Patriots' Day 2016. The 241st Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Captain David Brown's Company of Minute Men, North Bridge, Concord, Minute Man NHP

Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriots' Day. Patriots' 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 18, 2016), and the entire weekend, is celebrated with parades, reenactments and commemorative ceremonies.

For more information, please call (978) 318 - 7825 or e-mail us
Additional information is available at http://www.battleroad.org/

Press and Media Inquiries, please contact Phil Lupsiewicz at (978)-318-7833 or e-mail us

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Saturday, April 9th

Liberty Pole Capping
Wilson Park, Bedford
10:30 a.m.
Liberty Pole Capping ceremony consisting of colonial troops from throughout New England parading from Bedford Common to Wilson Park. A Bedford Minuteman will climb the pole and, in defiance of King George, place a red cap over the top.

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.

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Saturday, April 16th

Tough Ruck
Step off at The Old Manse field, adjacent to North Bridge
7:00 a.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park is honored to once again host the "Tough Ruck," military personnel marching in memory of our fallen soldiers. Come out and support our soldiers in this 26 mile hike along the historic Battle Road Trail. For more information go to http://www.militaryfriends.org/programs/toughruck.
Captain David Brown's Company of Minute Men will fire a musket salute to mark the start of the march and present a program about the minute men of 1775.

Armed as According to Law: Captain David Brown's Company of Minute Men
North Bridge, Concord, 7:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
[drill and musket firing demonstrations at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.]
Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Visit North Bridge and Concord Museum and see Captain David Brown's Company, a nearly full strength recreated minute company, demonstrate drill maneuvers and musket firings. Learn about militia duty in colonial Massachusetts and what it meant to be "armed as according to law."

Life on the Battle Road
Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith House, Battle Road Trail, Lincoln
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern and the Captain William Smith House will be open. Park staff and living history volunteers from the Lincoln Minute Men, the Guild of Historic Interpreters, and the Ladies of Refined Taste will be demonstrating various aspects of life in Massachusetts at the beginning of the American Revolution.

Explore Bloody Angle with Edmund Foster
10:30 a.m.
Meet at Hartwell Tavern. Edmund Foster, a volunteer from Reading, Massachusetts (portrayed by Park Volunteer, Ed Hurley), will lead a tour to this key battle site where he fought in 1775.

Visit Whittemore House (Behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt 2A Lexington)
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Visit Whittemore House, staffed by costumed park volunteers, and discover what life was like in 1775. Try on colonial children's clothing, gather ingredients for a meal, and listen to stories of the Whittemore family and their experience of April 19, 1775.

1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps
Benches outside Minute Man Visitor Center
12:30 p.m.
Enjoy military music of the American Revolution expertly performed by the 1st Michigan Fife and Drum Corps.

BATTLE DEMONSTRATION
Battle Road: "Parker's Revenge"
Battle Road Trail behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m.
Hundreds of British and Colonial Reenactors will engage in a tactical weapons demonstration showing the running battle that took place along this deadly stretch of road on the border of Lincoln and Lexington. This event will involve musket firing and fast-paced battle action. Ample parking is available at Minuteman Regional High School.

Junior Ranger Day at Minute Man National Historical Park
Earn your Junior Ranger Badge
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington. Pick up your very own Junior Ranger Day Booklet. You will have fun exploring Minute Man National Historical Park while completing the pages in the booklet. When you are finished, show your work to a Ranger to earn your new Centennial badge. It's a fun way to learn!
Swearing in will take place at Minute Man Visitor Center at 11:30 a.m. 3:15 and 4:15 p.m.

Recommended for ages 8-11.

The Midnight Ride of Me and Paul Revere
Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
9:00 a.m.
Shown throughout the day on Saturday, April 16, 2016 in the Blue theater at Minute Man Visitor Center. The show will be part of Patriot’s Weekend and Junior Ranger Day activities, as well as a feature for National Park Week, April 16th to the 24th at the park.

-All ages.

 

Sunday, April 17th

Warlike Preparations and the Search of Barrett Farm
Col. James Barrett House, 455 Barrett's Mill Road, Concord
Open House 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
British search the house 3:00 p.m.
In 1775, Col. James Barrett of Concord was responsible for all the military supplies in town. On April 19th he and his family found themselves in the middle of a storm of activity and danger as British soldiers occupied the town of Concord and even searched the Barrett family home!. Visit the Barrett House and learn about the military preparations that helped launch the colonies into the Revolutionary War. At 3:00 be a witness to history as a force of British regulars arrive and search the house!

Revolutionary Dogs: "Paws for the Cause!" at Minute Man Visitor Center
Route 2A, Lexington
2:00 p.m. 45 minutes in length
Join Park Ranger Roger Fuller and his pug, Cricket, in a forty-five minute walk on the Battle Road to explore the lives of dogs in colonial America, and in the Revolution. The tour starts at Minute Man Visitor Center and goes to Paul Revere Capture Site, about half a mile, with four stops along the way. The walk is open to all. You are welcome to bring along your well-behaved, friendly dog, too.

Parker's Revenge Project: Uncovering History with Modern Technology
At Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord
5:00 p.m.
Concord Museum Curator, David Wood, and Park Ranger Jim Hollister, joined by archaeologist Meg Watters will share insights into the Parker's Revenge archaeological investigation through objects, technology and history. Battle-related museum artifacts, archaeological equipment and military accouterments will be on display. www.concordmuseum.org

 

Monday, April 18th (Patriots' Day observed)

Lexington Battle Reenactment
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 British regulars. For more information in Lexington, visit the Town of Lexington page.

Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight, and Concord Parade
North Bridge, Concord
8:45 a.m.
British and Colonial reenactors will commemorate the "Shot heard round the world" with a dramatic re-staging of the North Bridge fight featuring marching and musket fire. The Concord Parade will arrive at North Bridge around 9:30 a.m. with ceremonies featuring minute man companies, British reenactors and music groups. NOTE: all of the roads in the center of town are closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m.

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Tuesday, April 19th

Dawn Salute
North Bridge, Concord
6:00 a.m.
The Concord Minute Men and the Concord Independent Battery observe the opening battle of the American Revolution in a 21 gun musket and cannon salute.

Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
North Bridge, Concord
11:30 a.m. (approximately)
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute Men 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. This will be followed by three volleys from the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution Henry Knox Color Guard.

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Photo by Jerry Callahan

Saturday, April 23rd

Battle Road Heroes
At Hartwell Tavern Parking Area
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Tours leave every 15 minutes.
Listen to the personal stories of residents who lived along the Battle Road on April 19, 1775. Join the Guild of Historic Interpreters for a special evening of theater and history. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Admission: $5.00 per person, $10.00 per family. Children wearing their Junior Ranger Bages may attend the program for free.