“Pennsylvania has been gearing up for this over the last few years,” says Jenny Landis, director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau.

America250PA, has started programs that include Pennsylvania Day, Memorial Flag Initiative, and the #PAProud Service Member Spotlight, with two of their programs already in Mifflin County including the Keystone Classroom Initiative that was at Lewistown Elementary School in December and a Liberty Tree was planted with help from the McVeytown Mason Lodge in October.

“My office has held a few meetings with area historical societies, governments, and business owners. And now that a plan has been devised, it’s time to bring the community in,” Landis explained.

In honor of this occasion and to begin the planning stages they are holding a community meeting that all may attend on Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse courtroom.

Submitted photo
Costumed women stand in the back of the seated crowd attending the dedication of the Mifflin County Liberty Tree held last October in McVeytown.

“The state organization has been working on this for more than a year. They’re organizing several projects themselves but are encouraging each county to develop their own ideas and do things that are meaningful on the local level.”

In this community meeting, they’ll explain the general layout for the whole year and what they’re calling the bridge week – the week between June 27 and July 4.

There’s a list of ideas for people or groups to host but they’re also wanting to encourage original ideas from all corners of Mifflin County.

“America250PA’s hope is that every community in the Commonwealth can get behind one or more of these platforms and use them to show their pride and respect for this country we live in,” says Landis. “And don’t forget that it’s also a reason to celebrate.”

From the previous meetings, a general plan for 2026 has been developed.

Focusing on the fourth weekend of each month, a different community could host some kind of celebration, event, contest, or activity that highlights the 250th.

A few communities already had something going on at that time including Country Memories Day in Mcveytown and Goose Day in September.

The annual fireworks are held on the Saturday before July 4 and that falls on the fourth Saturday in June.

The fireworks will kick off a week-long celebration all over the county.

“This bridge week will bring out the patriotism in everyone. That’s when everyone gets involved and brings their own style of patriotic passion,” explains Landis. “From red, white, and blue ice cream sundaes to showing off your best barbecue recipe. I’m really hoping we get a beard or mullet contest and elaborate decorations on homes and businesses.”

The Visitors Bureau will collect information from everyone planning to do something to celebrate and create a list to use for promotion, similar to how they promote Goose Day activities every September.

The America250PA agency will help share the information, but it must be submitted before the end of this year.

That means we need to get talking about ideas and making these plans for next year.

Promotion has already started in some counties, and they hope to have a list of events, contests, etc. available by the end of the year.

Landis says getting on the state agency list as early as possible will help promote events.

The Visitors Bureau will be promoting all activities throughout 2026 including a very special one starting in January of 2026.

The folks at the Visitors Bureau came up with a great idea to build a time capsule allowing all members of the community to participate by picking up one of the thousands of postcards that will be made available.

On one side it will read “Postcards to the Future” the other side will be blank to write or draw on.

These messages won’t be opened until 2076!

Communities and/or groups can create their own time capsules with the postcards or get them back to the Visitors Bureau to include in the county-wide capsule.

“This will be a year-long project and we hope you’ll grab a few cards and write a note in the future,” says Landis.

All are welcome to attend the community meeting on March 24. More information about what the state has in the works, discussion about the theme and platforms they are promoting, and a local schedule will be some of the things to be discussed. If you cannot attend but would like the information, follow the America250PA – Mifflin County Facebook page or contact Jenny Landis at jlandis@jrvvisitors.com or at (717) 248-6713.