Colonial Reenactors at the Bloody Angle Battle Demonstration

Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriot's Day. Patriot's Day is a special Massachusetts State holiday commemorating the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War, April 19, 1775.

The holiday (Officially observed on Monday, April 16, 2012), and the entire weekend, is celebrated with parades, reenactments and commemorative ceremonies.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, April 7th

Meriam's Corner Exercise
Meriam's Corner, Concord
1:00 p.m.
The Town of Concord, joined by area minute companies, fife and drum units, and the Concord Independent Battery, pay remembrance to the fight at Meriam's Corner that marked the beginning of the six-hour running battle back to Boston. Tour the Meriam House from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
Paul Revere Capture Site, Lincoln
3:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Minute Men and the Town of Lincoln, joined by other reenactment untis, observe the historic capture of Paul Revere with fife and drum music and a musket fire salute.

British Reenactors, HM 4th Regiment of Foot

Saturday, April 14th

Battle Road
Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith House, Lincoln
Hartwell Tavern open: 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Captain William Smith House open: 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Battle Road 2012 will feature events in Lincoln and Lexington. Activities will include musket and cannon firing, battle demonstrations, colonial life demonstrations, and family activities. The event schedule is as follows:

Bloody Angle Battle Demonstration
Hartwell Tavern Area, Lincoln
11:00 a.m.
Nearly 300 Colonial and British reenactors demonstrate tactics used during the running fight back to Boston on April 19, 1775. The action will occure between "Bloody Angle" and the Samuel Hartwell House site along the Battle Road Trail.

Parker's Revenge Battle Demonstration
Parker's Revenge Site (near Minute Man Visitor Center, 250 North Great Road, Lincoln MA.)
2:00 p.m.
The Lexington Train Band (militia company) will demonstrate an ambush on the British column, as occured on April 19, 1775 as Captain Parker's Lexington militia company took revenge on the British for their losses earlier that morning.

Tower Park Battle Demonstration
Tower Park, Lexington
4:00 p.m.
Battle Road continues beyond the borders of Minute Man NHP. British and Colonial reenactors stage a another battle demonstration using period appropriate tactics and weapons.

Sunday, April 15th

Living History at Hartwell Tavern
Hartwell Tavern, Lincoln
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Park Rangers and volunteer reenactors conduct living history demonstrations, including drill and musket firing.

British reenactors conduct the "Mourn Arms" ceremony at North Bridge.

Monday, April 16th (Patriot's Day observed)

Lexington Battle Reenactment and Parade
Lexington Green
5:30 a.m.
The Town of Lexington celebrates the first shots of the American Revolution with a reenactment of the early-morning engagement between the town's militia and the Briitish regulars. The Lexington Parade starts at 2:00 p.m.

British "Mourn Arms" Ceremony, Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight, and Concord Parade
North Bridge, Concord
8:30 a.m.
British reenactors will conduct a very moving "Mourn Arms" ceremony in honor of the British dead, buried at North Bridge. Following this, they will be joined by the Acton Minutemen and other local companies for a special commemoration featuring musket salutes. The Concord Parade will arrive at North Bridge around 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 19th

Dawn Salute
North Bridge, Concord
5:45 a.m.
The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery observe the openning battle of the American Revolution in a 21 gun musket and cannon salute.

Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
North Bridge, Concord
10:30 a.m. (approximately)
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute will make their annual march to North Bridge from the Town of Sudbury, in honor of their fellow townsmen who made a similar march on April 19, 1775. They will fire three musket volleys from North Bridge as a soldierly salute.