STURBRIDGE, Mass. - This weekend, Old Sturbridge Village is celebrating Independence Day with a full slate of events honoring America's history. 

The celebration includes a traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence, and this year it came with a reminder of how important it is to stand up for those rights 246 years later.

"The rising threat of authoritarianism in our country is palpable," a speaker said before the rendition. "It is up to each of us to safeguard our Democracy. We can begin by exercising our right to vote and ensuring that everyone in America has equal access to the ballot box."

This weekend, visitors can also hear excerpts from Frederick Douglass' 1852 address 'What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?' 

On Monday, Director of Interpretations Rhys Simmons said dozens of people will arrive at Old Sturbridge Village to mark an important milestone in their own histories. 

"This year, we're going to be having somewhere north of 100 new citizens being sworn in as new citizens of the United States, which is a wonderful ceremony that we've been so fortunate to host the last about ten years or so," Simmons said.

Simmons said the Fourth of July is typically the busiest day of the year at Old Sturbridge Village, and while Saturday's weather made for a quieter afternoon, he expects Monday to bring another busy crowd. 

"We've become a tradition for so many families, but we also love those first time visitors that are looking to make this a tradition," Simmons said. "Hopefully we get both groups in and we provide a fun, engaging and educational opportunity for them to celebrate the Fourth."