ADRIAN — The City of Adrian is commemorating its 200th anniversary with a four-day bicentennial celebration featuring live music, historical exhibits, a time capsule ceremony, and community-wide events from July 3–6. The Adrian Bicentennial includes activities at Comstock Park, downtown landmarks, and cultural institutions.
The bicentennial festivities were planned by the City of Adrian and community partners to highlight the city’s rich cultural heritage, civic pride, and historical milestones. Events span multiple locations and honor Adrian’s traditions in music, sports, arts, and local history.
The celebration kicks off Thursday, July 3, with a 6:30 p.m. ice cream social hosted by Mark’s Trading Company, followed by a joint performance by the Adrian City Band — the second-oldest in the nation — and the Lenawee Community Chorus.
On Friday, July 4, at noon, the 1975 time capsule will be opened at Comstock Park and rededicated by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Artifacts will be displayed at the Adrian District Library. From 2 to 7 p.m., the Croswell Opera House will offer open house tours, silent film screenings, a historical talk, and a backstage experience. Commissioner Mary Roberts will lead a historic walking tour at 5 p.m. with a stop at the Adrian Armory. Fireworks conclude the evening at 10 p.m.
Saturday opens with the Bicentennial Bolt 5K at 8 a.m. and a Parade of Homes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. At noon, a vintage-style baseball game at Island Park will pay tribute to Adrian’s 19th-century Negro League team, the Page Fence Giants. The River Raisin Ragtime Revue runs from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Planewave campus with free shuttle service. At 9 p.m., the Revue will debut a new original composition — Maple City Rag — written by William R. Hayes.
Sunday’s events include the final Parade of Homes from 9 a.m. to noon and the ceremonial burying of a new time capsule at Comstock Park at noon. Community members may submit letters or mementos for inclusion. A community picnic with games, giveaways, and free ice cream from Spotted Cow will run from 12–2 p.m. on the Armory lawn.
Residents may submit time capsule contributions at City Hall, the Adrian District Library, or the Lenawee Historical Museum.
The new time capsule will be sealed until 2075. The bicentennial celebration marks a milestone for Adrian and emphasizes long-term investments in cultural memory, civic identity, and public participation.