Fonthill Castle To Celebrate America’s 250th With Old-Fashioned 4th Of July Fun

DOYLESTOWN, PA – Fonthill Castle will celebrate the nation's 250th birthday with an afternoon of Star-Spangled fun.

The grounds of the National Historic Landmark will come alive on Saturday, July 4, from noon to 4 p.m. with outdoor fun, food, games, crafts, entertainment, live music, and historical activities, all to mark Independence Day.

Highlights of the day include a children’s decorated bike parade, obstacle courses and sack races, outdoor historic field games, antique bicycles, live musicians, crafts, balloon-twisting, face painting, and food trucks.

This year, historic re-enactors will join the celebration, making this a day to remember for the whole family. Guests can also visit the first floor of historic Fonthill Castle at any time throughout the event.

The activities kick off with a beloved decorated children’s bicycle parade at 12:30 p.m., where participating children bring their decorated bicycles to the grounds of Fonthill Castle and ride down the site’s legendary sycamore-lined driveway while receiving cheers from enthusiastic supporters.

The beloved decorated children's bicycle parade at the starting line. (Fonthill Castle)

Sack races are part of the fun. (Fonthill Castle)

The PA Wheelmen entertain with antique bicycles. (Fonthill Castle)

Throughout the day, live music will fill the air, performed by the Bucks County Quartets, the Delaware Valley Saxophone Quartet, and popular family-friendly performer Lolly Hopwood. In addition, the beloved PA Wheelmen will be on hand for their annual antique bike demonstration.

This year, members of the HM 17th Regiment of Infantry with Followers & Civilians, a reenactment group established in the early 2000s with a mission to relay experiences from the Revolutionary War, will stage living history displays and interpretation.

Not to be missed, the Mercer Museum will be on hand to present historical artifacts and documents from the "Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution" exhibition as they share stories of the Revolutionary War in Bucks County.

Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase food from a variety of vendors, including Big Poppa’s BBQ, Bonjour Creperie, Dough and Co., KC’s Funnel Cakes, and Kona Ice.

The grounds of the Fonthill Castle bustle with activity on the Fourth. (Fonthill Castle)

Tickets to Fonthill Castle 4th of July are $7 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 6-17), and $3 for children 5 and under. Guests can skip long lines by purchasing advance tickets at mercermuseum.org/july4. Tickets will also be available at the admissions gate.

The Fonthill Castle 4th of July event is sponsored by PECO, NJM Insurance, Bucks County Community College, Leading Edge Aviation, Inc., Quire, Monster Tree Service & Lawn Squad, William & Laurie Schutt, Linda B. Hodgdon, McNamara Landscaping, George & Janis Wozar, and Whitney & Chris Chandor.

Fonthill Castle is located at 525 E. Court Street, Doylestown, 18901. Limited on-site field parking is available via the Swamp Road (Route 313) entrance only. Walking or bike riding is encouraged for local guests.