The nonprofit America250 has announced a July 4 concert in Los Angeles to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence, presenting an alternative to President Donald Trump’s planned celebrations in Washington, D.C. The event, titled America’s Block Party, will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and feature performances by the Smashing Pumpkins, Chris Stapleton, and Queen Latifah as host and promoter. Ticket prices have been set at $17.76, with additional performers expected to be announced.

America250, established by Congress a decade ago to oversee planning for the semiquincentennial, has organized multiple “block party” events across the country, including in Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; New York; and Milwaukee. The group’s chair, Rosie Rios, a former Treasury official under the Obama administration, emphasized the event’s goal of uniting Americans around shared values during the milestone anniversary. The organization also runs a charitable initiative called "Giving 4th."

Simultaneously, other states and cities are staging their own celebrations. Philadelphia's "One Philly: Unity and Comfort for America" event, free to the public and also scheduled for July 4, will include performances by Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jill Scott, the Roots, Seal, and Wanda Sykes. Meanwhile, in Washington last weekend, the Ultimate Fighting Championship held a series of mixed martial arts matches on the White House lawn in an event loosely connected to Independence Day and Trump’s 80th birthday.

The America250 concert adds another layer of complexity to an already fragmented semiquincentennial celebration, which has been marked by confusion, particularly regarding Trump’s involvement and the fate of his own events. The president’s group, Freedom 250, launched in December, plans to hold the Great American State Fair on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10. The fair is designed to resemble a World’s Fair with pavilions for each state and territory, along with concerts. However, the Smithsonian Institution, which traditionally hosts its Folklife Festival during this period, was displaced.

Following the announcement of the fair’s initial lineup, several artists, including Martina McBride, Young MC, the Commodores, and Bret Michaels, withdrew, citing concerns about political partisanship and misrepresentation of the event’s nature. Trump responded with criticism of the performers and announced plans for a separate rally initially scheduled for June 24 but later moved to July 4, with some performances still set for the original date.

Freedom 250, a branch of the National Park Foundation, describes itself as nonpartisan but has faced scrutiny over alleged preferential treatment of major donors and event decisions that appear to align with the president’s agenda. Additionally, at least seven states have opted out of participation in the Great American State Fair, citing budget concerns.

In contrast, America250’s announcement made no reference to the controversies surrounding Trump’s events. Queen Latifah, promoting the Los Angeles concert, characterized the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate the anniversary “with great music, real energy and a purpose that reaches far beyond the stadium.”