Written by Jennifer Nelson
Do you want to see what a skirmish was like during the American Revolution and learn more about the role Loyalists played during this period? Then mark your calendars for Saturday, August 8, when Historic Newtown becomes the setting for Newtown Celebrates America 250, a free, family-friendly day of reenactments, living historians, demonstrations, exhibits, and interactive activities throughout the borough.
Presented by the Newtown Historic Association and community partners, the event runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and offers something for visitors of all ages. The celebration is sponsored by First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown and made possible in part through support from the Bucks County Tourism Grant Program.
Activities begin at 9:30 AM with Revolutionary-era experiences throughout town. Visitors can explore a Continental Army encampment, enjoy performances by the Washington Crossing Fife & Drum Corps, participate in military drills led by Friends of Washington Crossing Park, create colonial-themed crafts with members of the NSDAR Washington Crossing Chapter and browse the History of Newtown exhibition at the Court Inn. Families can also participate in a coloring contest at the Half‑Moon Inn.
At the center of the story is the Bird-in-Hand, Newtown’s first tavern. During the winter at Valley Forge, tailors there stitched wool uniforms for Washington’s troops, who were in desperate need of warm clothing. The wool came from Joseph Jenks’ fulling mill a few miles away on Core Creek in Middletown Township.
While British forces occupied Philadelphia, General William Howe sought to suppress efforts in Bucks County that aided Washington’s army. He enlisted Newtown native Richard Hovenden to organize a Loyalist force of cavalry and infantry. According to historical accounts, approximately 40 Loyalists rode into Newtown on the evening of February 11, 1778.
A Continental sentry stationed in an upper-story window spotted the approaching force and fired a warning shot. Major Francis Murray and a small group of Patriot soldiers took cover behind a stone wall and returned fire. Hovenden’s men responded with overwhelming force before the Patriots could reload.
Five Continental soldiers were killed, four others suffered serious wounds, and dozens were captured. Earlier that same evening, Hovenden’s force had burned Jenks’ fulling mill and seized roughly 2,000 yards of wool, enough to produce hundreds of military uniforms.
A Loyalist newspaper later praised the raid, writing, “Too much commendation cannot be given to his gallant action.”
The Bird-in-Hand, later known as the Red Lion Inn, also served as an overflow jail during the Revolutionary War. Following Washington’s victory at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776, captured Hessian officers were reportedly quartered there while Washington stayed elsewhere in Newtown.
The historic structure at 111 South State Street, originally built by Shadrack Walley in 1686, remains one of the oldest surviving buildings in Newtown and a reminder of the borough’s colonial origins.
Following the Battle at the Bird-in-Hand, visitors are encouraged to remain for a special patriotic finale. Revolutionary War reenactors portraying American and British forces will return to present a ceremonial 21-gun salute to America before Mayor Tara Grunde-McLaughlin leads the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to the United States in honor of the nation’s 250th Anniversary.
The celebration continues into the afternoon with an All-American Cookout in the Boone Garden from noon to 2:00 PM, where complimentary hot dogs, chips, water, and ice cream will be available thanks to the generosity of Penn Community Bank and the Newtown Rotary Club. Visitors can then explore the many historic sites, museums, churches, and special programs taking place throughout the borough.
From 12:30 to 3:30 PM, the Newtown Library Company will offer a variety of activities for visitors of all ages. A presentation on the library’s history begins at 12:30 PM, followed by children’s storytime and activities at 1:30 PM and 2 PM. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy self-guided tours, children’s crafts, cornhole, and sweet treats while discovering the history of one of Pennsylvania’s oldest continuously operating libraries.
At Borough Hall, visitors can meet William Penn from 12:30 to 3:30 PM through a living-history presentation provided by Pennsbury Manor. During the same hours, Newtown Friends Meeting will feature an interpreter portraying renowned Bucks County folk artist Edward Hicks, along with tours and exhibits exploring the meeting’s history.
At Newtown Presbyterian Church, Hessian soldiers will share the experiences of German troops who fought during the Revolutionary War. Nearby, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will host a British encampment and offer visitors an opportunity to learn about life on the opposing side of the conflict.
History enthusiasts will also want to visit the Newtown Fire Association Museum, which will be open from 12:30 to 3:30 PM. At 1 PM, visitors can participate in a bucket brigade demonstration featuring “Old Washy,” the borough’s restored 200-year-old hand-pumped fire engine, followed by a full demonstration of the historic apparatus at 1:30 PM.
From 1:30 to 3:30 PM, Shirley Lee Corsey, Founder of Gather Place Museum, will present Harriet Tubman: Her Life, Her Legacy – A Journey Through Time, a powerful first-person portrayal of the famed abolitionist. The afternoon also includes opportunities to learn about Newtown’s African American heritage and the contributions of United States Colored Troops through living-history interpretation at Lighthouse Hill Cemetery, where twelve USCT soldiers are buried.
Additional programming includes tea with Dr. Lettie Smith at Friends Village’s Paxson Hall from 1 to 3:30 PM, silent films at the Newtown Theatre from 12:30 to 2 PM, historical displays at First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown, and the History of Newtown Exhibition at the Court Inn.
The day concludes with a Civil War band performance from 3 to 4 PM, offering visitors one final opportunity to experience another chapter of America’s story through period music and interpretation.
As a Bucks250PA nonprofit affiliate, the Newtown Historic Association is using Newtown Celebrates America 250 to showcase the many people and perspectives that shaped the community over more than three centuries.
From Revolutionary War soldiers and Quaker leaders to artists, abolitionists, firefighters, and Civil War veterans, the event explores how one small town reflects the broader American experience.
Visitors are encouraged to park once and explore the borough on foot while enjoying Newtown’s shops, restaurants, museums, and historic landmarks. Those traveling from outside the area may want to make it a weekend getaway by exploring Newtown’s shops, restaurants, museums, and historic landmarks as well as other nearby destinations.
For more information, visit www.newtown2026.com.