The first official Independence Day celebration in the United States is believed to have taken place in Old Salem, North Carolina, on July 4, 1783, in what is now Winston-Salem. Winston-Salem, located in Forsyth County, has kicked off its yearlong celebration leading up to July 4, 2026, which will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Forsyth County has put together a committee to plan a list of events that will be occurring from now until July 2026. Many counties across North Carolina have done the same. Twenty-five counties, however, have not yet formed a committee, even though state grant money was available for those who wanted to plan an event in their county to celebrate America’s founding.
The grant funding was awarded to support a wide range of commemorative displays and activities, including online and in-person exhibits, school field trips and educational outreach efforts, local markers, and more. The committee in Polk County, for example, plans to erect a local marker recognizing Patriots who fought in the Battle of Earle’s Ford, while the committee in Currituck County received funds to host an event commemorating Betsy Dowdy’s ride to warn North Carolina militia about a British attack.
Visit here for a list of counties in North Carolina that already have committees and those that do not yet have one formed. To see a list of commemorative displays and events planned by the committees to celebrate our country, visit here.
