Think your community is excited for the big 250th birthday celebration of the United States Sestercentennial this July 4th? Well, here in Camden, we’ve been prepping for three years! 🎂 As the oldest inland city in South Carolina, we didn’t just watch the American Revolution happen, we were right in the thick of it.
While much of the rest of the country is just starting to hang their bunting, Camden is already in full “Simply Revolutionary” mode. Here’s how you can join the fun this June and July, with an extra special and explosive opportunity this coming Saturday, May 16th!
✨Evacuation Day: May 16th at Historic Camden Foundation
Ready to celebrate the moment the British finally packed their bags? 👋 Join Historic Camden Foundation as they commemorate Evacuation Day – the historic retreat that turned the tide of the war right here in the South! It’s time to trade the redcoats for some red, white, and blue-blooded fun. 🎆
HCF is throwing a bash big enough to make every Patriot proud! Maybe the best part? Admission is FREE. Come hungry for the food trucks, stay for the live music, and get a taste of the 1700s with living history demos, a full Revolutionary War encampment, and a bustling 18th-century market. 🥁 Catch a performance by the Camden District Fife & Drum Corps, hop on a Conestoga wagon ride, or take the kids on a nature trail scavenger hunt.
But wait, there’s more! The night ends with a fireworks display over the iconic Kershaw-Cornwallis House. It’s more than just a history lesson; it’s a party 250 years in the making! 🏕️✨
🍴 History & Hops: The Warm-Up
We aren’t waiting for the July 4th fireworks to get started. We’re kicking things off with a mix of learning and lounging:
- Lunch & Learn | Tuesday, June 9 | 12 pm: Grab your lunch of choice and head to the Revolutionary War Visitor Center (212 Broad St) to dive into the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. It’s the perfect way to fuel your brain while you fuel your body! 🥗📜
- Pints with Patriots | Friday, June 26 | 6 – 8 pm: Ever wanted to grab a drink with a hero from the 1700s? The Downtown Camden Cultural District is making it happen! Grab a pint at select downtown spots and chat with Revolutionary figures who are ready to spill the tea (or the ale) on what life was really like back then. 🍺🎩
- Exhibit Unveiling | Saturday, June 27: The Revolutionary War Visitor Center will be unveiling a multi-year exterior exhibit that will grow every year until 2033. Double-sided panels featuring pieces of the Revolution from years 1774, 1775 and 1776 will be installed and unveiled on June 27th with one panel added each year following. ✨
🏛️ Carolina Days at Historic Camden Foundation
The excitement continues with an entire week of immersion! From June 27th through July 5th, Carolina Days is transforming Historic Camden into a living, breathing Revolutionary experience. This isn’t just a “walk through a museum” kind of week; it’s all about getting your hands dirty and your heart pumping.
Mark your calendars for these daily themes:
- Celebrate Carolina | Saturday, June 27 | 10 am – 1 pm: Kick off the festival with Liberty flag-making and indigo workshops.
- Carolina Day | Sunday, June 28 | 8 pm: Experience a signature immersive reenactment of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island (Ages 12+).
- Explore Carolina| Monday, June 29 | 10 am – 1 pm: Connect with our natural history through a Nature Trail scavenger hunt and workshops.
- Carolina Kids | Tuesday, June 30: A day dedicated to the little ones with historic games, crafts, and read-alouds.
- Our Carolina Story | Wednesday, July 1: Try your hand at English country dancing and diorama building at the newly opened Sheheen Artisan Center.
- Made in Carolina | Thursday, July 2 | 10 am – 1 pm: Shop local at the market featuring handmade goods from artisans.
- Honor Carolina | Friday, July 3: Join the community for a campus cleanup and beautification project to build local pride.
- Independence Day Festival | Saturday, July 4 | 10 am – 4:30 pm: Our biggest celebration yet, featuring ice-dye workshops, food, and crafts.
- America’s Potluck | Sunday, July 5: Wind down the week with a massive community picnic.
🎨 Young Talent & New Sights
Our local students have been getting creative, too! The KC 250 Art Poster Contest saw some incredible entries, and we have to give a huge shout-out to our winners from Camden Middle School:
- First Place: Eilee Clapp for her piece, “Ghost Town,” depicting Evacuation Day / Burning of Camden on May 10, 1781. 🔥
- Second Place: Kirsten Bowers for her tribute to the “Swamp Fox,” Francis Marion. 🦊
You can catch Eilee’s winning artwork on display at the Revolutionary War Visitor Center Museum!
🚲 The 10th Annual Kids’ 4th of July Parade
On Saturday, July 4th, our favorite beloved local tradition is getting a “sestercentennial-sized” glow up, in part thanks to our partnership with Books on Broad. ✨
- 9:30 AM: Pre-parade festivities kick off at City Hall (1000 Lyttleton St).
- 10:15 AM: A brief, patriotic program on the lawn.
- 10:30 AM: The march begins! 🥁
Hundreds of kids in red, white and blue will parade on decked-out bikes, wagons, and strollers and scooters to our new location this year: the City Arena (420 Broad St) for our “Camden Celebrates America’s 250th“celebration including live music and vendors.
🌿 A Quiet Moment of Reflection
If parades and pints aren’t your speed, Camden offers plenty of peaceful ways to honor the fallen:
- Stroll through our historic battlefields.
- Explore the Public House at the Visitor Center or the Colonial Village at Historic Camden.
- Pay your respects to the patriots at Quaker Cemetery. 🕊️
The Party is Just Getting Started! 🎈
While other cities might pack up their flags on July 5th, Camden is just hitting our stride. Because we played such a huge role in the Southern Campaign, we’ll be hosting various other commemorations for the next several years leading as we mark the battles that turned the tide of the war.
In Camden, it’s not just a holiday. It’s a tribute to the “Simply Revolutionary” spirit that helped win a nation. See you there! 🎇📍