Ridgefield Remembrance Parade And Ball To Honor Battle Of Ridgefield For America 250

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield’s Revolutionary War history will take center stage this weekend as the Cannon Ridge Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, hosts a Remembrance Parade and Ball honoring those who fought in the Battle of Ridgefield — the only inland Revolutionary War battle in Connecticut.

The events, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, are part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration marking 250 years since the nation’s founding.

The day begins with a free Remembrance Parade stepping off at noon along Main Street, starting at the War Memorial at Jesse Lee Church and concluding at Ballard Park. Organizers say the parade is intended to bring together residents and visitors to reflect on the sacrifices made during the 1777 battle.

See Also: Archaeologists Dig Into Ridgefield’s Revolutionary Past With Battle Site Discoveries Across Town

Participants will include reenactors and civic groups such as Gold’s Dragoons of Westport, the Governor’s Horse Guards, the Mt. Kisco Pipe and Drum Band, and members of organizations including the Sons of the American Revolution and local Scout troops.

At Ballard Park, a wreath-laying ceremony will honor American patriots and veterans who fought for independence, with additional wreaths recognizing Lt. Col. Abraham Gould — killed in action during the battle — and British soldiers who also died in the fighting. Families are invited to place flowers at the memorial site, with flowers available on location.

A Night of Remembrance

Later that evening, the sold-out Remembrance Ball will bring guests together in black tie, military dress or period attire. The event will feature remarks by author Keith Marshall Jones III and an address by U.S. Military Academy official Major Kevin Fleming titled “Courage, Community and Consequence; a Reexamination of the Battle of Ridgefield.”

Organizers say proceeds from the ball will support local initiatives, including scholarships for Ridgefield students, grants for veterans through Sierra Delta, and programs at the Ridgefield Historical Society.

A Young Chapter With a Growing Impact

While the national organization behind the event — the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution — dates to 1890, the Cannon Ridge Chapter itself is relatively new, founded in 2021 despite Ridgefield’s deep Revolutionary War roots.

See Also: Man The Barricades! Actors To Reenact The Battle Of Ridgefield

In just a few years, the chapter has established a range of local initiatives, including scholarships for Ridgefield High School seniors, Constitution Week programming, veterans support efforts and historic preservation projects.

Members have also documented the lives of dozens of Revolutionary War veterans buried in town and helped maintain their gravesites, reflecting a broader mission centered on education, patriotism and preservation.

That mission aligns with the national DAR organization, one of the largest patriotic women’s service groups in the country, with roughly 190,000 members across thousands of chapters. According to its website, the group focuses on historic preservation, education and service to veterans, while also maintaining extensive genealogical and historical collections in Washington, D.C.

A Community Tradition in the Making

For Ridgefield, where Revolutionary War history is woven into the town’s identity, organizers say the Remembrance Parade and Ball are designed not only to honor the past, but to bring the community together in the present.

The parade is open to all, with organizers encouraging residents from Ridgefield and surrounding communities to attend and participate.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the weekend’s events offer a local lens on a national story — one that began, in part, on Ridgefield’s own streets.

For information on The Remembrance Ball and Parade or to make a donation, go here.