08/12/2026
So much happening this weekend!
The Town of Bennington Announces 2026 Battle Day Celebrations Honoring America’s Longest Celebrated Revolutionary War Battle
The Town of Bennington proudly announces plans for the 2026 Battle Day celebrations, continuing a tradition that has endured since 1778. For nearly two and a half centuries, the community has gathered to commemorate the Battle of Bennington — the longest continuously celebrated battle of the American Revolution.
The Battle of Bennington, fought on August 16, 1777, was a decisive Patriot victory that helped turn the tide of the war. Although the engagement took place just over the New York line, the British objective was the Continental supply depot located where the Bennington Battle Monument now stands. A combined force of Vermont fighters, regional militia under Gen. John Stark, and the Continental regiment of Green Mountain Boys led by Col. Seth Warner defeated the raiding force before it could reach its target. The victory paved the way for the British surrender at Saratoga two months later, altering the course of the war and the future of the world.
Bennington’s commitment to honoring this history is unmatched. Celebrations have taken place every year since 1778, and past commemorations have drawn national attention. President Rutherford B. Hayes joined the festivities in 1877, and President Benjamin Harrison attended the 1891 dedication of the Bennington Battle Monument — still Vermont’s tallest man made building at 306 feet.
The Bennington Fire Department continues its longstanding leadership in organizing Battle Day weekend, including the community’s signature Sunday parade. Plans and updates for the 2026 celebration will be posted on the Town website as they become available, and residents are encouraged to subscribe for notifications. With the 250th anniversary of the Battle approaching, the Town invites the public to learn more at Bennington250.org.
2026 Battle Day Weekend:
Festivities begin on August 8 and continue through Battle Day weekend through the 16th. Events include Basket Bingo at the Elks Club, a Car Cruise In with Hemmings, the beloved Fireman’s Lunch, Chicken Barbecue, Vegas Night, Big Truck Night, Kids Day at the Vermont Veterans Home, the USS Bennington Memorial Service, a Food Truck Festival downtown, a comedic play “First Link in the Chain” at the Bennington Theater, and an America 250 concert by Sage City Symphony and the Music Company Orchestra. The Battle Day Parade steps off at 12:30 pm on Sunday, August 16, with participant line up beginning at 10:00 am. Applications for floats, groups, and marching bands are available online. Details on timing are available on the Town website at benningtonvt.org/battleday.
At the Bennington Battle Monument, visitors will enjoy free admission to all Vermont State Historic Sites on August 16. The annual 5K race takes place on August 15, followed by a weekend encampment featuring reenactors, cannon and musket demonstrations, and a concert by the historic Moodus Drum and Fife Corps — a tradition dating back 135 years to the Monument’s dedication.
Across the state line in New York at the Bennington Battlefield in Walloomsac, guided tours will be offered hourly on August 15, leading visitors through key locations of the First Engagement. On August 16 at 6:00 pm, a formal commemoration marking the 249th anniversary of the battle will include historical accounts, a wreath laying, and an artillery salute.
The Old First Church will host a Battle Day anniversary service on Sunday, August 16 at 10:00 am. The hour long program will feature historical readings and reflections by writer and historian Phil Holland, along with hymns honoring the spirit of the day.
The Town of Bennington invites residents, visitors, and history enthusiasts to join in celebrating this enduring tradition and the pivotal moment in America’s fight for independence. Additional details are available on the Town website at benningtonvt.org/battleday. You can subscribe to the page to receive notices when it is updated.
