Buy Your Tickets Today at SweetHome250.com!
On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate its 250th birthday. Nationwide celebrations will mark this historic milestone, and the official event for the State of Alabama is being organized by the America 250 Alabama Commission.
The centerpiece of Alabama’s celebration will be held at American Village in Montevallo.
Sweet Home 250: Where Freedom Feels Like Home is a two-day music, arts & food festival happening on July 3-4, 2026. Sweet Home 250 will honor Alabama’s rich musical heritage by featuring artists from across the state, while celebrating our history, visual arts, and culinary traditions.
Music!
Over two unforgettable days, Sweet Home 250 will showcase 18 musical acts from across Alabama—featuring some of the finest artists our state has to offer. From legendary performers to rising stars, this lineup celebrates the rich musical tradition that makes Alabama one of America’s most influential musical homes.
Celebrity Chefs’ Kitchen
Jonathan Harrison is a chef from Columbiana, Alabama obsessed with southern food and local ingredients. After a run on Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef in 2022, Jonathan has been all over the world cooking and spreading the gospel of southern cooking. See Jonathan and other Alabama chefs cooking their hearts out (and letting you sample their creations!) at the Sweet Home 250 Celebrity Kitchen. It all takes place on Friday only!
Perondi’s Stunt Dogs
As seen on the Tonight Show, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, the Queen Latifah Show, the Today Show, NatGeo Wild’s “World’s Greatest Dogs”, top trick dog on the CW’s “World Dog Awards”, Animal Planet’s “Funniest”, “Amazing Pets”, and a winner on “Pet Star” with Mario Lopez.
The dogs have also starred in commercials for Animal Planet, Suzuki, Stargate Studios in the Lucy Pet Foundation’s SuperBowl commercial and have performed for millions in the 2014 annual “Rose Parade”. They have also been featured in Sports Illustrated Magazine, Dog Fancy, Dogs for Kids, National Geographic Kids, in the USA Today, and 100’s of regional TV, radio and newspapers across North America!
Catch 3 performances each day – Friday and Saturday.
Celebrity Chefs’ Kitchen
From the fiery echoes of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” to the triumph of Olympic legend Jesse Owens, these 25-minute stories celebrate the people and moments that shaped our home and our nation. With more than 100 stories presented across the festival, history comes alive the way it was meant to be—one story at a time.
Experience these powerful moments in remarkable settings, including replica venues of Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church, and the East Room of the White House.
Hear firsthand accounts from the giants of 1776—Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Abigail Adams—and discover the hidden Alabamian threads woven into the American story. From the soaring bravery of the Tuskegee Airmen to Gálvez and the Gulf—the Revolutionary War battle fought in Alabama Territory—these stories connect our state to the larger American tapestry.
Short, powerful, and unforgettable—each story invites you to step into the moments that defined a nation.
Art Experiences
Inside the Portrait Gallery of Independence Hall, visitors can experience a special exhibition honoring America’s 250th birthday. The gallery will feature the winners of the statewide Expressions of Freedom painting contest, newly created works inspired by the 250th, a commemorative quilt crafted by quilting guilds across Alabama, artwork on loan from museums across the state, and original pieces from the American Village collection.
Kids’ Zone
At Sweet Home 250, children won’t just watch the celebration — they’ll jump right into the action. The Kids’ Zone is packed with hands-on fun, interactive learning, and high-energy entertainment designed to spark imagination and excitement all day long.
Young guests can enjoy:
★ A lively puppet show filled with patriotic storytelling
★ An action-packed, interactive reenactment of Paul Revere’s Ride
★ Classic festival games, including cornhole and giant Jenga
★ Thrilling stunt dog show that will have the whole family cheering
★ Up-close encounters with some incredible birds featuring the Auburn University Raptor Center
From lively entertainment to larger-than-life games and live animal experiences, the Kids’ Zone blends fun, learning, and freedom in a way only Sweet Home 250 can.
Bring the whole family — because celebrating America’s 250th birthday should be just as magical for kids as it is for grown-ups.
