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Independence Day 1776! at American Village

Arts and Entertainment

June 23, 2023

From: American Village Citizenship Trust

American Village’s Independence Day Celebration!

The fourth of July means red, white and blue fun, food and fireworks at the American Village. Enjoy more than 40 patriotic activities throughout the day – music and dance, games, encounters with patriots of the past – including George and Martha Washington, Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Samuel Adams – the battle at Concord Bridge, and FIREWORKS at twilight’s last gleaming! Hands-on activities for children include cornhole toss, hula hoops, Jenga, sidewalk chalk art, and a farm animal petting area. There will also be an American artisan area with hand-made products for sale.

Food trucks will be onsite with all your favorites.

Gates open at 11:00 a.m. – programming is offered from 11:30 a.m. through evening fireworks (9:00 p.m.). *No entry allowed after 8pm.

$5 admission. Veterans, active military and children ages 4 and under are free.

Activities with Costumed Historical Interpreters (most programs run 15 to 30 minutes) 

11:30, 12:30, 2:30, 5:00, 6:00  - Volley Fire and Battle Cry  

Colonial Encampment

11:30, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30 - Thomas Jefferson  

Assembly Room – Washington Hall

11:30, 1:00, 2:30 . - Crime and Punishment  

Courthouse

11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00.- Martha Washington  

Mount Vernon Room – Washington Hall

11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 . - Phillis Wheatley, “A Poet’s Journey”  

Meeting House

11:30, 12:30, 2:00, 4:00. - The  Liberty Tree  

Founder’s Hall

12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00  - Cecily & Sinclair Swanson’s School of Etiquette  

The Barn

12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00  - Samuel Adams 

12:00, 2:00 and 4:00 in Assembly Room – Washington Hall; 5:00 and 6:00 in the Colonial Chapel

12:00, 1:30, 3:30, 5:00, 6:00 - Visit with President George Washington  

Mount Vernon Room – Washington Hall

12:00,  1:30,  3:0, 4:00 - Puppet Show  

Courthouse

12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:00  - Patrick Henry, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”  

Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel

12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 5:30, 6:30   - Dolley Madison  

Founder’s Hall

12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 5:30  - Young Patriot Spies  

12:00, 1:30 and 3:00 in the Meetinghouse; 4:30 and 5:30 in the Courthouse

12:30, 2:30, 4:30  - Mark Twain 

Liberty Hall

12:30,  2:00,  3:30  - Thomas Paine 

Courthouse

12:30, 2:30, 3:30, 5:00 - Benjamin Franklin  

Assembly Room – Washington Hall

12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:30  - Alexander and Eliza Hamilton  

Meeting House

12:30, 2:00, 3:00, - Eleanor Calvert Custis 

Mount Vernon Room – Washington Hall

1:00, 2:30, 4:30, 6:00 - Philip and Angelica Hamilton, “An Affair of Honor”  

Founder’s Hall

1:30, 3:30  - Battle at the Bridge  

Concord Bridge

4:00, 5:00, 6:00  - Catherine Greene: Wife of a Major General  

Meeting House

MUSIC and Dance 

It’s Swing Time with the Ain’t Misbehavin’ Band

Dance with your sweetheart to the classic sounds of the Glenn Miller era. 1:00 and 3:15 in Liberty Hall 

The Colonial Consort

A little woodwind music. 1:00, 2:00, 3:30 and 4:30 in the Colonial Chapel  

JQ’s One Man Swing Band

A swing music show! A one-man band performance at 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00 in the Barn  

The Independence Ball

A celebration in dance, music and song!

5:30 and 6:30 in Liberty Hall 

The USO Veterans Canteen

Music and entertainment throughout the day in our canteen area for veterans in Estes Theatre  

Children’s Activities

Colonial Games

Play Stop and Go, Hoops, Trap Ball, and more!

11:30, 12:30, 2:00, 3:00, 5:00, 6:00 at F on the map

Cornhole/Bag Toss

From 11:00 to 6:00 at F on the map

Alabama Wildlife Center

See live rescued birds and learn about them.

12:00 until 5:00 on Magazine Street (adjacent to K on the map)

Sign America’s Founding Documents

Add your signature to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

From 11:00 to 6:00 at F on the map

Do You Jenga?

Test your balancing skills with a friendly game of Jenga.

From 11:00 to 6:00 at F on the map

Can you Hula Hoop?

It looks easy, but can you keep the hoop spinning?

A half century after being introduced, some are still trying.

From 11:00 to 6:00 at F on the map

Patriotic Coloring Pages

Show off your coloring skills as you color in pages of our patriotic past.

Sidewalk Art for Independence

Draw what Independence Day means to you.

Face Painting

From 11:00 to 6:00 in the Artisan area 

Selfies with Uncle Sam

Look for Uncle Sam throughout the day, take a picture with him and get a FREE American Flag! 

American Artisans

Please visit our artisan area  Artisans who will demonstrate their craft and sell their products from 11:00 to 6:00 include:

David Willis, Honey 

Josh Howard, Metal 

George Jones, Brooms

Fred Maybee, Woodcrafts 

Rhett Blackwell, Woodcrafts 

Robin Griffin, Pottery 

Debbie Housner, F&D Farms 

Leana L’Hoste, Pottery

Tonia Mayton, Jewelry/Glass 

Tim Tingle, Woodcrafts

Courtney Davis, Soaps 

Larry Jarvis, Woodcrafts 

Clyde Dutton, Metal 

John Martin, Woodcrafts 

Chris McElvaine, Pottery 

Dana Phillips, Soaps 

Mark Brady, Natural Products

Melissa McMurray, Painting

Other Things to See and Do

Hessian Encampment  

Tour the Randall Museum and Oval Office – 11:00 - 7:00 

Tour the National Veterans Shrine – 11:00 - 7:00 Please stop by and thank our veteran volunteers who are in the Shrine today. They are also helping to register veterans in our Veterans Register of Honor. 

Tour the West Wing of Independence Hall – 11:00 - 7:00 Be transported back in time to the eve of Paul Revere’s ride in Boston, April 1775. Enjoy an immersive experience learning about the causes of the American Revolution. From here, you can enter the theater and see the film “Choosing to Be An American People” which tells the story of Paul Revere’s ride, the battles of Lexington/Concord, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Show times are approximately every 30 minutes after 11am.  

Tickled Pink Petting Zoo – 11:00 - 6:00 See goats, donkeys, sheep, and other farm animals. Get a chance to pet and feed the animals! 

Independence Day 1776 Main Stage Evening Program

American Village Costumed Historical Interpreters Present: “Choose Your George”

7:30 p.m.

Mr. John Adams

7:50 p.m.

Thomas Jefferson reads the Declaration of Independence

8:00 p.m.

The Montevallo Community Band presents a Patriotic Musical Prelude

8:15 p.m.

Dr. Joseph Ardovino, Director

8:30 p.m.

Masters of Ceremony - ABC 33/40

Invocation, Washington’s Prayer for the Country - President George Washington

Welcoming Remarks - Col. Alan Miller, President and CEO, American Village Citizenship Trust

Presentation of the Colors - 1st Pennsylvania Regiment; 1st Hamilton Legion

Introduction of the Junior Interpreters - Rebecca Evans

The Pledge of Allegiance. . Children in the audience*, led by Junior Interpreter Anthony Pritchett 

The National Anthem - The Montevallo Community Band

Salute to America’s Veterans accompanied by the Montevallo Community Band

A Patriotic Interlude

FIREWORKS by SOUTHERN Sky!

Grand Illuminations in celebration of America’s 247th Birthday, presented by Southern Sky. (after twilight’s last gleaming).**

*Children who wish to help lead the Pledge of Allegiance are invited to come to the front of the stage at this time

**Fireworks are best viewed directly in front of Washington Hall on Constitution Green.

Please respect that golf cart rides are only for assisting those people with disabilities in returning to their vehicles.

Click here to view the complete schedule

Date and Time: July 4, 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

Location: American Village, 3727 Highway 119 Montevallo, Alabama 35115 

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