This New Year’s Eve, the Washington Monument will transform into a massive birthday candle to kick off a yearlong celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Freedom 250, a nonprofit launched by President Trump earlier this month to lead the semiquincentennial festivities, will light up the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with patriotic projections starting Wednesday. The display will tell the story of America’s founding and history.
“The illumination of the Washington Monument marks the beginning of a momentous year for our nation — 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” said Keith Krach, CEO of Freedom 250. “We invite every American — and every friend of America — to join this historic celebration of the triumph of the American spirit.”
Earlier this week, Freedom 250 began testing the light show. Projections on the monument included “250” and stars in red, white, and blue honoring George Washington. According to the group, viewers can also expect scenes of Washington crossing the Delaware River and Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World.
A “sweeping visual narrative” of America’s founding and history will be projected every night through January 5. On opening night, the monument will glow as a 250-foot birthday candle, accompanied by a New Year’s Eve countdown and a large-scale fireworks display at midnight, filling the National Mall with a “powerful visual finale.”
Freedom 250 hopes the display will create a “shared national moment” for Americans and serve as the first of several major events celebrating the nation’s founding. Other marquee events include the Great American State Fair in June, a national prayer gathering in May, and the Patriot Games in the fall.
President Trump has also teased additional spectacles, including a triumphal arch across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial and a UFC match on the White House grounds.