With gratitude to our presenting sponsor

AdventHealth

Rise Up: America 250 in Motion

September 17, 2026 · Historic Downtown Windermere

Thank you for making this evening unforgettable

Our sponsors, neighbors, performers, volunteers, and community came together to celebrate America, honor local service, and support causes that change lives.

Our shared legacy

One remarkable night in Windermere

On September 17, 2026, our community gathered beneath the oaks in Historic Downtown Windermere for a moving celebration of America's 250th anniversary through ceremony, aerial artistry, music, and fellowship.

Community

Neighbors, partners, and volunteers together

$2,500

Raised for the Lone Sailor Division Sea Cadets

One Night

Of service, artistry, and civic pride

A night of purpose

Our community showed up

Together, we raised $2,500 for the Lone Sailor Division Sea Cadets, supporting leadership, citizenship, and youth development.

We were proud to honor Chief David Ogden during the event, joined by the Mayor of Windermere, the Town Manager, and our community partners.

The work continues as we raise funds for Challenge 22 to End Veteran Suicide.

America 250

A look at the artistry that inspired an extraordinary evening beneath the oaks.

Performance By:

Climbers Entertainment Group

Highlights from the evening

Service, recognition, and lasting impact

Austin Arthur, Event Chair, speaks into a microphone at the outdoor lectern. — A community brought together
Event Chair Austin Arthur welcomed neighbors, civic leaders, partners, and volunteers to a night rooted in service and American pride.

Chief David Ogden speaks at the outdoor lectern with Windermere leaders and community partners standing behind him. — Honoring Chief David Ogden
As part of Rise Up: America 250 in Motion, we were honored to recognize Chief David Ogden for his extraordinary commitment to service, leadership, and community. Surrounded by Windermere's mayor, councilmembers, town leadership, community partners, and friends, Chief Ogden was presented with a special award recognizing a life devoted to serving others.
Award inscription:
Presented to Chief David Ogden
In recognition of your unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and community. Your dedication to protecting others, supporting our veterans, and strengthening the community you serve embodies the very spirit of American service we celebrate during America's 250th anniversary.
Rise Up: America 250 in Motion
September 17, 2026 | Windermere, Florida

Lone Sailor Division Sea Cadets and community members gather around a ceremonial check for $2,500. — $2,500 for the Sea Cadets
The community's support made a $2,500 presentation to the Lone Sailor Division, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps possible.

Austin Arthur, Event Chair, speaks beside Chief David Ogden during the recognition ceremony.

Chief David Ogden receives his award during the recognition ceremony as guests applaud.

Community members hold a ceremonial $2,500 check for the Lone Sailor Division, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

Historic Windermere Town Hall beneath the oaks at night

The mission continues

Help us carry the impact forward

Thank you for helping us support the Sea Cadets and for continuing the effort to raise funds for Challenge 22 to End Veteran Suicide.

September 17, 2026

An evening to remember

The ceremony, community, and aerial artistry of Rise Up: America 250 in Motion.

Guests talk beneath string lights before the outdoor program begins.

Uniformed Sea Cadets gather beside the event welcome sign.

A volunteer speaks with Sea Cadets near the sponsor display.

Two smiling Sea Cadets stand beside the event sponsor board.

The Lone Sailor Division color guard stands beneath the trees with flags.

A man in a blue jacket greets a woman on the event lawn.

Three women smile together behind a black registration table.

Guests converse among rows of chairs before the ceremony.

Two technicians manage sound equipment at an outdoor table.

A seated audience fills the lawn in front of a white historic building.

A guest holds a small American flag above the seated crowd.

Four young guests pose together on the lawn.

A group of young guests smile with the event crowd behind them.

Four guests pose beside the illuminated performance structure.

A speaker addresses the seated audience beside the glowing aerial cube.

A man speaks from a lectern as colored light washes over the performance cube.

An evening speaker stands before the illuminated cube and seated guests.

Front-row guests applaud during the outdoor ceremony.

A speaker faces a large audience beneath strands of lights.

A bearded man speaks into a microphone at the outdoor lectern.

The speaker gestures toward the audience while holding a microphone.

Two men stand and applaud near the back of the gathering.

A speaker appears beside the glowing cube under a bright event light.

Audience members smile and talk between remarks.

Guests seated beneath string lights watch the evening program.

A man delivers remarks at the lectern with the Rise Up cube behind him.

Two presenters embrace beside the lectern during the ceremony.

A woman addresses the audience from the lectern on the lawn.

The Sea Cadet color guard advances toward the stage with flags.

Uniformed Sea Cadets carry flags into the ceremony area.

The color guard pauses near a small table in front of the glowing cube.

Sea Cadets stand at attention with the American and unit flags.

A woman sings into a handheld microphone outdoors.

The color guard stands behind a singer near the illuminated cube.

A singer performs on the lawn with the Sea Cadets behind her.

A woman sings beside a large tree as guests watch.

The color guard faces the stage while a woman in red stands in the foreground.

A man stands facing the flags during the formal ceremony.

A woman reads from the lectern with the color guard behind her.

A vertical view frames the lectern speaker between audience members and flags.

A woman delivers remarks with uniformed Sea Cadets behind her.

Audience members stand facing the stage during the ceremony.

A broad rear view shows standing guests facing the illuminated cube.

A man speaks alone at the lectern against green and purple light.

Another speaker addresses the crowd with the cube glowing behind him.

A close view shows a man reading notes at the lectern.

A speaker stands before rows of guests beneath the blue aerial rigging.

Families sit and stand near the white building as dusk deepens.

A large seated audience watches attentively in the blue evening light.

Rows of guests fill the lawn during the nighttime program.

A speaker appears at the far side of the lawn beside the lit cube.

A man and an older woman speak together at the lectern.

The man lifts a microphone while the older woman looks toward the crowd.

The pair at the lectern look upward during an onstage moment.

A speaker points above the audience as his companion follows his gaze.

The two presenters smile together under a bright stage light.

The man holds the microphone toward the older woman at the lectern.

An older woman speaks while the man beside her listens.

A woman in purple stands alone at the lectern before the striped cube.

The purple-clad speaker addresses the seated audience from center stage.

A line of civic and community partners assembles across the stage.

A uniformed official speaks at the lectern with community leaders beside him.

The uniformed speaker gestures as the group stands beneath the glowing cube.

Community partners stand in a line while remarks continue at the lectern.

A vertical view shows the uniformed official speaking beside other honorees.

Two men stand together at the lectern with a uniformed official nearby.

A wide nighttime view shows the full group gathered onstage.

Audience members seated in the front rows watch the recognition ceremony.

Uniformed guests and community members smile from the front row.

A man at the lectern gestures toward a uniformed official beside him.

The uniformed official and two presenters share the microphone onstage.

The onstage group listens as a presenter speaks from the lectern.

Community leaders form a semicircle around the lectern.

A presenter points across the stage while the group watches.

Two men exchange an item or handshake beside the lectern.

A presenter reaches toward a man at center stage during the recognition.

The gathered partners look toward the audience after the presentation.

A wide view captures the full group beneath blue aerial rigging.

A woman speaks into a microphone with several honorees behind her.

The woman continues her remarks as two men listen beside her.

Community partners pose across the stage after the recognition.

The full group stands shoulder to shoulder beneath the illuminated cube.

A close view shows a woman and two men sharing remarks onstage.

A woman speaks while the men beside her look toward the crowd.

The honorees and event partners line up for a group photograph.

Sea Cadets and community leaders hold a ceremonial donation check.

Guests photograph the Sea Cadets and presenters holding the check.

Uniformed Sea Cadets pose with the ceremonial check and event partners.

The check presentation group stands beneath the green-lit cube.

Cadets and community partners smile while holding the donation check.

A smaller group remains onstage after the check presentation.

A man with glasses speaks into a microphone beside two presenters.

The speaker gestures while civic partners stand behind him.

A large line of honorees faces the audience under stage lighting.

The recognition group stands together with the cube glowing blue behind them.

A man in a dark polo addresses the audience with a handheld microphone.

A second vertical view shows the speaker at the edge of the lit cube.

Aerial performers in matching light costumes line up beneath the rigging.

An aerialist holds a wide split high above the stage on blue silks. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerial performer extends horizontally from blue silks under magenta light. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist hangs inverted with one leg extended beside the silk. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

A performer balances across taut aerial straps under a bright spotlight. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist climbs a red silk in a vertical nighttime portrait. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

A performer wraps around a red silk beneath purple stage lighting. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist curls around blue silks high above the dark lawn. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

Three aerialists perform simultaneously on suspended silks. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist arches backward while suspended beneath red light. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

A performer hangs inverted above the illuminated geometric stage. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist forms a compact inverted pose beside the glowing cube. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

A performer extends into a split while holding a loop of red silk overhead. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

An aerialist stretches into a wide horizontal pose on blue silks. — Photo by Mike Eng, Orange Observer

Presenting Sponsor

AdventHealth

Made possible by our gracious sponsors

The Observer Media Group

Abney Insurance Agency

Windermere Police Foundation

Stars and Stripes Marketing Services

Challenge 22

State Farm — Jo Barsh, Agent

Daughters of the American Revolution — West Orange, FL

Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165

Affluence Media Group

Windermere Garden Club

Luxury Mini Golf

Artificial Grass & Pavers Outdoor

Sand to Stars Counseling

Our gracious food and beverage sponsorship partners:

Windermere Brewing Company

Fresco Cucina Italiana

Tim's Wine Market

Made possible by our gracious sponsors

The Observer Media Group

Abney Insurance Agency

Windermere Police Foundation

Stars and Stripes Marketing Services

Challenge 22

State Farm — Jo Barsh, Agent

Daughters of the American Revolution — West Orange, FL

Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165

Affluence Media Group

Windermere Garden Club

Luxury Mini Golf

Artificial Grass & Pavers Outdoor

Sand to Stars Counseling

Our gracious food and beverage sponsorship partners:

Windermere Brewing Company

Fresco Cucina Italiana

Tim's Wine Market