Patriots Day is a special holiday in our area, and there are all kinds of historical events to commemorate the start of the American Revolution.
Events start a week in advance to commemorate various acts of rebellion by local residents before war broke out on April 19, 1775. For a brief overview of the events of April 1775, see a summary and linked videos after the list of local events.
Saturday April 11
8-10 am: First Parish Pancake Breakfast (Bedford)
10-11 am: Bedford Pole Capping Parade (All ages)
Friday, April 17
7:30-9 pm: Patriot Vigil (All ages) (Concord)
9 pm: Reenactment of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride (All ages) (Lexington)
Saturday, April 18
Lexington
5 am: Reenactment of the Battle of Lexington on the Battle Green
5:30-11 am: Troop 160's Pancake Breakfast
6-10 am: Patriots' Day Pancake Breakfast (First Baptist Church)
6-10 am: Patriot's Day Pancake Breakfast (Church of Our Redeemer)
10:30 am: British Redcoats at Munroe Tavern
11 am: The Battle at Tower Park
1:30 pm: Patriots' Day Parade
Lincoln (located at Minute Man National Historical Park)
10 am-4:30 pm: Hartwell Tavern Open House
10 am-4:30 pm: Open House at Captain William Smith House
2 pm: Preparing for War: 1775
3 pm: Neighbors in Arms: Immersive Militia Program
Concord
10 am-4:30 pm: Barrett Farm Open House
11 am: North Bridge Artillery Demonstration
Sunday, April 19
Lincoln
10 am-4:30 pm: Hartwell Tavern Open House
10 am-4:30 pm: British Army Camp Followers
10 am-4:30 pm: Open House at Captain William Smith House
10 am: Caught in the Storm of War: The Civilian Experience
11 am-1 pm: Elm Brook Hill Immersive Battle Walk
1 pm: Lincoln Salute
2:30 pm: Parker's Revenge Immersive Battle Walk
4 pm: Royal Artillery Firing Demonstration
7 pm: Alarm & Muster of the Lincoln Minute Men
Concord
5:45 am: Patriots' Day Dawn Salute
8:30 am: North Bridge Battle Walk
10 am-4:30 pm: Open House at Meriam's Corner
Monday, April 20
Lexington
10 am-4 pm: Revolutionary Scavenger Hunt
11 am-3 pm: Patriots' Day Living History at Buckman Tavern
Concord
9 am: Patriots' Day Concord Parade & North Bridge Ceremony (Concord)
10 am-4 pm: Concord Museum Free Admission & Minutemen Encampment
11 am-3 pm: Patriots' Day Block Party
Wednesday, April 23
10-11:15 am: Children’s Reenactment [Two Sessions] (Age 6 and up) ~ register in advance (Lexington)
Below is a brief history of the events of April 1775 and a number of videos from local celebrations.
In April 1775, tensions were running very high between Parliament in Britain and the thirteen colonies in America. Britain needed money after the French & Indian War in the 1760s and taxed the colonies heavily. With no representatives in Parliament ("taxation without representation"), the colonists protested strongly. In March 1770, colonists gathered in protest in Boston and were fired upon by British soldiers, an event known as the Boston Massacre. In December 1773, colonists dumped a shipload of tea into Boston harbor to protest taxes on tea. In the spring of 1774, Parliament passed the "Intolerable Acts", stringent measures specifically focused on Boston and Massachusetts. Colonists convened the First Continental Congress in Pennsylvania in September 1774 as a result.
On April 18, 1775, 700 British soldiers marched from Boston toward Concord to seize munitions that colonials were storing there. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out from Boston to warn residents in Lexington and other towns that the British were coming. Paul Revere arrived in Lexington at midnight and notified John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were sheltering there. The British troops reached Lexington Green (the common at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford St) at 5:30 AM on April 19 and were met by a group of about 80 colonials (Minute Men from Lexington and nearby towns). A skirmish was sparked when a shot was fired (it was never determined which side fired), and the British overran the small group of Minute Men. The British marched on to Concord and were met by hundreds of colonials, who fought back the Redcoats. The British retreated and were forced to march back through Lexington and Arlington toward Charlestown. As they passed through Lincoln and Lexington, the British and Minute Men engaged in more bloody battles with Minute Men who had arrived from many surrounding communities.
Every year, we celebrate the start of the Revolutionary War and our steps to full independence with many events in Lexington, Concord, Bedford and surrounding towns. Below are videos of the events, in chronological order.
Local celebrations begin a week before Patriots Day with the Liberty Pole Capping in Bedford, which commemorates efforts by colonials to rebel against the British.
James Kane, "Liberty Pole Capping Parade", YouTube, April 8 2012, https://youtu.be/qhECV23SPDE
A dramatization of Paul Revere's ride to Lexington.
kewbei, "The Ride -- Paul Revere short educational film piece", YouTube, July 14 2008, https://youtu.be/Q1El-guPeEo
At dawn on April 19, the British reached Lexington and fought a small group of colonials on Lexington Green. This video shows the annual re-enactment, which takes place real-time, at 5:30 AM.
Ryan Cote, "Patriots Day 2016, The Battle at Lexington Green", YouTube, April 18 2016, https://youtu.be/f4lyI9pbcYI
Mid-morning on April 19, the British reached Concord and engaged with the Minute Men at North Bridge. See this video of the North Bridge annual re-enactment.
fishycomics, "North Bridge Reenactment Fight: Concord Mass", YouTube, April 19 2009, https://youtu.be/91kOYlkLyK4
The British retreat from Concord and are met by Minute Men in Lincoln for Parker's Revenge, a bloody battle. This video of the re-enactment includes helpful commentary from a local educator.
Timothy Spurgin, "Patriots' Day 2016 Battle Road: "Parker's Revenge" Demonstration", YouTube, April 16 2016, https://youtu.be/k2SH3zkEkOA
The remaining British troops continued retreating and battled more Minute Men at Tower Park in Lexington. See this video of the annual re-enactment.
Brandon F., "Reenactment of the Retreat from Concord, Tower Park, Patriot's Day 2018", YouTube, April 15 2018, https://youtu.be/I53rrsJvN_M
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