Patriots' Day 2020 - The 245th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Colonial militia reenactors at Parker's Revenge, Minute Man NHP

Photo by John Collins

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 20, 2020), and the entire weekend, is celebrated with parades, reenactments and commemorative ceremonies.

For more information, please call (978) 318 - 7825 or e-mail us
For Information on Lexington's Patriot's Day Events,visit them here.
Press and Media Inquiries, please contact Phil Lupsiewicz at (978)-318-7833 or e-mail us

Photographers, filmakers and volunteers who are planning on image collection, please contact Phil Lupsiewicz at [phone] or e-mail us

 

Meriam's Corner Exercise

Saturday, April 11th

Bedford Pole Capping
Willson Park, Bedford
10:30 a.m.
This ceremony features a march, displays of musketry, and fife and drum music. The main event is the raising of a tall wooden pole, which is climbed by a Bedford Minuteman and affixed with a red knitted cap.

Meriam’s Corner Exercise
737 Lexington Rd, Concord
1:00 p.m.
Minute companies, fife and drum, and the Concord Independent Battery commemorate the fight at Meriam’s Corner. There will be musket and cannon firing and fife and drum music.

Paul Revere Capture Ceremony
200 North Great Rd, Lincoln
3:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Minute Men observe the historic capture of Paul Revere with a dramatic re-telling of Longfellow's famous poem, fife and drum music and a musket fire salute.

 

Battle Road / Parker's Revenge

Saturday, April 18th

Battle Road: Parker's Revenge Battle Demonstration
battle Road Trail (behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Lexington
12:45 p.m.

Watch as a procession of civilian evacuees fleeing their homes before the fighting begins. (see Caught in the Storm of War description below). This will be immediately followed by a battle demonstraton as hundreds of British and colonial Reenactors engage in a tactical weapons demonstration with musket firing and fast-paced battle action along a stretch of the actual Battle Road of 1775. Park staff will be on hand to direct you to parking and viewing areas.

Patriot Vigil
North Bridge
Lantern light procession: 7:50 p.m. (step off at North Bridge Visitor Center)
Ceremony at North Bridge: 8:00 – 8:45 p.m.
As darkness descends upon the North Bridge battlefield we invite you to come and reflect on the events of April 19, 1775 and the meaning of liberty. The evening ceremony will feature a lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and a recitation of the names of the Patriots who gave their lives on that “ever-memorable” 19^th of April. Please note, if you would like to participate in the procession at 7:50 p.m. we ask you bring your own enclosed candle lantern - no flashlights in the procession please.

 

Dawn Salute

Sunday, 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 Revolution in a 21 gun salute with musket and cannon fire.

Arrival of the Sudbury Militia
North Bridge, Concord
11:30 a.m. (approximately)
The Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute will make their annual march to
North Bridge from the Town of Sudbury. They will fire three musket volleys off North Bridge as a soldierly salute.

"Warlike Preparations" and the Search of the Barrett Property
Colonel James Barrett House (448 Barrett's Mill Road, Concord)
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (British soldiers arrive at approximately 3:00 p.m.)
Visit the home of Colonel James Barrett and his family. Learn about the intense military preparations that took place in and around the home in the weeks leading up to the outbreak of war (April 19, 1775). Help make cartridges for the minute men. Keep watch for British soldiers and help hide the military supplies before they arrive!

 

Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight

Monday, April 20th (Patriot's Day observed)

Lexington Battle Reenactment
Lexington Green, Lexington. Information is here.
5:30 a.m.
British and Colonial reenactors stage a reenactment of the early-morning battle.

Commemoration of the North Bridge Fight / Concord Parade
North Bridge, Concord
8:45 a.m.
British and Colonial reenactors will commemorate the “Shot heard round the world” with a battle demonstration. Immediately following, the Concord Patriot's Day parade will arrive around 9:30 a.m. NOTE: all of the roads in the center of town are closed to vehicles beginning at 8:30 a.m.

 

Militiamen standing in front of Hartwell Tavern with arms and supplies for the war.

NPS

Saturday, April 25th

After the Battle - The War Has Begun
Hartwell Tavern, 136 North Great Road, Lincoln
1:00 - 6:00 p.m.
War between the people of Massachusetts and Governor Gage and the British regulars has just broken out. Thousands of men are preparing to leave home for the front lines around Boston. Whole communities are faced with numerous challenges demanded by this frightening new reality. Step back into the year of 1775 and get involved.