Mark your calendar: July 4, 2026, Memorial Park, all day. The Pottstown GoFourth! Festival is returning for its 10th season, and this year it’s not just celebrating America’s birthday — it’s celebrating 250 years of it.

That’s right. The country turns 250 this summer, and Pottstown is throwing a party worthy of the milestone.

“This year really feels like a celebration of community as much as country,” said Co-Chair Amy Bathurst Francis. “Ten years ago, this festival started as an idea built by volunteers who believed Pottstown deserved something special on the Fourth of July. Watching what it has grown into — and getting to celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the same time — feels incredibly meaningful.”

Co-Chair Amy Wolf put it simply: “There’s a lot of emotion tied into it. Ten years of GoFourth!, 250 years of America, and a community that continues to show up for each other in a really beautiful way. We want people to feel that the second they walk into the park.”

History Is Coming to Life — Literally

This year’s festival features something genuinely special: a living history experience rooted right here in Pottstown.

At approximately 6:45 PM, Colonel Thomas Potts will ride on horseback from Pottsgrove Manor, accompanied by Revolutionary War reenactors from the 13th Virginia Regiment and Spencer’s Additional Continental Regiment. Once in the park, Colonel Potts — portrayed by Justin B. Clement, Historic Site Supervisor of Pottsgrove Manor — will recite the Declaration of Independence.

Here’s the thing that makes this more than just pageantry: Colonel Potts was real, and his story happened here. As an ironmaster in Pottstown, Potts raised an “Associator Battalion” — a local regiment of volunteers. His nephew, Captain Nathaniel Potts, commanded the company recruited right in this area. In September 1776, the Battalion mobilized in Philadelphia and served under General George Washington in Perth Amboy, N.J., engaging British forces before rotating out in November.

This history didn’t happen somewhere far away. It happened here.

Clement will be available throughout the afternoon for conversations and photos as part of the festival’s living history programming.

“We wanted to make sure the 250th wasn’t just a logo or theme,” said Bathurst Francis. “Bringing history to life in a way that’s accessible, engaging, and rooted right here in Pottstown makes the day feel even more special.”

The Merch Is Brilliant (and Has a Great Story)

If you’re a history nerd or just appreciate clever design, you’ll want to snag this year’s commemorative gear.

Bathurst Francis, who also leads creative at Fineline Marketing and Design, drew inspiration from the Fugio Cent, the very first official coin of the United States. Authorized by Congress and designed by Benjamin Franklin, the coin features a sundial and two unforgettable phrases: “Fugio” (Latin for “I flee,” as in time flies) and “Mind Your Business” — a classically Franklin double entendre that meant both “tend to your work” and, well, stay out of everyone else’s.

The unisex commemorative shirt features that iconic sundial design. The women’s design highlights the coin’s reverse: 13 colonies linked together beneath the motto “We Are One.”

Rounding out the 2026 collection: limited-edition steins, house flags, enamel car badges, hoodies, hats, and other collectible items — all designed specifically for this milestone season.

The first drop of 2026 merchandise happens at the Festival Kick-Off Fundraiser on June 7, so don’t wait if you want first pick.

A Full Day of Fun: Here’s What’s In Store

The 2026 festival kicks off early with the Rotary Club of Pottstown Parade at 10:15 AM along High Street, then the festival itself opens at Memorial Park at 3:00 PM and runs until the fireworks finale at 9:30 PM.

All your favorites are back:

• Fireworks finale at 9:30 PM, sponsored by Precision Polymer Products.

• Giant bubble-making fun with Grandpop Bubbles.

• Complimentary professional face painting.

• Inflatables and games for kids.

• Food trucks and festival food vendors.

• Arts and crafts and community vendors.

• Caricatures by local cartoonist Alan MacBain.

• Tethered hot air balloon rides.

• Sly Fox Brewing Company beer garden.

• Live entertainment all afternoon and evening.

• Declaration of Independence reading and militia procession ( around 6:45 PM).

Come Early to the Kick-Off Fundraiser

Before the big day, join the fun at RIVET: Canteen & Assembly on June 7 from 1-4:00 PM for the annual Festival Kick-Off Fundraiser. There’ll be live music by Stephen Kurtz, a basket raffle (competition gets fierce), a 50/50 raffle, Rotary duck ticket sales, and this is also the first chance to grab your 2026 merchandise.

“It’s a fun afternoon, people get very competitive over the baskets, and it’s a great way for the community to support the event,” said Wolf.

The People Behind the Party

This festival doesn’t happen by magic. It happens because of a dedicated crew of committee chairs who spend months planning, problem-solving, and pouring themselves into every detail … long before anyone sets foot in Memorial Park.

“These aren’t just volunteers who show up on the Fourth of July,” Wolf said. “These are people who spend months planning, organizing, solving problems, lifting each other up, and pouring themselves into this event because they genuinely care about this community. Over the years, we’ve really become a family of sorts.”

This year, some of those faces are being spotlighted in the festival’s promotional materials. When you’re at the festival, if you see someone wearing a committee chair badge, say thank you. They’ve earned it!

A Few Practical Details

Premium parking passes go on sale in mid-June for $35.

The Pottstown GoFourth! Festival is organized by Pottstown GoFourth!, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to building community and civic pride through events like this one.

2026 Top Sponsors: Precision Polymer Products (Fireworks) · Switchpoint Foundation (Parade) · Pottstown Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates (Hot Air Balloon) · Pottstown Parks and Recreation (Rally Alley) · Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (Kids Zone) · Wolf, Baldwin & Associates, P.C. (Volunteers) · PECO (Gold) · Fox Rothschild LLP (Gold)

**Find tickets, sponsorships, merchandise, volunteering, or more information online here.

Discover more festivities, attractions, and events in the Montco and Valley Forge areas at Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.