How to Celebrate the United States’ 250th Birthday and Colorado’s 150th

Want a challenge? Try saying “sesquisemiquincentennial” three times fast. It’s a mouthful, but it’s the word used to describe a combined celebration of a 150th anniversary and a 250th anniversary. The United States and the State of Colorado have birthdays coming up. We have you covered for what these exciting milestones mean and where to celebrate them around the Denver area and statewide. 

The History of 250-150 (Sesquisemiquincentennial)

First, a history lesson: The United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. The State of Colorado commemorates its 150th anniversary of joining the union on August 1st. Colorado is the only state whose anniversary aligns with that of the country, so the State of Colorado is calling this mashup the “250-150 Celebration,” or the tongue-twister version, sesquisemiquincentennial.

Favorite Family-Friendly Sesquisemiquincentennial Events

Denver is hosting a series of events to celebrate.The Besuchen Sie Denver team has rounded up a list of celebrations alongside the event website on History Colorado’s website. We have also compiled our favorite family-friendly list of summer events below:

Live Events

• Red, White and Rock! — July 3rd, 5-9:30 p.m.; 6115 S. Sante Fe, Littleton
• Park Hill 4th of July Parade —July 4th at 1:30 p.m.; parade starts on E. 23rd and Dexter 
• Mile High 150 Expo Air Show— August 1st at 12 p.m., Broomfield Airport (1175 Airport Way) 

Stories in The Sky Drone Show Series

The Stories in the Sky series is bringing exciting drone shows to communities across Colorado through the end of 2026. Most drone shows begin at 9 p.m. while the events have broader hours of operation. Below are some of the upcoming drone shows this summer:

• Elitch Gardens — July 2nd, show begins approximately at 9 p.m. and can be viewed best inside the park or surrounding Jefferson Park neighborhood. 
• Indy Eve — July 3rd, 5-10 p.m.; Civic Center Park 
• Illuminate Littleton — July 26th, 6-10 p.m.; Downtown Littleton
• Colorado Rockies Game — August 1st, 6 p.m. start; Coors Field
• Larimer County Fair — August 2ndEvents range across venues in Loveland

Explore the full schedule of drone shows through 2026.

Museum Exhibits + Destinations

• Colorado in Miniature – A Dollhouse Miniatures Exhibit —  Inspired by Colorado and the work of Colorado artists, this fun exhibit runs through January 24, 2027 and is open Fridays 10-4 p.m., Saturdays 10-4 p.m., and Sundays 1-4 p.m. at 830 Kipling St. in Lakewood. 
• Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder — This photography exhibit is available through January 10th, 2027 at History Colorado Center at 1200 N Broadway. 
• Digital Passport — Discovering some of Colorado’s hidden gems while earning badges, prizes and awards by visiting and “checking in” your passport across the state. 
• Historic Marker Program — Integrating stories from historians, residents and organizations statewide, History Colorado has created 150 roadside markers across Colorado. Keep your eyes peeled for markers as you travel around the state.

Celebrate at Home

If crowds are not your thing, and you want to bring some education and celebration to your family, here are a few ideas for how to share the historical significance of these milestones with your kids. 

• Throw Colorado a birthday party — Plan your own birthday celebration for Colorado with your favorite foods, desserts, pictures of trips and friends and family. Check out our blog post, “Top Five Ways to Safely Celebrate the Fourth of July with Your Preschooler” for ideas for our country’s birthday celebrations. 
• Make a time capsule — Introduce the passing of time and how our communities and lives change by creating a time capsule. Put 5-10 items from this current year into a time capsule to be opened 10, 20 or 30 years from now. Mark your child’s favorite activities, trips in Colorado, local restaurants, or any items that spark a memorable moment to look back on in the future. 
• Complete a Colorado must-do list — Show your appreciation for Colorado by making a list of your favorite things in the state: campsites, hikes, splash pads, small towns, etc. Then expand on the list with the things you want to do in the coming years as a future to-do list! Don’t miss our camping Und hiking blog posts for great tips on getting outdoors. 
• Create a custom flag — Using an old sheet, canvas or large piece of paper, have each child (or together as a family) create their own flag. Talk about what values or traits feel important to convey and invite your little one to paint, draw, or color their own flag, just like Colorado did 150 years ago. 

Celebrating Everybody, Every Day

What makes our state and country great, and what is truly worth celebrating every day, is the incredible diversity of people, cultures, traditions and stories that have shaped our community for generations. So whether you attend a local event, catch a dazzling drone show or share a family tradition with friends and neighbors, we hope you connect with your community in a meaningful way. Happy sesquisemiquincentennial, everyone!

Oh, and last but not least! As if 250-150 isn’t enough to celebrate this year, Denver Preschool Program will be commemorating our 20th anniversary this fall. Stay tuned and follow along on our newsroom for exciting events and opportunities to recognize the magnificent milestones made in early care and education in Denver!