Washington And His Troops Ready For Christmas Day Crossing

UPPER MAKEFIELD, PA — The stage is set for the 73rd Annual Crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day.

At about 1 p.m. Gen. George Washington, portrayed by John Godzieba, will muster the troops on the banks of the Delaware and depending upon weather conditions will embark for New Jersey aboard four large Durham Boats.

Visitors can expect plenty of pomp and pageantry as the sound of cannon fire echoes through the river valley and the fife and drum transport the village back to that fateful night in 1776 when Washington embarked on what is one of the most famous military maneuvers in world history.

As the troops prepare to board the Durham boats for the Christmas Crossing, Washington, will evoke the words of Thomas Paine's "The Crisis," to rally his soldiers.

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” he will tell the troops gathered on the banks of the Delaware. “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

Canon fire fills the air as the troops make their way across the Delaware. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

About 2,400 men from the Continental Army formed for embarkation on December 25, 1776. Various regiments and companies of soldiers straggled in from the north, south and west. Troops that were encamped several miles away made their way down an icy wagon road with their weapons, ammunition and personal belongings, not knowing if they would return.

In total darkness, they silently boarded the boats and cast off from shore with General Washington and his staff looking on with great determination.

The annual re-enactment held each December commemorates the courage of Washington’s troops and the sacrifices they made for the freedoms Americans now enjoy.

The 73rd annual Christmas Day crossing takes place from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 25 wih the actual crossing at approximately 1 p.m. The Christmas Day crossing is free, and it is recommended that visitors arrive before 1 p.m. to ensure a good place along the viewing line.

River crossings are contingent upon safe conditions for participants. However, even if conditions do not allow for crossing, ceremonies, speeches and commemorative activities still occur.

Washington Crossing Historic Park is located at the intersection of Rts. 532 and 32 (River Road) in Bucks County. To stay up-to-date on what is happening in the park, visit WashingtonCrossingPark.org.

Fast Facts

• 2025 marks the 73rd modern-day crossing re-enactment.
• A Durham Boat weighs 4,600 pounds empty
• On average, 200 reenactors take part in the Crossing re-enactment each year.
• Grace Kelly’s brother and famed Olympic rower John B. Kelly Jr. portrayed General Washington from 1978 to 1984.
• The bicentennial Crossing In 1976 attracted about 20,000 to 26,000 spectators and it was the first year a woman - Ann Hawkes Hutton - officially participated in the re-enactment.
• Ice was so thick on the river in 1980 that reenactors marched across the bridge rather than cross the river in boats. The actual river crossing has been cancelled a number of times since then due to weather conditions, including ice, strong currents and drought conditions.
• Two Olympic torches have crossed the river in Durham boats, one on Feb. 3, 1980 for the Lake Placid Olympics in New York and the other on Dec. 23, 2001 for the Salt Lake City Olympics in Utah.
• In July 2005, contestants on CBS’s “The Amazing Race” rowed across the river with a George Washington impersonator in their boats.
• In 2026, the nation will mark the 250th anniversary of the first crossing in 1776.