The Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) has announced a sponsorship from the Louise Steinman von Hess Foundation supporting the illumination of all 26 bridge piers of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge on Sunday, June 28, as the grand finale of Riverfest. The lighting will commemorate the Civil War burning of the bridge and mark the local region's place in America's national narrative.

Through the foundation's support, this will be the first time all 26 bridge piers have been lit simultaneously since the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in 2013. In prior years, SNHA and its heritage partners were only able to illuminate three piers at a time for Riverfest.

Riverfest commemorates the June 1863 burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, when outnumbered Union troops and local volunteers set the wooden covered bridge ablaze to prevent Confederate forces from advancing east into Lancaster County. The action halted the invasion and forced Confederate troops to retreat west. Two days later, the Confederates clashed with Union forces at the Battle of Gettysburg.

The 2026 Riverfest celebration takes place during a landmark year of anniversaries: America's 250th anniversary and Columbia's 300th anniversary. To mark the moment, SNHA has expanded programming and experiences that connect local stories to the larger American narrative.

Riverfest will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28, along the Susquehanna River in Columbia and Wrightsville. For more information, visit http://www.susqnha.org or http://www.riverfestpa.com.