Join Oswego in Honoring 250 Years of Independence

In 2026, the United States will mark a historic milestone—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of this nationwide commemoration, the Village of Oswego is proud to participate in the America 250 celebration. 

This once-in-a-generation event is more than a celebration of the past—it's an opportunity to reflect on our shared history, uplift untold stories, and imagine the future we want to build together.

In 2026, the United States marked a historic milestone: 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of this nationwide commemoration, the Village of Oswego proudly joined communities across the country in celebrating America's 250th birthday.

Oswego250 was more than a celebration of the past. It provided an opportunity to reflect on our shared history, honor the stories that shaped our nation, and celebrate the future we continue to build together.

The Village planned to celebrate America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, with Oswego250: Celebrating Our Nation's 250th Birthday at Prairie Point Community Park. The event was set to feature live music, historical exhibits, a classic car show, family activities, magic performances and local food vendors.

Due to forecasted severe weather, all scheduled event activities, including the entertainment and the Oswego250 ceremony, were canceled to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, volunteers, vendors and staff. Village staff continued to monitor weather conditions throughout the evening and determined it was safe to proceed with the fireworks display, which began at 10 p.m.

While the day's festivities were cut short by the weather, the fireworks display still provided the community with an opportunity to commemorate America's 250th birthday.

Thank you to everyone for your patience, flexibility and understanding as weather conditions changed throughout the day and for helping make the evening's fireworks a safe and memorable conclusion to this historic milestone.

Liberty Grove Plants a Living Legacy at Prairie Point Community Park for Oswego250 Celebration

As part of the Village of Oswego’s Oswego250 Celebration commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, the Village proudly unveiled Liberty Grove, a new permanent feature located at Prairie Point Community Park, 4120 Plainfield Road, designed to celebrate the nation’s history while creating a lasting community landmark for generations to come.

Liberty Grove features 50 newly planted trees, each carefully selected to represent one of the 50 states in the United States. More than simply a collection of trees, the grove was envisioned as a living tribute where history, community and nature come together in one meaningful place.

Visitors can walk through Liberty Grove and experience the remarkable diversity of trees found across the country, from coast to coast. Designed as a place for exploration and reflection, families can journey through all 50 states while learning about the unique species that represent them.

The project was created with a vision of building something deeper than a traditional park amenity. Liberty Grove serves as a space that celebrates both the country’s history and the shared roots that connect communities across America.

Bringing a project of this scale to life required extensive planning and expert guidance. The Village extends a special thank you to Fields on Caton Farm, whose team played an essential role in sourcing each tree and helping select species that both represent their respective states and are well-suited to thrive in Oswego’s local growing environment.

While the trees planted today are young, Liberty Grove represents something much larger — a long-term symbol of unity, growth and national pride.

As these trees mature over the coming decades, Liberty Grove will stand as a lasting reminder of Oswego’s participation in America’s 250th anniversary and the community spirit that helped bring this project to life.

Residents are encouraged to visit Prairie Point Community Park, explore Liberty Grove and discover the tree representing their favorite state.

Oswego250 Goosechase Missions

The next and final Oswego250 Goosechase challenge launches June 14 with a patriotic theme: Stars, Stripes and Patriotism!

From Independence Day trivia and photo challenges to missions celebrating our nation's history, this experience is designed to help you explore, learn and celebrate as we count down to America's 250th birthday.

Challenge Dates: June 14– August 2
Complete missions, earn points and discover all the exciting ways Oswego is celebrating the Fourth of July and the semi quincentennial throughout the summer.

Download the FREE Goosechase app

Search for the “Oswego250” experience

Enter password: Oswego250

For more information on Goosechase and how it works, please visit https://support.goosechase.com/en/collections/3254127-participating-in-an-experience.

Get ready to explore, learn and celebrate. Happy hunting Oswego!

Meet the Oswego250 Artist

Meet the artist behind the Oswego250 logo.

We are proud to announce Valerie Anderson as the winner of the Oswego250 Logo Contest. A resident of Oswego since 2005, Valerie’s design reflects a strong sense of community pride, neighborliness and a shared commitment to celebrating Oswego’s past while looking toward the future.

Inspired by her passion for hand-drawn graphic art, Valerie created a logo that honors Oswego’s place in America’s 250th anniversary. She hopes the design sparks joy, connects Oswegoans to this historic milestone and serves as a lasting symbol of celebration for years to come.

Thank you, Valerie, for helping tell Oswego’s story through your art.