Fourth of July Celebration

Patriotic Exercises is the foundation for our claim as the Oldest Continuous Celebration in the United States. The Annual Bristol 4th of July Celebration began in 1785 when Rev. Henry Wight of the First Congregational Church and Veteran of the Revolutionary War conducted the first Patriotic Exercises.

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Each year a Patriotic Speaker or Speaker of the Day is chosen by the Committee to speak to our community to kick off the Fourth of July. Patriotic Exercises begins each July 4th at Colt School in downtown Bristol at 8:30 a.m.