National Bell Festival

The National Bell Festival is an annual New Year's Day celebration in the United States.

[3] The two-day festival begins on New Year's Eve with the 'Ring around the World' event, starting with bell towers nearest the international date line (typically, New Zealand and Australia).

All are invited to participate by ringing bells at their local churches, community centers, parks, and memorials.

Carillon performances, change ringing peals, and handbell concerts contribute to the sound.

Past spotlight nations include: The goal of the project is to promote cross-cultural understanding while also demonstrating how bell ringing is a shared human experience across linguistic, regional, and political divides.

Frederick Douglass IV and a bronze bell at the Lincoln Memorial
Frederick Douglass IV reads an abridged version of the Emancipation Proclamation next to the 1863 Fulton bell on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the National Bell Festival on Jan. 1, 2023.