Talbot County, Maryland

01/07/2026

Category: Partner Agencies County Manager’s Office

Special Screening and Panel Discussion to Kick Off Talbot County’s 365th Anniversary Year and the County’s Celebration of the Nation’s Semiquincentennial

The Talbot250 Commission invites the public to the Avalon Theatre for The American Revolution: The Spirit of Service, a special program celebrating the start of Talbot County’s 365th anniversary and the nation’s Semiquincentennial year. The event will take place Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and will feature a 31-minute screening and a live panel discussion moderated by Craig Fuller exploring what it means to serve: 250 fifty years ago, and now.

The evening will include selected moments from The American Revolution, the new Ken Burns documentary series directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, and written by Geoffrey Ward. The six-part PBS series chronicles how thirteen American colonies united in rebellion, fought for independence, and established a new form of self-government that would inspire democratic movements around the world.

Following the screening, Craig Fuller will moderate a discussion on the theme “The Spirit of Service”—the courage, sacrifice, and civic commitment that shaped America’s founding and continues to define community life in Talbot County today.

The panel will feature:

• Kathryn De Shields-Moon, Senior Public Relations Manager at Schell Games and Director of Programming for the Bellevue Passage Museum
• Pete Lesher, Chief Curator at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Vice President of the Talbot County Council
• Tim Boyle, Proprietor of Vintage Books

“This event embodies what Talbot250 is all about. Connecting our national story to our local one,” said Sarah Kilmon, Talbot250 Administrator. “The spirit of service that helped build a nation is the same spirit that continues to drive the people of Talbot County today.”

The American Revolution: The Spirit of Service marks the first in a series of Talbot250 programs leading for 2026, when the County will celebrate its 365th anniversary as well as the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation.

To learn more about the full documentary series, visit pbs.org/americanrevolution.

Event Details:
DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
TIME: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Avalon Theatre, Easton, MD
TICKETS AND REGISTRATION: Free and open to the public — Registration is encouraged: Register here

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Presented by Talbot250 Commission with financial support from Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area. In partnership with the Avalon Foundation, Talbot County Free Library, and The Talbot Spy. Screening support provided by Maryland Public Television.

talbot250 documentary