New Year's Day
Jan. 1, 2023 | 2:30-3:00pm (Eastern)
2 Lincoln Memorial Cir. NW
Washington, D.C. 20002
This New Year’s Day marks the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation – that momentous document that liberated people held in bondage in rebel states. To mark this occasion and to reflect on 160 years of civil rights progress, the National Bell Festival invites bells to resolutely toll 160 times.
Leading this bell ringing tribute will be Campaign Cabinet members of the National Bell Festival’s new bell tower project to be announced on New Year’s Day. Sixteen individuals will each toll a special bell 10 times, amounting to 160 distinct tolls. With each reverberation, we get nearer the promise of our Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal – a potential, even now, not fully realized.
Join us on the steps.
This special bell ringing tribute will resound at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. Festivalgoers are invited to gather on the steps of the Memorial and the adjacent Reflecting Pool to listen as we pay tribute to 160 years of history.
- Listen to an abridged reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Hear a bronze bell, cast in 1863, ring out over the Reflecting Pool.
- Enjoy a surprise appearance by special guests.
- Be the first to hear about a new bell tower planned for Washington.
Note: This is an outdoor event. Please bundle-up and dress appropriately for the weather. Anywhere on the Memorial grounds will be a wonderful place to hear the bell tolling, particularly the eastern side. We recommend finding a cozy perch in the surrounding paths and lawns. Choose a comfortable seat tucked into a marble wall or step, or spread a blanket for a tasty picnic as the bell rings out for freedom.
Notice of Photography
Photography and filming taking place at BellFest may incidentally capture your image. By accessing our events, guests grant the The National Bell Festival, Inc. permission to utilize their image, appearance, and statements in audio, video, or photographic form without further authorization or compensation.
Image: The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
