Nearly 250 years ago, the bell that would become known as the Liberty Bell was hidden beneath the floorboards of Zion’s Reformed Church in what is now Downtown Allentown. It remained there for nearly nine months while British troops occupied Philadelphia.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Allentown will bring that history back into the streets with the inaugural Liberty Bell Festival.
As British troops approached Philadelphia in September 1777, American authorities feared the city’s bells would be seized and melted down for ammunition. The bells were secretly transported north by wagon, including the State House Bell that would later become known as the Liberty Bell.
The bell was concealed beneath Zion’s Reformed Church in Northampton Towne, now Allentown, until the British evacuated Philadelphia in June 1778.
The free Liberty Bell Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Hamilton Street between 4th and 7th streets in Downtown Allentown.
The day begins with a flag-raising ceremony at Allentown City Hall, followed by a historic processional through downtown. The celebration will continue with live music from The Swingtime Dolls, Seth Witcher, Antar Goodwin Band and The Weekenders, plus food, drinks, artists, makers, local businesses and community organizations.
For more about the Liberty Bell’s journey and Allentown’s role in protecting it, read Lehigh Valley Public Media’s history of the Liberty Bell in Allentown.
Liberty Bell Festival Details
- Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Location: Hamilton Street between 4th and 7th streets in Downtown Allentown
- Admission: Free and open to the public
A replica of the Liberty Bell can still be seen at 622 W. Hamilton Street, where the original bell was hidden during the Revolutionary War.
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