A Historic Weekend in Elizabeth
Celebrate 250 years of American history in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with a weekend of historic tours, family reunions, and commemorative events from October 15 – 19, 2026. Explore historic landmarks, discover ancestral connections at the Old First Cemetery Descendants Reunion, and experience the city’s Revolutionary-era heritage through guided tours, historical reenactments, and cultural gatherings. The celebration culminates on October 18 with the Elizabethtown Cocktail Reception, Dinner & Ball, an immersive evening featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, an elegant dinner, live music, and dancing. Join the festivities to honor the people, places, and stories that helped shape Elizabeth and the nation.
The Old First Cemetery Descendants Reunion
Every Family has a Beginning
Elizabeth, New Jersey, one of America’s earliest colonial communities, is home to generations of families who helped shape the city and the nation. Old First Cemetery, one of New Jersey’s oldest burial grounds, honors ministers, soldiers, civic leaders, merchants, artisans, and families, as well as free and enslaved African men, women, and children whose contributions were essential to the community. Together, their stories reflect Elizabeth’s shared history of hardship, resilience, freedom, and achievement.
All descendants and friends are warmly invited to join us for this unforgettable Homecoming Weekend, October 15–19, 2026.
Reunion Schedule
October 15, 2026: Welcome & Hospitality
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Check-in at Elizabeth-area hotel (group rates through GoElizabethNJ250)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Descendants Welcome Reception: An evening of welcome, ceremony, music, fellowship, and networking as descendants gather and connect with one another
October 16, 2026: Old First Cemetery Descendants Reunion – Heritage & Remembrance Gathering
Location: Elizabeth I Kellogg Building, Union College of Union County, W. Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
10:00 AM: Welcome & Introductions
Opening remarks, introductions, and an overview of the Descendants Reunion
10:30 AM: Panel Discussion
A conversation exploring the people, history, and stories connected to Old First Cemetery and Elizabethtown
11:30 AM: Breakout Conversations
- Genealogy 101 – Discovering and documenting your family history
- Elizabeth's Role in the Revolutionary Period – Exploring the city's people, places, and contributions
- The Evolution of the Minuteman – Examining the history and legacy of this Revolutionary-era symbol
12:30 PM: Light Lunch & Descendant Connections
Time for informal conversation, networking, and sharing family stories
1:15 PM: Interfaith Service of Remembrance at Old First Cemetery
A sacred gathering honoring the ancestors and remembering those whose lives and legacies are connected to this historic ground.
October 17, 2026: Discovering Historic Elizabethtown
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
A guided journey through sites that illuminate the people, events, and stories that shaped historic Elizabethtown
Bus Tour:
- Liberty Hall Museum
- Elizabeth Public Library: Sign Unveiling Ceremony for Red Lion Inn
- Boxwood Hall
- Belcher-Ogden Mansion
- Woodruff Farm
- First Presbyterian Church: Special Guest visit and Third New Jersey Regiment Re-enactment
Boxed lunched provided and tour will finish with a group photo.
6:00 PM
A conversation among descendants about preserving family histories, strengthening connections, continuing research, and building a lasting Descendants network beyond the 250th anniversary.
October 18, 2026: Worship, Fellowship & Celebration
10:00 AM: Sunday Worship at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church
Descendants and guests are invited to worship together.
12:00 PM: Lunch in Elizabeth
Enjoy lunch and fellowship at an Elizabeth restaurant of your choice before the evening celebration
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Elizabethtown Cocktail Reception, Dinner and Ball*
Conclude your Homecoming Weekend with the signature gala of Elizabeth Celebrates America 250. Following a weekend of discovering your family's history, walking the streets your ancestors once knew, and connecting with fellow descendants, join us for an unforgettable evening of elegance, fellowship, and celebration.
*Admission: Separate ticket required
The Elizabethtown Ball
Where History Comes Alive
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, step beyond the ordinary and into history at the Elizabethtown Cocktail Reception, Dinner & Ball. This is more than a gala. It is a once-in-a-generation, fully immersive experience celebrating the people, places, and stories that helped shape Elizabeth and America. Guests will journey through three historic landmarks, enjoy horse-and-buggy transportation, gather for an elegant cocktail reception, and conclude the evening with a historical engagement dinner, music, and dancing at the Elizabethtown Ball. Together, we will walk in the footsteps of those who came before us, honor Elizabeth’s remarkable legacy, and write another page in history.
Date, Time & Location
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 5:00PM – 10:00PM
Location: The Snyder Academy of Elizabethtown at 42 Broad St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
Ticket Information
For the price of $250 you can experience this signature Gala in Elizabeth! Join us for The Elizabethtown Cocktail Reception, Dinner & Ball, an elegant evening celebrating New Jersey's First Capital. Travel by horse-drawn carriage to the First Presbyterian Church and enjoy a festive Cocktail Reception followed by a commemorative dinner, and venetian hour dancing the night away at the Revolutionary Ball. Dress in Colonial Elegance and become part of a living portrait honoring the people, places, and stories that shaped America.
Dress the Part. Become Part of History.
For one unforgettable evening, Snyder Academy will be transformed into an elegant celebration of Revolutionary-era Elizabethtown. Guests are invited to become part of this living portrait of America's 250th Anniversary by attending dressed in Colonial-Victorian era inspired attire. Whether you choose simple black tie / formal attire, or authentic 18th-century clothing, military dress, descendant family attire, or elegant formal wear with colonial-inspired wigs and accessories, your participation will help bring history to life.
Suggested Attire
- Authentic 18th-Century (Colonial-Victorian) Period Attire
- Military Dress Uniform
- Colonial-Inspired Formal Wear
- Black Tie Optional
- Garden glam encouraged — Choose shoes that love the lawn: wedges, flats & block heels are your friends!
Together, we will create an unforgettable evening where history truly comes alive!
An Evening to Remember
5:00 PM: Cocktail Reception
Meet at Siloam Hope First Presbyterian Church to raise a glass and connect with friends, old and new. Enjoy hors d'oevres, signature cocktails, and historical exhibits.
7:00 PM: Dinner
Savor a beautifully prepared dinner as we honor Elizabeth's rich history and the people who shaped our nation
8:45 PM: The Ball Begins
Ride in a horse and buggy to Snyder Academy of Elizabethtown to join the historical ball. Step back in time as the music begins and the ballroom comes alive. Indulge in delightful desserts, fine coffee, and meaningful conversation. Celebrate the night with fellowship, laughter, and dancing as we create memories to last a lifetime.
America 250th
The Elizabethtown Cocktail Reception, Dinner & Ball is the signature gala of Elizabeth Celebrates America 250 and a part of Union County's Four Centuries in a Weekend celebration.