Barrington 250 Events

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

Also ongoing: Contribute to the Barrington 250 Time Capsule & community Wish Wall! (See details above.)

May event updates:

• Talk by C. Morgan Grefe, Executive Director of RI Historical Society, previously scheduled for May 7 has been rescheduled to Monday, June 22

• 250th Book Club in a Bag launches May 8!

Looking for a meaningful way to get involved in our town? Not sure where to begin? Join Barrington Public Library & Barrington 250 for our Volunteer Fair on Saturday, May 9 from 10am-2pm and discover how you can make a difference right where you live.

Meet representatives from a variety of local organizations who are doing important work -- from supporting families and seniors to protecting the environment, promoting the arts, and more. Whether you have a few hours to give or are looking for a long-term commitment, there are opportunities for every schedule, skill set, and interest. Volunteering is a powerful way to connect with others, learn new skills, and create positive change. Browse organizations, ask questions, and find the cause that inspires you! Our community will be stronger because of it.

This fair is put together in the spirit of Barrington 250’s May theme, “We the People,” which aims to highlight local individuals and organizations that work to advance the common good through civic engagement and leadership. One example? The generous folks at Blue Kangaroo -- beloved community hub and Barrington 250 sponsor -- who are offering a coupon for 2 small coffees for $2.50 (get it? :) to all Volunteer Fair attendees!

Free and open to all. No registration required. Come by anytime 10am-2pm (281 County Road, Barrington, RI) -- and bring a friend!

NEXT DROP-OFF DATE: 

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 10am-noon!

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 Barrington residents, organizations/community groups, and businesses are invited to contribute objects: review submission guidelines, view available object drop-off event dates, and complete the submission form here. Students at Barrington Public Schools will also be invited to choose collective grade-level contributions (details forthcoming via schools).

Be sure to mark your calendar for the time capsule dedication ceremony on Saturday, July 11, 2026! 

Help future town residents understand who we were, what we valued, and how we lived in 2026. What will Barrington be like 50 years from now? What will people in the future remember about 2026? What evidence will help people understand our experiences of our town and our nation today? What stories about life in this place we call home do we want to share with our future community? On 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?

Review guidelines and complete the submission form here!

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.

Barrington 250 invites you to participate in creating our town’s Wish Wall, part of a nationwide initiative capturing Americans’ hopes and dreams for the future.

Coordinated by Made By Us, a national organization that aims to inspire youth civic participation, the initiative has generated hundreds of Wish Walls across the United States, from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and The New York Historical to smaller, local hosts including museums, libraries, parks, community hubs, and gatherings, along with a virtual wish wall online at OnOur250th.org – and more are planned.

Here in Barrington, stop by Barrington Public Library (281 County Road) or Bayside Family YMCA (70 West Street) during April and May to write a personal wish — from small acts of kindness to big visions for change — for the next 50 years. (More wish-collection stations to be announced!) 

Then, in June and July, as we approach Barrington 250 signature celebrations, visit the Library’s first-floor gallery to view the Barrington 250 Wish Wall, which is being designed by the Barrington High School Art Club. All wishes contributed also will be added to our town’s Time Capsule, which will be opened on our nation’s Tricentennial in 2076.

The Wish Wall gives everyone a voice in imagining the future we want to build together. It’s a simple act of hope — Barrington 250’s April theme — and offers our community an opportunity to contribute to a collective snapshot of what we value most as a nation.

Join Barrington 250 and your town neighbors in shaping history!

Celebrating our community's commitment to the collective good & collaborative problem-solving, in alignment with Civic Season (Juneteenth-July 4th).

Also ongoing: Contribute to the Barrington 250 Time Capsule! (See details above.)

June event updates:

• New event! Founding Futures' TED Democracy Live with flag-coloring activity for kids & adults - Saturday, June 13

• New event! Barrington Preservation Society talk by Stephen Venuti on Nockum Hill - Monday, June 15

• Talk by C. Morgan Grefe, Executive Director of RI Historical Society, originally scheduled for May 7 has been rescheduled to Monday, June 22

• Screening of 1776 originally scheduled for July 2 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, June 30.

• Encore screening of Ken Burns' The American Revolution (summary) has been cancelled.

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.

July event updates:

• New event! Contra Dance - July 2

• Screening of 1776 originally scheduled for July 2 rescheduled to June 30.

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!) 

event details updated 3/17/26

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!

Do you LOVE Barrington?? Write a Love Note to your favorite place in town. When you share your Rhody love you will be contributing our community's stories of beloved spaces and places to Rhody Love Notes, Grow Smart, RI's statewide collective mapping project. Your note will be added to a town time capsule, and may be included in a Barrington 250 commemorative publication. Let's help add 250 stories (or more!) to the collection by July 4, 2026 for Rhody Love Notes’ special Semiquincentennial edition! #Rhody250LoveNotes

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. 

Also check out: 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 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 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.