Block Party

"We the People"

Prince George's

250

This event is part of a series that celebrated Prince George’s County’s history, arts, culture and more as we commemorated and observed the United States’ Semiquincentennial – the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence.

At the We the People Block Party, attendees enjoyed performances, live music, film screenings, panel discussions, activities, games, demonstrations, food and drink local to Prince George’s County and the DMV region.

We hope you were able to join us for an inclusive observance of the 250th Anniversary that recognizes all Marylanders’ struggle for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness before, during, and after the Revolution. Prince George’s County’s history is American history!

A full recap of the day’s events is listed below.

WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bowie Center for Performing Arts & Branch Library, 15200-15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie MD, 20715

On Saturday, May 30th, 1,500+ people, 60+ organizations, and over 30 performers participated in the PGC250 “We the People” Block Party at the Bowie Center for Performing Arts, the Bowie Branch Library and the outdoor bandwagon stage. The event is part of a series to celebrate Prince George’s County’s history, arts, culture and more as we commemorate and observe the United States’ Semiquincentennial – the 250th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

In this inclusive observance of the Semiquincentennial in Prince George’s Couty people were able to enjoy and explore performances, live music, film screenings, panel discussions, information tables and historical artifacts, arts activities, games, food & drink local to Prince George’s County.

The event began with John McCaskill as the emcee at the main stage with a Piscataway Acknowledgement and Piscataway Indian Nation Dancers performance. This was followed by a welcome by organizers. Jayla Elise sang the National Anthem and performed the official Maryland 250 song, “The Heart of Maryland” and “America’s Calling.”

The Fritete African Drumming & Dance Group hosted a community drumming circle and then the Odyssey Band played an epic set of psychedelic funk. The Maryland 250 Commission’s executive director, Michele Johnson then announced the Prince George’s MD250 Citizen Academy awards highlighting 11 municipalities that had taken part in the initiative. The main stage closed with a performance & sing along by This Could Go Boom!, a nonprofit organization that supports gender diversity in music.

In the Bowie Center for Performing Arts facility, there were three separate venues for activities. In the lobby, the National Black Cultural Information Trust hosted a display of Living Legacy: 250 Years of Culture Pop-Up Experience. Tables with info on Maryland’s Boundaries and activities with Lady Aimee’s Fine Sewing & Sutlery also located in the lobby.

In the BCPA Black Box Theater, Prince George’s Arts & Humanities hosted a film screening of 33 Black Frog: An American Story, which chronicles the inspiring journey of one of the first African Americans to defy systemic racism and societal barriers to become a pioneering Navy Underwater Demolition Team “frogman.” Next, the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission screened recorded interviews that are part of a M-NCPPC initiative to have a record of remembrances, thoughts, and ideas for the future, from the senior citizens in the Prince George’s County region. To round out the afternoon, the Prince George’s County Public School’s Media Arts Students screened their films as well.

In the BCPA Proscenium Theater, there were theatrical and dance performances. The first was “In Our Eyes: A Tapestry of Hyattsville’s History” presented by Yard Dramas, Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic and Hyattsville Aging in Place. This ensemble, of area elders, wove personal narratives into a single show that celebrates diversity while acknowledging that countless more voices and stories remain to be heard. Then, Ampersand 250, a musical and storytelling group who brings the music of the American Revolution-era to current audiences, performed a lively, interactive program, featuring songs of historic songs and the stories behind them.

Joe’s Movement Emporium, a nonprofit cultural arts hub and workspace that acts as a catalyst for creativity and economic opportunity across the region, presented the Black Leaves Dance Company, an all-Black, all-male, queer-inclusive dance company specializing in modern ballet. “Through Our Eyes” took the audience on a journey through time, where music, dance, culture, and history are amplified by “black magic”. Closing out a day of excellent performances, the Taratibu Youth Association (TYA) performed a South African Gumboot dance, song, Taratibu a Pan African Drill, and spoken word, as they told stories of survival and empowerment.

In the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Bowie Branch Library, the focus of the day was on the history and legacy of all Prince Georgians. In the lobby of the library, there were information tables hosted by Prince George’s County Historical Society and the Prince George’s County Genealogical Society. Regina’s Black Artifacts Pop Up Museum, a statewide nonprofit, created a comprehensive display of Black life, entrepreneurship, entertainment, and history through artifacts, reproductions, and displays that encouraged attendees to dig into the contributions of African Americans to American life.

Throughout the day, panel discussions featured diverse experiences through time of people from Prince George’s County. The first panel was coordinate by the M-NCPPC American Indian Program that illuminated Indigenous Culture past and present. Next a panel, titled “Echoes of the Enslaved,” included Douglas McElrath (UMD 1856 Project) and Kevin Porter (White Marsh Historical Society) examining the intense involved of the Roman Catholic Church and institutions of higher learning in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Then a Civil Rights Panel, featuring Shay Dawson (researcher, Prince George’s Civil Rights Trail), Dr. Dennis Doster (M-NCPPC Black History Program), and Mayor Petrella Robinson (Town of North Brentwood) as they discussed the experiences of Black Marylanders as they fought against segregation and for equality during the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1964). Next, Dave Hindman provided a multi-media presentation created by the Maryland Daughters of the American Revolution on the Battle of Brooklyn in August 1776, the Revolutionary War’s 1st battle that engaged the Maryland Militia, and how the “old line” state came to be. And the day ended with Regina’s Black Artifacts Pop-Up Museum Performance by the White House Studios who traced the history of dance, mirroring the museum’s timeline: From Enslavement to the White House.

People streamed in all day from shuttle buses, creating a festive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. On their way to and through the Block Party and into either the Performing Arts Center or the Branch Library, there were several activity hubs created in the parking lot, such as the Government of & by The People, History Hub, The Study (Inside the Library), Play Zone, Creative Corner, Trucks & Food & Drinks.

The Government of & By the People Hub included the City of Bowie Bike/PED Safety group, PFLAG Bowie, Bowie Community Exchange, Preservation Maryland, M-NCPPC Public Affairs, Pr. Geo.’s Office of Human Rights, UMD Extension Master Gardener, Promise of Democracy Foundation, Voter Registration MD Two Fifty Commission, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, MD Department of Environment, WAMU.

The History Hub included M-NCPPC Historic Sites, City of Bowie Museums, Afro-American Historical and Genealogy Society-PGCMD, Pr. Geo’s Lynching Memorial Project, National Capital Radio & TV Museum, Sankofa IMPACT, Inc., UMD’s 1856 Project, Gov. Robert Bowie DAR Chapter, White Marsh Historical Society.

The Play Zone featured M-NCPPC Arts on a Roll, M-NCPPC Lawn Games, NPS History Mobile, VR-SC Virtual Reality, the Washington Nationals Mascots and a Moon Bounce.

In the Creative Corner, we saw activities with Maryland Humanities, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Performing Arts Center for African Cultures, Piscataway Nation Jewelry, Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, The Write Women, Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council, Prince George’s Genealogical Society.

In the Trucks section, the PGCMLS Library2Go Truck was there, M-NCPPC Placemaking Division, Sankofa Mobile Museum were also there for people to engage with.

Food & Drinks on site included Renays Brownnee Bar, Plot Twist Mocktails, Meat My Buns, Cookin’ Cousins, Bill’s Backyard BBQ, Smoken Lo’s BBQ.

Overall, the event was successful and a reminder that Prince George’s History is American history!

Special thanks to: M-NCPPC’s Department of Prince George’s Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System & the Bowie Branch Library, Maryland250 Commission, City of Bowie, Prince George’s Arts & Humanities Council, Mayland Center for History and Culture and all the people who made this initiative event a success.

Media

The Diamondback Newspaper, June 2, 2026: https://dbknews.com/2026/06/02/prince-georges-county-americas-independence/

WTOP, May 28, 2026: https://wtop.com/things-to-do-in-dc/2026/05/things-to-do-in-the-dc-area-project-glow-petworth-porchfest-and-more/

Main Stage Schedule

11:00 a.m. | Event begins with Piscataway Acknowledgement

11:05 a.m. | Piscataway Indian Nation Dancers performance
The Piscataway Indian Nation Dancers will perform a series of dances to open the full day of activities on the main stage.

11:30 a.m. | Organizers/Elected Official’s welcome

12:00 p.m. | Performance of “The Heart of Maryland” and “America’s Calling” by Jayla Elise
Originally from Prince George’s County, Jayla Elise is a Dorchester County singer-songwriter. She will perform two songs, “The Heart of Maryland” and “America’s Calling” as part of PGC250’s kick-off event. In 2026, The Heart of Maryland was nominated to become the official Maryland State Song.

12:15 p.m. | Community Drumming by the Fritete African Drumming & Dance Group
The Fritete African Drumming & Dance Group is a part of the Performing Arts Center for African Cultures. They will provide Community Drum Circle, Interactive Call & Response Games, and an African Dance Demo.

12:45 p.m. | Event Announcements by Emcee John McCaskill

1:00 p.m. | Performance by the Odyssey Band
The Odyssey Band is a local band that formed at the University of Maryland, College Park. They are a psychedelic rock band that plays an eclectic range of music in the DMV.

1:45 p.m. | Event Announcements by Emcee John McCaskill

2:00 p.m. | Citizen Academy Awards from MD 250 Commission
The Maryland250 Commission provided funding for the Citizen Academies throughout the state. Be sure to witness history as Citizen Academy Awards are provided at the end of this momentous event.

2:15 p.m. | Performance and Sing Along with This Could Go Boom
Join This Could Go Boom! is a nonprofit organization that supports gender diversity in music and strives for gender equity in music. They will host a sing-a-long and live music performances at the PGC250 Block Party.

3:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks/Event Ends

Bowie Center for the Performing Arts Schedule

IN THE LOBBY

11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Living Legacy: 250 Years of Culture Pop-Up Experience
The National Black Cultural Information Trust, Inc. will host activities showcasing 250 Years of African American cultural arts and history through take home activities, coloring books, children’s books, storytelling, and cultural vending.

BLACK BOX THEATER FILM SCREENINGS

12:00 p.m. | PGAHC Film Screening

2:00 p.m. | M-NCPPC Senior Film Screening
The Senior Film Screening is a 250th M-NCPPC initiative to have a record of remembrances, thoughts, and ideas for the future, from the senior citizens in the Prince George’s County area. Many of the questions were around their thoughts for the 250th anniversary, including what it means to be an American, what the 250th means to them, and what they envision for the future.

PROSCENIUM THEATER PERFORMANCES

12:00 p.m. | In Our Eyes: A Tapestry of Hyattsville’s History. Hope Through the Ages, by The Hyattsville Aging In Place (HAP) community and other residents aging in place in Prince George’s County
“Each of us has a story to tell, and we all have a role to play in writing our collective story.” “Cada uno de nosotros tiene una historia que contar, y todos tenemos un papel que desempeñar en la escritura de nuestra historia colectiva.”

“In Our Eyes: A Tapestry of Hyattsville’s History” brings to life the past, present, and future of Hyattsville and the surrounding area by featuring stories from residents aged 60 and older. Supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, this ensemble worked with Yard Dramas to weave these narratives into a single production that celebrates our diversity while acknowledging that countless more voices and stories remain to be heard.

1:00 p.m. | Music of the New Nation/The Colonial Singers
Ampersand 250th & Music of the New Nation is a musical and storytelling group of musicians who bring the music of the American Revolution era alive. Ampersand’s special concert program honors the 250th commemoration of the Declaration of Independence, and features songs and tunes of the new nation, particularly those written by contemporaries at the time. They share the stories behind the songs they’ve chosen. The program is lively and interactive, celebrating colonial music from 1730-1830.

2:00 p.m. | Joe’s Movement Emporium Presents: Black Leaves Dance Company’s “Through Our Eyes”
Through Our Eyes will take you on a journey through time, where music, dance, culture, and history are amplified by “black magic”. From the birth of dance to the songs and events that defined a generation, this show will transport you through the decades, moving and inspiring you.

Black Leaves Dance Company is an all-Black, all-male, queer-inclusive dance company specializing in modern ballet, highlighting the stories and perspectives of Black men in America and exploring themes related to identity and self-actualization: questions of masculinity, sexuality, religion, and race.

2:30 p.m. | Taratibu Youth Association
Joe’s Movement Emporium presents: Taratibu Youth Association’s “Wahalelela (Lord You Are Holy) – South African Gumboot”

Join us for music, dance, and storytelling that celebrates the culture and history of Africa and African Americans in the diaspora! Taratibu Youth Association (TYA) is a non-profit, young people’s performing arts program that creates transformative experiences through the performing arts for African American youth and young adults. Come and experience a performance of South African Gumboot dance, song, Taratibu a Pan African Drill, and spoken word, as they tell stories of survival and empowerment.

Bowie Branch Library Schedule

11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Informational Tables & Museums
Prince George’s County Historical Society
Prince George’s County Genealogical Society
Regina’s Black Artifacts Pop Up Museum

12:00 p.m. | Indigenous Culture Panel

12:45 p.m. | Echoes of the Enslaved Panel
Janis Hagey (Founder of Sankofa IMPACT, Inc.), Kevin Porter (President of the White Marsh Historical Society), and Doug McElrath (Advisory Board Member on University of Maryland’s 1856 Project) will examine the Echoes of the Enslaved in Prince George’s County, including the Transatlantic Slave Trade along the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers, the Roman Catholic Church’s development in the United States, and the abolition of slavery in Maryland.

They will describe the cultural continuum between the African diaspora and our rich cultural heritage and ultimately encourage the audience to explore the connection between this history and contemporary issues, especially today.

1:30 p.m. | Civil Rights Panel

2:15 p.m. | Maryland Militia Talk

Join Dave Hindman to learn about the Battle of Brooklyn in August 1776, the Revolutionary War’s 1st battle that engaged Maryland troops, and how the old line state came to be.

2:45 p.m. | Regina’s Black Artifacts Pop Up Museum Performance

Activity Hubs Schedule

11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Throughout the day, the PGC250 Block Party will host informational tables and activities broken out by section. Be sure to stop by and see what all of these groups have to offer and engage in the games and activities they have planned.

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE HUB
The City of Bowie Interactive Bike/Ped Safety Workshop
Maryland Department of Environment
MD Two Fifty
Preservation Maryland
Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights
UMD Extension Master Gardener Program
PFLAG Bowie
Bowie Community Exchange
M-NCPPC Public Affairs
2 Voter Registration Groups