GLEN ROCK HISTORICAL & PRESERVATION SOCIETY
The Semiquincentennial Celebration
Glen Rock Road2Liberty
The United States is commemorating, celebrating, and contemplating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The GRH&PS is chairing the coordination of the events planned for 2025-2026. Use this page as your guide to all the wonderful events around town, throughout the county, the state, and the nation. We are partnered with RevolutionNJ and Bergen250 to make sure this year is memorable for all ages.
Glen Rock 1776-2026 Calendar of events!
January 10: Big Kick off Event Common Sense Commemoration- 1 pm – 4 pm hand out part of the pamphlet, have some activities for kids: Kahoot trivia on Colonial and Revolutionary Glen Rock, Bergen County & NJ with prizes, George Washington re-enactor, Captain Davind Marinus re-enactor, handing out the pamphlet, Common Sense, music, food, and games!! Get into the spirit of 1776! Community Church-Fellowship Hall (GR&PS). This is the ACTUAL anniversary of their publication.
January 23: Glen Rock's Captain Marinus Talk (GRH&PS) at the Activities Club, 1 PM *
February 5: Talk on Glen Rock’s Captain David Marinus at the GRPL, 7 pm (GRH&PS) *
March 20: Glen Rock Arts Council Art Show (GRH&PS, Arts Council), Glen Rock Arboretum, 7-9
March 21: Glen Rock Arts Council Art Show (GRH&PS, Arts Council), Glen Rock Arboretum 10 am -2pm
March 22: Pints with Patriots at Glen Rock Inn (GRH&PS), 1 pm *
March 23: Slavery in Bergen County (GRH&PS) at the Ridgewood Library, 7 PM *
March- July 7th: Glen Rock Public Library installation of a replica of the Declaration of Independence
April 25: Heard’s brigade Encampment with muskets and cannon (GRP&HS), Veterans’ Park, 10 am-3 pm
April 25: Medical Responses of the Times- (GRVAC) 10 am-3 pm, Veterans’ Park
April 26: Hermitage High Tea (WICS) 2 PM *
April 27: Slavery in Bergen County- Emancipation (GRH&PS) Ridgewood Library, 7 PM *
May 17: Colonial Medicinal Botanicals- (Friends of the Arboretum) 2 pm *
May 25: Memorial Day Parade
June 3: Glen Rock Pops Spring Concert- dedicated to Old Glory! *
June 6: Remedies from the Kitchen- Glen Rock Library, 1 PM *
June 13: The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Early American Women and their Kitchen Gardens, Glen Rock Public Library, 1 PM *
June 14: Flag Day —Old Glory By the Rock-VFW will explain American flag etiquette, flag burning of cotton flag -12:00 (VFW)
June 14: Colonial Games on the lawn of the library (Friends of the Library), 1:30 PM
June 22: Painting the American Revolution, Glen Rock Public Library, 7 PM *
June 25: Library talk on Baron Von Stueben Library (GRPride), 7 pm *
July 3: Pops on the lawn with Glen Rock’s Captain Davin Marinus, 7 pm
July 4: Parade (IDF)
July 23: Remember the Ladies: Women in the Time of the American Revolution, Glen Rock Public Library, 7 PM *
Sept 26: Pops at the Arboretum, 4 pm
September 27: 1—5 pm History of Glen Rock Trolley Tour (GRH&PS) 4 tours *
October 18: How wetlands were used by Colonial Bergen County Farmers (Friends of the Arboretum), 2 pm *
* Requires registration or tickets, please see the GRH&PS home page as the event registration/ticketing opens up
The Midnight Riders
Our kickoff event is the April 18th Anniversary of the Midnight Riders.
On April 18, 1775, the Sons of Liberty in Boston were organized and ready to oppose any moves made by the occupying forces of the regular British army, or the Red Coats. When the Regulars marched out to arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington, the signal was flashed, two lanterns hung in the Old North Church, to let the riders know that the Regulars were crossing the Charles River by boat, the quickest route. The midnight riders were off to warn the Minute Men and soon, early the next April morning, the first shots of the war were fired—what is famously known as “the shot heard ’round the world.”
On the morning of April 19, British troops marched from Boston to seize colonial weapons and arrest revolutionaries in Concord. At dawn, they were met by a small group of colonial militia on Lexington Green.
Though outnumbered, the militia stood their ground, and in a tense standoff, a shot rang out—its origin unknown. In the brief skirmish that followed, eight colonists were killed.
The British then advanced to Concord, where they were met by a growing number of armed colonists. At the North Bridge, the colonial militia engaged the British in open combat, forcing them to retreat. The British soldiers then began a harrowing march back to Boston, under constant attack from colonial forces firing from behind stone walls and trees along what is now known as the Battle Road.
April 18th Glen Rock Media Club History Video
