Newport is gearing up for a big celebration of America’s 249th birthday on July 4, 2025. The Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution is organizing a day full of free events, including a reenactment of the Declaration of Independence reading.
Roy D. Lauth, President of the Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution, says, “Newport’s Historic District is the perfect place to celebrate America’s birthday. You can’t get more patriotic than this.”
For over 100 years THE RHODE ISLAND SOCIETY SONS OF THE REVOLUTION has hosted Newport’s Independence Day Celebration, and there is not a more patriotic place to celebrate America’s birthday than in Newport’s Historic District. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the citizens of Rhode Island from the steps of the Colony House in Newport in 1776. Each 4th of July the event is recreated in celebration with music, cannons and a tribute to Newport’s signer of the Declaration. Join us for the celebratio of the 4th of July.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a tribute to William Ellery, Newport’s own signer of the Declaration of Independence, at his grave in the Common Burying Ground.
History buffs can explore the Colony House, America’s fourth-oldest State House, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., courtesy of the Newport Historical Society.
For music lovers, the Newport Community Band will perform a patriotic concert in Eisenhower Park from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The highlight of the day occurs at 11 a.m., when Colonel Roy Lauth reads the Declaration of Independence from the steps of the Colony House, just as it was done back in 1776.
To cap off the morning, the Artillery Company of Newport will fire a 21-gun salute at 11:30 a.m. They’ll use four cannons bought from Paul Revere himself in 1798.
Events are free and include:
- 9:00am, a commemoration of William Ellery, Newport’s signer of the Declaration of Independence, at his grave site in Newport’s Common Burying Ground on Farewell Street, led by the Daughters of the American Revolution and with participation of the Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution, and the Artillery Company of Newport.
- 9:00am to 11:00am, the Newport Historical Society will provide access to the Colony House, the fourth oldest State House in America, with staff present to answer questions.
- 9:30 am Bike Newport will hold their annual bike parade from Ellery Park at Farewell and Thames St. Decorate your bike and enjoy the fun. BikeNewportRI.org/4thJuly/
- 10:00am to 11:00am, a rousing Patriotic concert in Eisenhower Park in Washington Square by the Newport Community Band at Salve Regina University, Peter Davis conducting.
- 11:00am, a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel Roy Lauth, from the steps of the Colony House, the spot where it was first read to the Colony in 1776 by Major John Handy.
11:30am in Washington Square a 21-gun salute fired by the Artillery Company of Newport, using the four cannons purchased from Paul Revere in 1798 by the new state of Rhode Island.
Lauth adds, “We’ve been hosting this celebration for over a century, keeping alive a tradition that goes back to the birth of our nation.”
The Rhode Island Society Sons of the Revolution, established in Newport in 1896, works to spread knowledge about American independence and bring its members together.
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