Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Photo credit: Ravena News Herald
Red, white and blue filled the streets, parks and waterfront last weekend as the communities of Ravena, Coeymans and Coeymans Hollow came together for a three-day celebration honoring America’s 250th anniversary.
The weekend-long celebration was more than just a patriotic event. It was a chance for neighbors to come together, families to learn about history, local organizations to showcase what they do and the community to celebrate the people and places that make the area special.
Friday: A Block Party Kicks Off the Celebration
Photo credit: Ravena News Herald
The festivities began Friday night at Mosher Park with a community block party designed as a fun kickoff to the weekend.
Residents gathered for food, music and drinks, with hamburgers and hot dogs from the Ravena Hose Company, fried dough from Vasto’s, food from Uncle Gino’s and samples and bottles from New Scotland Spirits. Billy Hardy provided the music as neighbors gathered to celebrate the start of the America 250 weekend.
While the Saturday and Sunday events were designed with families in mind, Friday’s block party offered adults a chance to relax, socialize and enjoy the beginning of the celebration.
Saturday: History, Community and Patriotism Take Center Stage
Photo credit: Jordon Egelston
Saturday brought the biggest day of the weekend, beginning with a patriotic parade through Ravena and Coeymans.
The parade traveled from Mosher Park down Main Street before concluding at Coeymans Landing. Local businesses, elected officials, community organizations, historical groups, marching units and volunteers all took part as residents lined the route to cheer and wave flags.
At Coeymans Landing, visitors stepped back in time with living history demonstrations, colonial crafts and hands-on activities. The day included performances by the Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps, demonstrations from a blacksmith, wool spinner and wood carver, and a kids’ craft tent where children could make Revolutionary War-era-inspired hats.
As the sun went down, the celebration continued with fireworks over the Hudson River, sponsored by Amrize.
Sunday: Exploring the History of Coeymans Hollow
Photo credit: Ravena News Herald
The weekend wrapped up Sunday with a day dedicated to exploring the history and contributions of Coeymans Hollow.
Visitors could tour several local landmarks and organizations, including The Little Red Schoolhouse, the Ravena Grange, the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation, Trinity United Methodist Church and the Chimney Top Paper Mill site in Alcove.
At The Little Red Schoolhouse, families learned about what education was like more than a century ago and children enjoyed playing with toys from bygone days.
At the Chimney Top site, visitors explored the history of the former paper mill, creamery and other businesses that once occupied the site.
Trinity United Methodist Church opened its doors to share its history and community missions, while the Coeymans Hollow Volunteer Fire Corporation gave children the chance to try a firefighter-inspired obstacle course and learn more about what local volunteers do.
The Ravena Grange also welcomed visitors to learn about its more than 100 years of service to the community.
Celebrating the Past and the Community’s Future
Throughout the weekend, one message continued to stand out: history is not just about the past. It is also about the people who continue to build, serve and strengthen their communities today.
The America 250 celebration brought together three communities for a weekend of fun, education, history and patriotism. It gave local children the opportunity to learn about the past in hands-on ways, highlighted the work of volunteers and organizations and reminded residents of the deep history right in their own backyard.
Most importantly, it showed what happens when Ravena, Coeymans and Coeymans Hollow come together.
Three days. Three communities. Countless volunteers, organizations and residents.
One unforgettable celebration of America 250.
To read more details about all of the weekend events go checkout the Ravena News Herald.
Author: Jordon Egelston
I’m passionate about everything RCS has to offer! As a member of the RCS Community Board of Directors and the founder of Uniquely Jordon Media, I specialize in social media management and branding tailored for rural businesses. When I’m not working, you’ll find me embracing life as a mom, drinking cold brew coffee, crafting, and hunting for vintage treasures.
