News Release

Celebrate Halloween Eve in Lincoln and Lexington

Celebrate Halloween Eve!

NPS / Kristin Vinduska

News Release Date: October 3, 2021

Contact: Jennifer Pierce, [phone]

Contact: Jim Hollister, [phone]

Minute Man National Historical Park and Lexington Historical Society are teaming up to offer visitors a fun, safe night out on Saturday, October 30th with special programs at each site on a flexible schedule allowing plenty of time to visit both!

Halloween Open House at Hartwell Tavern

5:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you like history? Jack o’ Lanterns? Musket firing? Then come visit us at Hartwell Tavern! Walk down a path lined with dozens of jack-o-lanterns. Stroll through the open house and grounds. Talk with rangers and volunteers about ghostly folklore and how people in Colonial New England protected themselves from evil spirits and witches. Visit with our park curator and see real artifacts recovered from colonial houses within the park that reveal a frightening history.

This program will be both outdoors and indoors. Visitors who wish to walk through the house must wear a mask. All visitors should bring a flashlight and use caution on dark paths.

Night-time musket firing demonstrations at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat: For trick-or-treaters of all ages the Friends of Minute Man will be offering individually wrapped candy so you can be among the first to say that you went trick-or-treating at Hartwell Tavern! Costumes are not required but encouraged!

Help Us Decorate! Jack-o-Lanterns Wanted!

If you are interested in contributing a jack-o-lantern for the community art project, you may drop it off at Minute Man Visitor Center (Rt. 2A Lexington) on Friday, October 29 between 9 am and 4 pm, or Saturday, October 30 between 9 am and 2 pm. The pumpkins will be illuminated and displayed at Hartwell during the program on the evening of Saturday, October 30 and through the day on October 31st. If you would like to take yours home you may pick it up on Sunday.

Please note: pumpkin designs can be funny, happy, scary or as weird as you want- but they must be family friendly. We will not display inappropriate pumpkins.

Ghosts and Graves of Lexington

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Come along on a ghostly outdoor adventure! The spirits of the Old Burying Ground are eager to bring Lexington's past back to life and share with you the tales of what brought them to the grave on this special candlelight tour. For ages 5 and up; some walking required. Tours cover half a mile and last approximately 45 minutes.

Tours will depart every five minutes from Buckman Tavern between 6:30 and 7:15 PM. (The last tour ends around 8:00 p.m.) More details and ticket information TBA! Events - Lexington Historical Society (lexingtonhistory.org)