(WHTM) \u2014 Pennsylvanians will be seeing America250PA everywhere this year.<\/p>\n
Just this month, it\u2019ll host free concerts with big headliners in Erie, Hershey, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh. Those are just some of its signature events to celebrate the United States\u2019 250th anniversary \u2014 or as some call it, semiquincentennial.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you want to be really cool \u2026 we\u2019re gonna say semi quin,\u201d said Cassandra Coleman. The former Exeter mayor joined America250PA as its executive director in 2018, when the state legislature established the commission.<\/p>\n
America250PA is the state-focused branch of the national America250 organization. There are 49 others like it, but Coleman said Pennsylvania has played the biggest role in American history. It is, of course, where it all started.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we will fight our state partners on that,\u201d Coleman said.<\/p>\n
About than $20 million has gone into the commission thanks to a mix of donations and state dollars. The eight-year timeline should indicate the effort going into the celebrations, which don\u2019t end on July 4, by the way.<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to stay up to date with events across all 67 counties. Plus, watch Coleman\u2019s interview on \u201cThis Week in Pennsylvania\u201d to learn how the commission is securing its events during a hot tourist season.<\/p>\n Every week, \u201cThis Week in Pennsylvania\u201d gives a comprehensive look at the week\u2019s biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.<\/p>\n