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The Healey-Driscoll administration today unveiled an official How-to Celebrate Patriots’ Day Weekend Guide that details an extensive lineup of events planned across Massachusetts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first battles of the American Revolution.
Massachusetts will celebrate the milestone with events that honor unity, history, and the enduring spirit of revolution and liberty.
The comprehensive weekend event guide, available on the state’s Massachusetts250.org website, includes transportation options, safety information, and key visitor resources.
“This anniversary is a chance for Massachusetts to remind the world where the fight for liberty began,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a prepared statement. “Patriots’ Day weekend invites us all to reflect on our past, honor those who stood for freedom, and celebrate the values that continue to shape our democracy today.”
250th events
Here are some of the upcoming events celebrating and commemorating Patriots’ Day weekend, such as reenactments, parades, original plays, scavenger hunts:
April 12
• Bedford: Liberty Pole Capping Reenactment – An event honoring the colonial practice that signified dissatisfaction with British rule and support for independence
• Lincoln: The Capture of Paul Revere Reenactment – Minutemen will march along Battle Road and narrate the historic capture complete with fife and drum, a dramatic reading, and musket fire.
April 16-18
• Acton: Isaac Davis Trail March Commemoration – March to honor the Acton Minute Company leader, who led his men to Concord to join the colonial troops
• Boston: Paul Revere’s Ride to Revolution Commemoration – This historic tour will travel the Freedom Trail in Boston and highlight the city’s story as a colonial town headed toward a fight for independence.
• Boston: 250th Anniversary Lantern Service at Old North Church – Lantern Service in honor of the famous “one if by land, two if by sea” lighting at the church.
• Boston: Lanterns and Luminaries 2025 with Ken Burns, Old North Church – A unique event filled with commemoration, inspiration, and celebration; filmmaker Ken Burns will accept the Third Lantern Award. (Sold out, waitlist available)
• Boston: The American Revolution: An Evening with Ken Burns Presented by the BSO & GBH – Preview event for Burns’ film at Symphony Hall, including musical performances, a behind-the-scenes conversation with Burns, and more (Sold out)
• Concord: Screening of “The American Revolution” with Ken Burns – Preview of Burns’ film at Concord-Carlisle High School (Sold out)
• Concord: Patriot vigil – Lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and a recitation of the names of the soldiers who gave their lives in the first battle of the American Revolution
• Lexington: Paul Revere’s Ride Reenactment at Hancock-Clarke House – The live reenactment, at the Hancock-Clarke House, is free and open to the public.
• Lexington: Screening of “The American Revolution” with Ken Burns – Preview of Burns’ film at Memorial Hall in Lexington (Sold out)
• Lynnfield: Shadows of 1775 – An original play about the story of Lynn End
April 19
• Lexington and Concord: Dawn battles reenacted at Lexington Green and Concord’s North Bridge
• Lexington: USS Lexington Ceremony – Celebration of the five U.S. Navy vessels named for “USS Lexington” in honor of the town of Lexington
• Lexington: Lexington Bicentennial Band Concert – Featuring music from the American Revolution, including premieres by Daniel Lutz and Dr. Andrew Boysen
• Lexington: Lexington’s 2025 Patriots’ Day Parade – Fun-filled family afternoon featuring a parade with reenactors, marching bands, floats, fife and drums, clowns, dancers, dignitaries, celebrities, and the Shriners
• Lexington: 111th Patriots’ Day 5-Mile Road Race
• Concord: Bridge Ceremony, Block Party, Free Admission at the Concord Museum, and Drone Show – North Bridge ceremony, a Concord250 block party (following the morning parade), and free admission to Concord Museum all day, plus events at the Minute Man National Historical Park all day, and Concord250 presents a “Patriot’s Light Drone Show” at night
• Agawam: 18th Century Encampment and Muster – Agawam Historical Association presents an 18th-century encampment and militia muster at the historic Thomas Smith House.
• Norwood: Commemoration and Reenactment – Old Parish Preservation Volunteers will hold an event to honor 60 men from South Dedham (present-day Norwood) who served in the initial battles of the American Revolution.
• Sudbury: March to Concord – Sudbury companies of Militia Minutemen march from Sudbury Center, passing through Wayland, concluding at the North Bridge in Concord.
• Townsend: Minutemen March to Concord – Reenactment featuring two-mile march from the common via the rail trail to Harbor Pond, where Revolutionary War era activities await.
• Westford: Candlelight Tribute – Patriots’ Day candlelight tribute at Westlawn Cemetery will honor Westford’s Revolutionary War heroes.
April 20
• Arlington: Battle of Menotomy Reenactment – Commemorating the historic retreat of British troops to Boston
April 21
• Boston: Boston Marathon – The world’s oldest annual marathon marks its 129th race.
• Boston: Red Sox home game – For the 67th straight year since 1959, the earliest first pitch of the season at Fenway Park will be thrown on Patriots’ Day.
• Concord: Battle Road Anniversary Hike – Immersive 4-mile guided hike of the Battle Road trail to Fiske Hill led by National Park Rangers
• Lexington: Scavenger Hunt – A self-guided Revolutionary-themed scavenger hunt around Lexington Green for children
• Norwell: Old Scituate Reacts: Patriots Day 1775 Interactive Play – The Scituate and Norwell Historical Societies will host “Old Scituate Reacts: Patriots’ Day, 1775,” a play based on both towns’ response to the first shots of the American Revolution.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism recommends planning ahead by arriving early, packing food and water, and booking tickets in advance when possible. For those interested, local hotel listings can be found with the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit North of Boston, and Meet Boston to help alleviate travel concerns.
To help attendees get to and from celebrations easier and limit congestion in towns like Lexington and Concord, where parking is limited, the MBTA will offer special services to and from Arlington, Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, and other towns on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20. For more information about the MBTA’s service plans for Patriots’ Day weekend, visit the 250th Celebrations Guide on the MBTA website.
For more information about Patriots’ Day weekend events and commemorations, visit massachusetts250.org.