16th Annual Declaration of Independence Reading & July 4th Celebration. Join the Ringwood Manor staff as we celebrate the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence! The highlight of our celebration is the delivery of the Declaration by a horse & rider to the front steps of Ringwood Manor where it is read aloud to the crowd gathered on the front lawn. Our celebration includes celebratory musket firing by our reenactors*, raising of the Hopkinson flag,18th century games & toys, colonial dancing, colonial items and baked goods to purchase, drill with the militia, a historic flag display, sign your own Declaration of Independence with a quill pen & ink, historic display about Ringwood's own Robert Erskine, and free watermelon slices for all visitors! *Please note that the loud noise from the musket fire may scare young children and pets. The event is free. State park entrance fee applies: $5 per car parking for in-state vehicles, $7 per car out-of-state vehicles. Ringwood Manor will be open to the public for self-guided viewing from 10am to 1:30pm only to allow for event to proceed at 2pm. $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, children 5 and under are free. Participants in the day include: NJ Militia- Heard's Brigade, the 35th Royal Sussex Regiment, Outwater's Militia, the Friends of Long Pond Ironworks, The Georgian Kitchen-Sugar Loafe Baking Company, the North River Historical Dancers, Oakland Historical Society, Ed Van Finn, artist T. Stonefield, Lady Ellen's Fine Wares, members of various reenactments units, and individual volunteers.