Children pull on ropes to ring the historic bells at the Tanner House Museum on July 4, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Aurora Historical Society)

The 53rd Independence Day Ringing of the Bells at the Aurora Historical Society’s Tanner House Museum will be held from 12:30 to 1:30pm on Sunday, July 4.

Because of the COVID pandemic, the event will be a scaled-down version of the society’s usual family picnic.  Officials hope to return to the full event in 2022.

The event will be entirely outdoors since the museum is not yet open.  Elements like the petting zoo, magician performance, pie-eating contest and hot dog picnic will not be staged this year.   Masks will not be required for those fully vaccinated but social distancing will be requested.

Activities will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a blues performance by singer-songwriter Bradley Keven Green, composer of “Blues for Aurora”, and an all-ages treasure hunt.  Colors will be presented by the Roosevelt-Aurora American Legion Post 84 and there will be a poetry reading and short remarks.

At precisely 1 p.m., the hour designated nationwide, children will be invited to pull the ropes of the three historic bells on the grounds.

Singer-songwriter Bradley Keven Green performs on the porch of the Tanner House on Sunday, July 4. (Photo courtesy of Aurora Historical Society)

Visitors will encounter Lady Liberty, Uncle Sam, a teenage Tanner daughter, and others.

Bell-ringing on the Fourth of July has been an Aurora Historical Society tradition since 1968.  The commemoration was initiated by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

For more information go to aurorahistory.net.  For a complete video walk-through of the Tanner House, visit aurorahistory.net/tanner-tour/.