ILLUMINATION 250 Festival and DRONE Show presented by Visit Delco

Visit Delco Presents ILLUMINATION 250 Festival
Celebrating America’s 250th birthday in Haverford Township

Grand Finale choreographed lighted DRONE SHOW to illuminate the evening sky. Plus Live Music, Food, Crafts, Inflatables.

WHEN: Saturday, August 29, 2026 12pm to 9:00 pm
WHERE: Haverford High School Football Stadium – 200 Mill Road, Havertown, PA 19083

2026 Marks the 250th Anniversary of America. In Haverford Township we are celebrating the semiquincentennial milestone with a series of FREE festivals.

The signature event, ILLUMINATION 250, will take place Saturday, August 29th at the Haverford High School Football Stadium with a Spectacular Lighted Choregraphed Drone Show after a day of Live Music, dancing, children’s activities, crafters, food trucks and more.

BUSINESSES – Act NOW to be included in this Historic Event!
Contact Cindi Rooney 610-996-0841 or https://kellycenter.org/illumination-250-fest-sponsorship/

Main Stage Highlights (Times To Be Announced)

Independence Fife and Drum Corps Mark Beecher’s Award-Winning, INDEPENDENCE FIFE & DRUM CORPS – is BACK!!! Founded in 1972 by Multi VFW National Snare Drum Champion, William H. Reamer and Lancraft Fife & Drum Corps fifer, Edmund Boyle, our renowned Independence Fife & Drum Corps, that performed for Queen Elizabeth, President Ford, the President of France, King of Sweden and the King of Spain, is planning a series of special events for the 250th Anniversary of America in 2026, which will include Parades, Musters, and many other high profile gigs!

U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Sailors will participate in the opening ceremony and U.S. National Anthem at 12 Noon. Military Funeral Honors consists of two or more members of the armed service, one from the parent service, playing Taps, folding and presenting the American flag to the veteran’s family.

Belle Tones Join these All American Beauties as they sing and dance their way into your heart. Often called the Twenty First Century Andrews Sisters, The Belle Tones celebrate music’s great harmonic girl groups with class, panache, and fun. Their impressive repertoire includes songs from the 1920’s to the 80’s and such styles as country, Broadway, jazz and holiday classics. The girls also have a special place in their hearts for our veterans and those currently serving in our military honoring them through patriotic songs.

Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society Drew Nugent is a jazz musician and composer from Philadelphia. His primary instruments are piano, trumpet, voice, and believe it or not, the tea kettle! Nugent and the band specialize in playing in the traditional \”hot\” jazz style of the 1920s. His band, known as the Midnight Society, is regarded as one of the best in the business, and has been together for over 10 years. Under Drew\’s leadership, they bring forth an authentic, yet original approach to an art form over 100 years old. Nugent\’s inspiration comes from a who\’s who list of great performers, composers, and musicians, both obscure and known going back a full century. Although a lot of this music may seem forgotten in many circles, it is alive and well with Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society.

Upper Darby Shooting Stars will perform a very special America 250 show. Since 1998, the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation has been dedicated to enriching the lives of young people and residents through educational programming, arts opportunities, and community service. Home to the award-winning Upper Darby Summer Stage and Schoener MusicMan Academy, the Foundation annually welcomes 800 young people and entertains more than 26,000 members of the community through dynamic performances and programming.

Del’s Groove is an 8 piece party band that regularly packs the room with hits and packs the dance floor all night. Del’s Groove boasts an amazing horn section, plays the hits from top 40 pop, classic rock, Yacht Rock, Motown, oldies, swing, jazz, and more. Their ILLUMINATION 250 Festival performance will celebrate America’s most influential and loved popular music performers.

Frank Sinatra Tribute Rich DeSimone performs as the legendary American entertainer known as The Chairman Of The Board! The music of Frank Sinatra comes to life! Francis Albert Sinatra, nicknamed \”Ol\’ Blue Eyes\” and \”Chairman of the Board\”, was an American singer and actor who influenced 20th century entertainment. Born to Italian immigrants in New Jersey, Sinatra\’s career spanned over five decades and included 1,800 recordings and multiple Grammys. He was known for promoting American popular songs from the 1920s–1940s, and for pioneering the concept album by sequencing songs to create a specific mood.

The Peeks & Dustin Duo will be covering music from American Country music’s superstars like Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Luke Combs to name a few. From country and rock to pop and soul, The Peeks & Dustin Duo offers a versatile live music experience with something for everyone. Combining their diverse musical backgrounds, Peeks and Dustin create a sound that’s both polished and authentic. With Peeks on vocals and guitar and Dustin’s dynamic guitar work, their natural chemistry shines through in every song.

Basic Cable I want my MTV! Relive the glory years of MTV (when they played music) with Basic Cable. Basic Cable brings you the Golden Age of MTV. With a mix of New Wave, synthpop, rock, and dance-pop, Basic Cable takes you back to when MTV brought you the music and the look and will keep you dancing all night long. This four-piece powerhouse with male and female lead vocals recreates the music from all your favorite music videos from the 80s and brings a fun-filled and immersive audience experience. Say it loud: I Want My MTV!. Basic Cable band members Dylan McGuire, Kristen Conrad, Richard Sebolt, and David Weisner bring decades of musical experience to the stage. All have played in prominent original and tribute bands on the biggest stages across the tri-state area. All band members have affection for the diverse sounds and looks of the ’80s and are committed to re-creating those sounds on stage.

Drone Show – Celebrating America’s 250 Years, the USA 250 committee is proud to present Haverford Township’s first ever Drone Show. 300 lighted Drones will fly in formation for a spectacular choreographed Grand Finale.

Thank you Business Sponsors: PA Lottery , Green Mountain Energy, Green Star Exteriors, Aqua, an Essential Utilities Company, Haverford Twp Democratic Committee, WSFS Bank, Castle The Window People, Mister Softee, R&D Specialty Foods LLC,Wilt\’s Berries, CertaPro Painters of the Main Line, Wilson\’s Secret Sauce, Passanante\’s Home Food Services, https://kellycenter.org/illumination-250-fest-sponsorship/

Thank you Family Sponsors: Stephens Family, Nancy Cohn, John Rakshys

ILLUMINATION 250 is a FREE Admission event. Donate if you can.

Haverford Township’s USA 250 Celebration is an unprecedented collaborative effort in Haverford Township in cooperation with representatives from its major non-profits. Planning Committee includes:

Dave Burman, Haverford Township Manager
Dr. Matthew Hayes, School Superintendent
Judy Trombetta, Commissioner
Tom Kelly, Kelly Music for Life
Jeanne Angell, Discover Haverford
Sarah Cazella, Discover Haverford
Maryanne Olson, Haverford Library
Mary Bear Shannon, Haverford Library
Jesse Hubley, HTEAMS
Kate Clifford, Historical Society
Kathy Parkinson, Historic Grange Estate
Brian Barrett, Parks and Recreation
Eileen Mottola, Parks and Recreation
Rick Miller, Kelly Music for Life
Dr. Gail Farally Semerad, Haverford Civic Council
Nicole Fichera, HTEAMS
Katie Koch, Haverford YMCA

ILLUMINATION 250 FESTIVAL is produced by 501c3 non-profit Kelly Music for Life and the Kelly Center for Music, Arts and Community in Havertown, PA. in cooperation with the 250 Festival Committee.

DONATE TO SUPPORT. https://kellycenter.org/