Middleburg to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary

The Town of Middleburg will hold a year full of great events celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial, its 250 th  Anniversary. America’s declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776 will be marked throughout the country in 2026, and Middleburg will host numerous events in celebration.

To begin, the Town of Middleburg and its partners will kick-off the celebration on Friday, Jan. 23, at the Middleburg Community Center, at 5 p.m. This initial event will be a community celebration of our spirit of independence, key tenets of the American form of government, and the history of Middleburg.

This event on Jan. 23 will include patriotic songs by local groups, remarks by Mayor Bridge Littleton, and comments from members of the community. The event is free to the public and will include light snacks and drinks.

Prior to the event, at 4:30 p.m., an official raising of the ceremonial Town of Middleburg America 250 flag will be held at the Town Hall, with a performance of the National Anthem. Participants will then parade to the Middleburg Community Center for the official kick-off of the America 250 event at 5 p.m.

The Town’s second Semiquincentennial event of the year will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, also at the Middleburg Community Center, at 5 p.m. This event will celebrate and honor Black History Month. In 2025, Middleburg embarked on an Oral Histories Project, focused on recording the stories of the African American community in Middleburg and, specifically, the Asbury Church. Ten individual videos were created, with stories of the local Middleburg community, desegregation in Middleburg, and African American leaders and businesses in Middleburg.

A twenty-minute compilation video was created out of the individual videos, providing a glimpse into the history, life, challenges, and triumphs of African Americans in Middleburg and its surrounding areas. 

In addition to showing the Oral Histories videos, the Town will present the initial Schematic Design for the restoration of the Asbury Church, the oldest standing church in Loudoun County. Since 2015, the Town of Middleburg has sought a proper use for this historic and storied building that the Town was gifted. In 2025, the Town began the formal design process, with the goal of making the Asbury Church open to the public as an interpretive site and for small gatherings. 

The public meeting to reveal the initial Schematic Design will allow the community to see how the Asbury Church will be restored to some of its original layout and design, honoring the history of the church and its membership. In addition, the Town will discuss ways that the community can participate in the rehabilitation of the Asbury Church, including through donations and funding pledges.

This event is also free to the public, with light food and drinks available.

Future events around America’s 250 will merge with existing events, such as Art in the Burg, Middleburg Day, and Independence Day. More details will be released as those events draw near, and more information is available on the Town website at www.middleburgva.gov/america250

More information on the Asbury Church is available at www.middleburgva.gov/asbury