceremonies and celebrations during Civic Season (June-July) that culminate over the July 4th holiday weekend. Learn more at barrington.ri.gov/250 or email the organizing committee at BarringtonRI250@gmail.com.