Patriots' Day Reenactment Events Schedule - 2025

6:00am, Dawn Salute & Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the North Bridge

Church bells at 1st Parish Church toll at 5:45 to sound the alarm, and a reenactor portraying Dr Prescott arrives at the North Bridge after riding across the fields calling out the warning to towns and villages that the Regulars were on the march and that their destination was Concord. 

Concord Minute Men, Acton Minutemen, and Concord Independent Battery give a 21-gun musket and cannon salute, firing several volleys from the field at the Old Manse, to honor the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War. 

This is followed by a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating those who died there.

Location:  North Bridge, Monument Street, Concord

WESTFORD

6:30am - 8pm, Annual Patriots Day Gravesite Tour

Join a self-guided candlelit tour of the gravesites of Revolutionary War heroes at Fairview Cemetery.  This event starts with a short ceremony, and the tour itself begins at 7pm in the Old West Division near the gazebo.  Colonial interpreters will be available to answer your questions. 

Wear sturdy shoes because the ground is uneven in some areas and hard to see in the late evening.  Parking is available inside the cemetery. 

Find out more on the Westford website (click Events in the left sidebar)

Saturday, April 19 - Patriots Day Weekend

*LEXINGTON

9am, Minute Men Gather on Lexington Green

Location: Lexington Green. - In this reenactment of an event that took place AFTER the Battle of Lexington was fought on the morning of April 19, 1775, Captain Parker calls the Lexington Minutemen to arms on Lexington Green  for a ceremony at noon on at the Parker's Revenge Site. 

Then they march up Mass Ave to the battle site for a salute near Fiske Hill (Lexington).  After that, they continue on to the Parker's revenge site in Minute Man National Park and join the skirmish reenactment at around 1pm.

9am-5pm - Battle Green Guided Walking Tours & Trolley Tours, Lexington Green (Mass Ave, across from Town Library)

Guides in Colonial clothing provide fee-based 1-hour walking tours and information; check out the war memorial on the Green where 7 of the 8 Militia who died in battle on April 19th, 1775 are buried.  Get tickets (fees are charged) for walking tours and also for the 90-minute Liberty Ride Guided Trolley Tours at the Lexington Visitors Center (1875 Mass Ave, next to the Buckman Tavern; 781-862-1450; you can also find public restrooms here).

9:30am - 4pm, Tours of historic Lexington, Massachusetts sites

Buckman Tavern (1 Bedford Street; self-paced audio tours), Hancock-Clarke House (36 Hancock St; guide-led tours every half-hour starting at 10am), and Munroe Tavern (1332 Mass Ave, self-guided and guided tours starting at 12 noon; reenactors portraying British troops stop here during their retreat from Concord and tend to their wounded while plotting their next moves). 

Admission fees apply; tickets available at each site.  Hours may vary slightly at each site.  See the Lexington Historical Society website for details.

10am-12 noon, 2pm-5pm, Whittemore House (Behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Route 2A, Lexington) - Costumed park volunteers will show you what life was like in 1775.  Kids can try on colonial children's clothing, gather ingredients for a meal, and listen to stories about the Whittemore family and their experience on April 19, 1775.

12 noon, Parker's Revenge Wreath Laying Ceremony

Lexington Minute Men lay a wreath at the site of the Parker’s Revenge skirmish to honor of two of Parker’s militia, Nathaniel Wyman and Jedediah Monroe, who were killed on the afternoon of April 19, 1775. 

Location:  Battle Road off of Airport Road near the Minute Man National Park Visitor Center, Route 2A, Lexington.  

1 pm, Third US Infantry Regiment, Old Guard/CINC Guard Demonstration

This is a demonstration of Revolutionary War weapons and tactics. 

Location:  Tower Park (Mass Ave. between Pelham Road and Marrett Road)

Parking:  Scottish Rite Museum (33 Marrett Road), Lexington Children's Place (20 Pelham Road)

2:30 pm, Fife & Drum Corps Performance

The William Diamond Junior Fife and Drum Corps plays traditionals tunes.

Location:  Tower Park (Mass Ave. between Pelham Road and Marrett Road)

Parking:  Scottish Rite Museum (33 Marrett Road), Lexington Children's Place (20 Pelham Road)

3pm, Munroe Tavern, British Troops Arrive

British troops retreating from Concord arrive and occupy the Munroe Tavern, tending to their wounded and planning their next steps.  The Tavern will be open for tours. - Location: Munroe Tavern, Mass Ave (opposite Pelham Road), Lexington.

4pm-5pm, Tower Park Battle Demonstrations

Lexington Minute Men, Acton Minutemen, Stow Minutemen, Tenth Regiment of Foot, and other reenactors demonstrate American Revolution battle techniques, tactics, and weapons including the highlight: a working reproduction cannon. 

This event is partly a demonstration of battle tactics used by Colonial militias along Battle Road on April 19, 1775 and partly a reenactment of the battle that took place at Tower Hill when the Colonial Militia ambushed the retreating Redcoats.

Location:  Munroe Tavern and Tower Park, Mass Ave (between Pelham Road and Marrett Road), Lexington

Parking:  Scottish Rite Museum (33 Marrett Road), Lexington Children's Place (20 Pelham Road)

LINCOLN

9:30am-11:30am, Hartwell Tavern Open House (112 North Great Road)

Talk with living history interpreters dressed in eighteenth century attire. Learn about the experiences of the Hartwell Family on April 19, 1775 or talk about the civilian evacuation that preceded fighting along the Battle Road.

9:30am-11:30am, Smith House Open House (185 North Great Road)

Talk with living history interpreters dressed in eighteenth century attire.  Learn about the experiences of civilians caught in the storm of war on April 19, 1775.

You can also see how the Colonials spent their leisure time, and get a glimpse of what life was like in Massachusetts at the beginning of the American Revolution. 

Both Hartwell Tavern and Smith house date back to before 1775.  The program focuses on the experience of civilians on April 19, 1775. 

Once they leave the house (around 11:15pm), you'll probably see the Civilian reenactors on Battle Road Trail walking toward Lexington and the Minuteman Visitor Center, where they arrive right before the Parker's Revenge Battle Reenactment. 

11:30am, Hartwell Tavern, Civilian Evacuation & Elm Brook Hill Tactical Demonstration

The civilian evacuation scenario begins at the Hartwell Tavern at 11:45 and ends at the Parker's Revenge site, about 1.7 miles away.

In the tactical demonstration, hundreds of volunteer reenactors demonstrate the complex tactics used by Militia Soldiers and British Regulars along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775.  This program includes musket firing demonstrations, which are quite loud and can be upsetting to young children.

LINCOLN / LEXINGTON 

Battle Road Reenactments including Parker's Revenge Tactical Demonstration: Minute Man National Historical Park; starts at about 1pm and lasts for several hours

The Minute Man National Historical Park hosts some of the biggest events of the weekend, including the Hartwell Tavern tours, Elm Brook Hill demonstrations, and Battle Road Tactical Demonstration. 

Parker's Revenge Battle Reenactment is a major living history event at Minute Man National Historical Park featuring hundreds of volunteer reenactors wearing mostly hand-made historically accurate period clothing and uniforms as they portray British Regulars and the Colonial Militia as they engaged in the running battle near the Whittemore House that took place on April 19, 1775. 

The Parker's Revenge Reenactment is one of the largest of the Patriots Day events, with hundreds of reenactors, horses, lots of muskets being fired, and plenty of battle action (many of the photos of reenactors on horseback in this article and our Patriots Day article were taken during this stirring event).

At 1pm, Captain John Parker's Lexington Minute Men recreate the ambush on a British column near the Lincoln/Lexington line conducted in revenge for their members killed or wounded by the British during the Battle on Lexington Green on the morning of April 19, 1775. 

You'll get to experience the events from a variety of viewpoints, and also get glimpses of Colonial domestic life during this tense period. 

The key event is a fast-paced tactical demonstration of the fight along a restored stretch of the original Battle Road which cuts through the park. 

You'll need to stand behind barriers in special viewing areas for safety reasons.  This event includes musket fire, smoke, and other immersive features.  The musket fire feels quite realistic so please be advised that small children may find it scary, especially since it is very loud.. 

After the demonstration, you'll have the chance to talk with the volunteer reenactors portraying colonial the civilians forced to leave their homes, minute men who answered the sudden call to arms, British soldiers fighting for king and country and Loyalists who saw the struggle differently from their neighbors. 

Parking:  The largest parking area is in the lot behind Minuteman High School.  Additional accessible parking at the Minute Man Visitor Center Parking Lot at 210 North Great Road.  Although Hartwell Tavern has a small parking area at 112 North Great Road in Lincoln, it usually fills up quickly.  Park Rangers will be on hand to direct you. 

The walking distance between parking near Hartwell Tavern and the Minute Man Visitor Center is about 1.7 miiles each way.  No shuttles are available.  Wear sturdy walking shoes or boots because the ground is often muddy and squishy (and occasionally somewhat icy) at this time of the year, and it is also uneven in some areas. 

*ARLINGTON

12 noon-4pm, Jason Russell House Tours

Location: 7 Jason Street (at Mass Ave), Arlington - Jason Russell House, which was the scene of the deadliest fighting on the first day of the American Revolution, offers tours focused on Jason Russell and his family, including the "clash" between the retreating British Regulars and the local Minutemen in the Battle of Menotomy. 

Admission:  Tours are free this year, courtesy of Leader Bank.  Last tour starts at 3:30pm.

Find out more about what happened at the Battle of Menotomy

*BOSTON

1pm, 1:45pm, 2:30pm - A Visit with Paul Revere

Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, North End, Boston - Reenactor Michael Lepage brings Paul Revere to life as you learn about his Midnight Ride, his many children, and his work as a gold and silversmith.  Small admission fee applies.  See the Paul Revere House website for more events during school vacation week.  

*Sunday, April 20 - Patriots Day Weekend

CONCORD TO LEXINGTON

5:30am - Tough Ruck

Military personnel in partnership with the Boston Athletic Association (Boston Marathon organizers) will march for 26.2 miles along the Battle Road Trail in memory of fallen soldiers and as a fundraiser for the families of the fallen.  "Step off" is at the Fenn School at 516 Monument Street in Concord.  Come out and support them!  More info: Tough Ruck website

ARLINGTON

2pm - Battle at Menotomy

Location:  Along an almost mile-long stretch of Massachusetts Avenue, starting at Grove Street and ending at Medford Street, Arlington

Menotomy Minutemen, Danvers Alarum Company and Gardner's Regiment, Acton Minutemen, and reenactors portraying British troops will reenact the Battle of Menotomy along Massachusetts Avenue from the "Foot of the Rocks" area (now known as Arlington Heights to the historic Jason Russell House, built in the 1740s by Jason Russell from materials salvaged from his grandfather's home. 

The Battle at Menotomy is significant because it was the bloodiest and most deadly battle on Day 1 of the Revolutionary War. 

The battle happened as British troops headed back to Boston after failing to find they munitions they'd sought in Concord. 

Word of the "skirmishes" and deaths on Lexington Green and Old North Bridge had spread through the countryside and Colonial militias and Minutemen from 13 towns converged at the crossroads in Menotomy. 

A running battle ensued as the Colonials ambushed the Redcoats, who in turn, burned the farmhouses and barns.

The reenactment this year will be the largest to ever take place here.  Reenactors will be wearing colonial-style clothing and will be firing muskets. 

If you're planning to attend with babies or young children, please be aware that the muskets make a lot of loud noise and may seem scarey.

Streets around the reenactment site will be closed to traffic from 12pm to 5pm.

The battle will start at about 2pm, and is expected to last about 2 hours.

Spectators are asked to view the action from the north side of Mass Ave.  Please note that Mass Ave will be blocked off between Grove Street and Medford Street, and you will not be able to cross the blocked off area.  This map shows the details:

Jason Russell House continued to be occupied by members of the Russell family until 1896.  It is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and will be open for tours from 12 noon- 4pm on Saturday and Monday.

Arlington Patriots Day Parade

Normally (but not this year), the parade starts at Mass Ave and Brattle Street, and marches east along Mass Ave to Walgreens in East Arlington. Bands, fire engines, and many minute men, militia, and community groups march in the parade.

LEXINGTON

9am-5pm - Battle Green Guided Walking Tours and Trolley Tours

Lexington Green (Mass Ave, across from Town Library) - See description for Friday.

9:30am - 4pm, Tours of historic Lexington sites

Buckman Tavern (1 Bedford Street; self-paced audio tours), Hancock Clarke House (36 Hancock St; guide-led tours every half-hour starting at 10am), and Munroe Tavern (1332 Mass Ave, self-guided and guided tours starting at 12 noon)  Admission fees apply; tickets available at each site.  Hours may vary slightly at each site.

7pm, "House of Hancock" - Location:  Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square - History at Play presents a revolutionary musical about the life of John Hancock and with the thrill of Broadway's Hamilton.  Admission tickets available at Buckman Tavern.

*7pm - 8pm, Alarm and Muster of Lincoln Minute Men - Location:  Lincoln Public Library, 3 Lincoln Road, Lincoln - The Lincoln Company of Minute Men reenact events that happened just after midnight in the early morning of April 19, 1775, including the arrival of Captain William Smith by horseback to ring the bell in the White Church to warn the Colonists that the British Regulars are coming.  The event includes historical explanations, period music, a musket salute, and of course, the reenactment. 

9am-5pm - Battle Green Guided Walking Tours and Trolley Tours; Lexington Green (Mass Ave, across from Town Library) - See description for Friday.

9:30am - 4pm, Tours of historic Lexington sites:
Buckman Tavern (1 Bedford Street; self-paced audio tours), Hancock Clarke House (36 Hancock St; guide-led tours every half-hour starting at 10am), and Munroe Tavern (1332 Mass Ave, self-guided and guided tours starting at 12 noon)  Admission fees apply; tickets available at each site.  Hours may vary slightly at each site.

11:30pm - 12:15am - Paul Revere's Ride Reenactment: Arrival at Hancock-Clarke House

This is a dramatic reenactment of Paul Revere's and William Dawes' arrival on horseback just before midnight on April 18, 1775 at the home of Reverend Clark (now the Hancock-Clarke House) to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams about the planned British raid on the coming day. 

Location:  36 Hancock Street, Lexington

Worth noting:  You can see another reenactment on this famous event by the National Lancers as they recreate Revere's and Dawes' ride from Boston to Concord arrive in Lexington at around noon on Monday.

Monday, April 21 - Official Patriots' Day Holiday

As you will soon see, a large variety of reenactments take place on this day, and keeping track of what's going on in different locations can be confusing.  

You should consider all times to be approximate because in some cases, reenactors march for as much as 10 miles and converge from multiple starting points, so not everything goes according to the plan.

*STOW TO CONCORD

4:30am, March to Concord from Stow Reenactment - The Stow Minute Men gather at Stow Shopping Plaza at 4:15 and then march at 4:30am from Stow Lower Common to Old North Bridge, firing muskets and playing fifes and drums along the almost 10-mile route to awaken the townsfolk, arriving in Concord about 9am and then joining the parade.

The Stow Minute Men invite the public to join them on their march.  This is a rain-or-shine event.

More about the Stow Minutemen

*WESTFORD TO CONCORD

4:45am, Colonel John Robinson Trail March Reenactment - The Westford Colonial Minutemen reenact the 10-mile march made by the Westford militia and minute companies from Westford Town Common to Old North Bridge, where they join the Patriots' Day Parade.  They invite the public to join them for the walk, which reaches Concord at about 8am-9am. 

If you decide to do this, make sure you have a ride back, bring plenty of water and snacks, and wear appropriate clothing (does not need to be Colonial), as this march occurs rain (except perhaps during torrential downpours) or shine.  

Check the Westford Colonial Minutemen website for possible updates, especially in the case of heavy rain.

*ACTON TO CONCORD

5:30am, Acton Minutemen March from Isaac Davis Homestead to Old North Bridge

The Acton Minutemen start their annual reenactment march from the Isaac Davis homestead at 39 Hayward Road in Acton to Concord's Old North Bridge, where the British troops shot and killed Acton Minutemen members Isaac Davis, Abner Hosmer, and company fifer Luther Blanchard on April 19, 1775. 

The Minutemen will fire muskets at 6:20am as part of a ceremony at the Isaac Davis Monument across from Acton Town Hall, and then join other Minutemen companies and Militias in the 7-mile march to North Bridge, arriving about 8:30am - 9am for the battle reenactment. 

The Acton Minutemen invite the public to join them in their march from Acton to Concord. 

More about the Acton Minutemen

*LEXINGTON 

5:05am - Captain John Parker Order a Drill on Lexington Green & Civilians Evacuate

Captain Parker orders Lieutenant Tidd to drill some of his Lexington Militia company to prepare for the arrival of the British.  Historically, Lt Tidd did these drills near his house on the northeast corner of the Battle Green near Harrington Road.

At about 5:15am, you'll hear an audio that recreates the civilian evacuation of women, children, and older men from the Battle Green to wait in a safer area on the other side of Harrington Road until after the British column marches through town.

Location: Lexington Battle Green

5:30am, "The Alarm" at the Old Belfry

The Belfry that you can see today is an exact replica of the one that stood on Lexington Common in 1775 and that was rung at dawn on April 19 to alert to Minute Men to come to the Common because British troops were heading toward Concord. 

The ringing of the bell calls the Minute Men from Buckman Tavern where they spent the night after hearing Paul Revere's warning about the approaching British.  This marks the start of Lexington's historic Patriots' Day reenactment each year.

Location: Mass Ave and Clarke Street next to Battle Green, Lexington

5:30am, Battle on Lexington Green

Reenactment of the battle on Lexington Green (near Lexington Center) as the British Regulars passed through on their way to Concord, leaving dead and wounded behind on this first day of the American Revolution.  

Eight members of the Colonial militia were killed on the Battle Green during the "skirmish," as the British called it.  Features the Lexington Militia and British regulars.

Note:  The actual battle on April 19, 1775 started at 4:30 pm, but the reenactment is pushed back by an hour.  Arrive early (4am-5am) to get a good viewing location. 

Also please note:  If you attend this event, the Lexington Police Department requests you use clear or mesh bags to carry large personal items, and please limit the use of backpacks and large containers. 

At 5:45am on the Green, the Lexington Minute Men Company provides a 10-minute explanation about what you'll see as the battle unfolds.

By 6am, you'll begin to hear the Redcoats coming from the east side of the Green, and the Patriots coming from Buckman Tavern (that's the yellow building across the street from the Green). 

As the events unfold, the Patriots, led by Captain John Parker, block the path of the British.  Major Pitcairn, leader of the British troops, swings his sword and says, "Lay down your arms, you damned rebels" - and the war begins with the "shot heard 'round the world." 

Although it is not clear which side fired the first shot, many more followed it, leaving 8 Minute Men dead and 10 wounded. 

The British continue on their march toward Concord.

6am-10am - Pancake Breakfasts in Lexington

Locations:  St Brigid's Church (2001 Mass Ave), First Baptist Church (1580 Mass Ave) - Like all important events in New England, the Battle of Lexington Reenactment will be followed by delicious reasonably-priced pancake breakfasts.  Whether you are a visitor or local, do not miss this quintessential New England experience. All proceeds go to benefit a local charitible organization.

6am - 5pm - Lexington Visitor's Center

Location:  1875 Mass Ave, across from the town Library - The Visitor's Center will be open if you need a tour brochure, map, or directions to historical sites and events.  Public restrooms available.

7:30am - Sunrise Youth Parade

Mass Ave in Lexington, from Munroe Cemetery through Lexington Center to Battle Green (near the town Library).

8am - 2pm, Tours of historic Lexington sites

Buckman Tavern (1 Bedford Street; self-paced audio tours and guided tours, starts at 6am), Hancock Clarke House (36 Hancock St; guide-led tours every half-hour), and Munroe Tavern (1332 Mass Ave, self-guided and guided tours).  Admission fees apply; tickets available at each site. 

8am - Patriots Day Ceremonies

These ceremonies honor the recipients of a number of local awards, including the White Tricorne Hat Award, Minuteman Cane Award, Pat flynn Outstanding Youth Award, and Lexington Minute Man Scholarships.

Location:  Battle Green (Mass Ave at Bedford St), Lexington

10:15am, Lexington Minute Men/Daughters of the American Revolution 109th Wreath Laying Ceremony

Takes place at several of the war monuments scattered around Battle Green, Lexington.

11:15am-Noon, Patriots' Day Handbell Concert of American Music at Hancock Church

Location:  1912 Mass Ave, Lexington - the stone church across from Battle Green.  Features upbeat American music rung on 5 octaves of English handbells. 

12:45pm, Paul Revere Arrives at the Battle Green on Horseback

Greetings by the Select Board and the Lexington Minute Men.   (We are seeing two different times for this, 12:45pm and 1pm - so be there at 12:45 to make sure you don't miss it.)

2025 marks the 249th Reenactment of the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, and the 250th anniversary of the actual event.

Read Longfellow's famous poem about Paul Revere's ride.

9am - First Shot! The Day the Revolution Began

Location:  13 Depot Square, Lexington - Orientation film about the Battle of Lexington, followed by Q&A session with reenactors.  Tickets sold at door - $3 adults/$1 child; showings repeat each hour on the hour.

2pm, Town of Lexington Patriot's Day Parade

Location:  Starts at Massachusetts Avenue and Maple Street in East Lexington, proceeds west through Lexington Center, and ends on Worthen Road by the town swimming pool parking lot.

*CONCORD

7am-11am - Patriots Day Pancake Breakfast

Enjoy this New England tradition with hot-from-the griddle pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea and juice hosted at First Parish Church.  $12 adults, $6 children 5-10, free for 4 and under.

First Parish Church, 20 Lexington Road, Concord

8:30am - Commemoration of the Battle at North Bridge, Concord

British and Colonial reenactors from local companies, park rangers, and volunteers converge and reenact the battle between the British and Colonial forces at Old North Bridge on April 19, 1775 followed by ceremonial volleys from 80+ muskets to commemorate the "shot heard round the world." 

Please note:  Start time is approximate because local Militias and Minute Men arrive on foot from various locations.

Parking: North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty Street, Concord, and North Bridge Parking Lot, 280 Monument Street, Concord

Also please note: The streets in Concord close at around 8:30am and remain closed until the commemoration of the North Bridge fight and the Concord Patriots Day Parade conclude.

8:30am, British Mourn Arms Ceremony at the British Graves

British Regulars from the King's Own 4th Regiment of Foot, Tenth Regiment of Foot, and First Foot Guards will conduct a moving "mourn arms" ceremony to commemorate the British soldiers from the 4th who died in the skirmish at North Bridge.

The Acton Minutemen and other local companies will join them for a special commemoration with musket salutes, and at around 9:30am, the Concord Parade will arrive at North Bridge.

Location: North Bridge, Concord

8:30am - All vehicle traffic is banned on all roads in Concord Center

9am, Concord's Patriots' Day Parade

Concord's huge parade includes all the Minute Men and Militias from Concord, Wayland, Acton, Westford, Sudbury, Lincoln, and many other communities west of Boston that converged on Concord in 1775.  Musicians, color guards, and visiting local, state, U.S., and foreign dignitaries with ties to Concord also participate.

The parade covers about 3.5 miles total, and lasts around 3 hours.  It occurs regardless of how bad the weather may be (and some years, it's been very bad). 

The parade begins in Concord Center, passes over North Bridge at about 9:30 and then pauses for a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the original event.  It then turns and heads back into Concord Center. 

Times are always approximate, especially if the weather is bad. 

10am - 4pm - Concord Museum Encampment

Stop by and see the Acton Minutemen company in an encampment outside the Concord Museum on Patriots’ Day.  You can watch them drilling with muskets to prepare for battle, cooking over a firepit, and demonstrating colonial spinning and sewing.

Also enjoy free admission to the museum on Patriots Day

Address:   53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord

BOSTON

*9am - 12 noon, Patriots Day Parade in Boston featuring Paul Revere's Ride - City Hall Plaza to "The Prado" on Hanover Street in Boston's North End

Boston's Patriots Day Parade kicks off at Boston City Hall at 9am.  After a short flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, the parade stops at King's Chapel Burying Ground to lay a wreath on the tomb of Major William Dawes, who was a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of the Massachusetts Militia, and continues to Granary Burying Ground to lay a wreath at the grave of Paul Revere. 

The parade continues to the Paul Revere Mall (aka "The Prado") in the North End.

10am - Paul Revere's & William Dawes' Famous Ride from Boston to Concord

At around 10am, members of the National Lancers, a volunteer Massachusetts mounted cavalry squadron dating back to 1836 and today an official historical unit of the Massachusetts Militia (which anyone can join, with veterans especially encouraged), portraying Paul Revere and William Dawes begin their horseback rides through Boston and the countryside to Lexington Green.

(In case you're wondering:  the National Lancers is a volunteer mounted cavalry squadron in dating back to 1836.  Today, the organization is an official historical unit of the Massachusetts Militia. 

Anyone can join the National Lancers, with veterans especially encouraged. 

Don't know how to ride a horse?  No worries - they will teach you!  There's also a non-riding troop.  Check out their website.)

*BOSTON TO LEXINGTON

10am - Paul Revere's and William Dawes' Ride to Warn "The British are Coming!"

9am, William Dawes' Ride - Eliot Square, Roxbury to Lexington - William Dawes, also portrayed by a Royal Lancer, arrives at John Eliot Square in Roxbury at 9:00am and leaves at 9:20am to warn the Colonists.  He arrives at Brookline's Devotion School (10:05am), Hill Memorial Church in Allston at 10:35am, arrives in Cambridge at 11:05am, and Arlington Town Hall on Mass Ave (12.05pm); arrives at Lexington Green at about 12:55pm.

10:20am, Paul Revere's Ride - North End, Boston to Lexington - Paul Revere leaves on horseback (around 10:20am) on a reenactment of his famous midnight horseback ride across the countryside to warn Samuel Adams and others that the British troops were on their way. 

After joining the parade through Boston and stopping at Granary Burying Ground for the wreath-laying ceremony, he heads to Paul Revere Mall in the North End before beginning his ride to the Minute Men Statue at Lexington Green.  His ride includes stops at Charlestown's City Square (10:35am), Somerville's Foss Park (11:20am), and at Arlington Town Hall on horseback at 11:55pm. 

He arrives at Gaffy Funeral Home in Medford at 12 noon, and to his final destination at Lexington Battle Green (Mass Ave) at about 12:45pm. 

Please note: The Arlington Historical Society places Dawes' and Revere's arrival at Arlington Town Hall at 11am.

Source for Paul Revere and William Dawes ride reenactments: National Lancers website - please note that times often vary due to conditions along the way.

*ARLINGTON 

10:00am, Patriots Day Celebration at Cyrus Dallin Museum

A free, family-friendly program features live readings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,and another Revere-inspired poem by sculptor Cyrus Dallin. Learn about the Battle of Menotomy, and hear the story of Dallin’s battle to complete his famous monument to Paul Revere in Boston’s North End.

You can also view the Dallin Museum’s newest addition, a rare prototype of the Paul Revere Monument.

Location:  611 Mass Ave

11:00am - 11:55am - Awaiting the Arrival of Paul Revere and William Dawes

Family-friendly activities and light refreshments will be available at Town Hall in anticipation of the arrival of Paul Revere & William Dawes on horseback.

11:55am - Arrival of Paul Revere and William Dawes

Reenactors portraying Revere andDawes arrive on horseback at Town Hall.

12 noon-4pm, Jason Russell House Tours

Location: 7 Jason Street (at Mass Ave), Arlington - Jason Russell House, which was the scene of the deadliest fighting on the first day of the American Revolution, offers tours focused on Jason Russell and his family, including the "clash" between the retreating British Regulars and the local Minutemen in the Battle of Menotomy. 

Admission:  Tours are free this year, courtesy of Leader Bank.  Last tour starts at 3:30pm.

Find out more about what happened at the Battle of Menotomy

LINCOLN

*6:40am - Lincoln Minute Men Dawn Tribute & March to Concord

Lincoln Minute Men salute the patriots buried in the Old Meetinghouse Cemetery.  Roll call is read, fifers play a lament, Minute Men mysteriously emerge from the morning mists in the cemetery, and a musket salute is fired.

Location:  Outside Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Road, Lincoln

After this tribute to those who gathered at this hour on April 19, 1775, the Minute Men begin their march along Sandy Pond Road toward Concord with Colonial music and musket fire. All ages are welcome to walk along with them.

12:30pm - 5:30pm - Battle Road Anniversary 5-Mile Hike to Fiske Hill

Join the National Park Rangers in an immersive 5-mile guided trail hike along Battle Road where the ill-fated British column made its way to and from Concord.  The Rangers will bring the events to live with their guided interpretation along with some immersive elements, including loud musket fire. 

This event is free, but you must register in advance (look for the Patriots' Day link at the top) on the Friends of Minute Man National Park website (check out their other interesting events while you're there).

The expedition ends at Fiske Hill in Lexington, and limited seats are available on a shuttle bus back to the starting point; you must reserve a place when you register.

Please note:  Battle Road isn't really a "road" - it's a trail, and some of the terrain is rough, hilly, and/or uneven.  Wear sturdy, and ideally water-proof, shoes or boots.  Even if you the weather has been dry, some parts of the trail can still be soggy.

Bug spray is also a good idea, even in mid-April.  You should also bring water and a snack, along with weather-appropriate clothing and possibly a walking stick.  A few restrooms are available along the way.

Ages:  Teens and adults.  Dogs (or other animals) are not allowed. 

Weather:  This event may be cancelled if the weather is bad.  Check the "register" link above for any updates.

Patriots' Day Schedule FAQs

Question:  Are the Patriots Day Events always held "rain or shine"?

Answer:  It depends on the event. 

Some are always held, no matter how bad the weather might be (and it occasionally gets very bad - torrential downpours, hail, freezing rain or sleet, gale winds, thunderstorms with lightning, etc.) as a way to pay tribute to the hardships endured and the sacrifices made by the original participants on April 19, 1775. 

Other events may be cancelled out of a concern for public safety, and have a stated policy to make that clear.

A few have "rain dates" in case of cancellation on the original date.

We include any official cancellation policies (some events have them, some don't) in the above descriptions for each event.  If no policy is stated, just use your best judgment and common sense based on the predicted (or actual) weather.

Question:  Are the tickets required for the Patriots Day re-enactments and events?

Answer:  Most of the major events (parades, re-enactments, commemorations) are free, and no tickets are required. 

A few events, such as some of the tours of historical houses and taverns, do charge a small entrance fee, but you can pay that on the spot. 

In rare cases, such as getting a spot on a shuttle bus back from the Battle Road 5-Mile Hike, reservations might be required. 

More Things to Do in Boston in April

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