CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — Looking for a Fourth of July celebration that goes beyond fireworks? The Mill at Anselma is inviting families to experience Independence Day, where history comes alive, with colonial demonstrations, live music, hands-on activities, and public readings of the Declaration of Independence at one of Chester County’s oldest working landmarks.
On Saturday, July 4, the National Historic Landmark will host a full day of patriotic programming as part of its Family Demo Day series. Visitors can watch the millstones turn inside the continuously operating 18th-century grist mill, learn about colonial life through live demonstrations, and enjoy family-friendly activities spread throughout the historic property.
One of the day’s highlights will be two public readings of the Declaration of Independence at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. as part of the Dare to Declare program, sponsored by the Chester County Community Foundation. Throughout the day, guests can also watch a beehive bake oven demonstration led by the mill’s historian and take guided tours of the historic mill.
The celebration also features live music from the Lenape Brass Band from noon to 1:30 p.m., along with patriotic children’s crafts, face painting, Revolutionary-era spy map activities, a scavenger hunt, lawn games, and walking trails along Pickering Creek.
Stoltzfus Sweet Treats will be on-site serving premium ice cream, milkshakes, and coffee. Each admission includes a complimentary cupcake while supplies last.
“The Mill at Anselma has been part of this community for almost 280 years,” said Bernie Greenberg, chair of America 250 programming at the Mill. “On a day like July 4, there is no better place to connect with that history. You can see the millstones turn, hear a brass band, and listen to the Declaration read aloud at a site that was already standing when those words were written.”
Originally established in 1747, The Mill at Anselma remains one of the few continuously operating historic grist mills in Pennsylvania. Today, it serves as both a working museum and educational center, offering year-round demonstrations and programs celebrating Chester County’s agricultural and industrial heritage.
Event Details
- What: The Mill at Anselma Fourth of July Celebration and Family Demo Day
- When: Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: The Mill at Anselma, 1730 Conestoga Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425
- Cost/Tickets: $10 adults; $5 seniors and children; free for children under 4 and Mill at Anselma members. Free parking.
- More Info: www.anselmamill.org
Visitors can learn more about the Mill’s Family Demo Days, lecture series, and America 250 programming by visiting www.anselmamill.org.
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