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Check out all of our special events from historic trades demonstrations to walking tours
NPS Photo
Check back often for summer 2025 special events as we enter the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution!
July 2025
A Day In The Life: Hartwell Tavern
Hartwell Tavern
July 3, 2025
10am-4:30pm
Experience the daily rhythm of the Hartwell family as they go about their work at their 18th century home and tavern. Throughout the day, living historians will bring the space to life with demonstrations of domestic tasks that kept the household running, such as sewing, laundry, cleaning, and keeping house. Learn about how everyday labors sustained both the tavern and the family on the brink of revolution.
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
On April 19, 1775 the Revolutionary War began at Lexington and Concord. Fourteen months later, on July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia adopted the Declaration of Independence, permanently separating the 13 North American colonies from Great Britian. The war had taken on new meaning.
Join us at Concord’s North Bridge, site of the “shot heard round the world”, at 2:30 p.m. on July 4th, as we commemorate Independence Day. Hear the Declaration of Independence read by park volunteer Ed Hurley. Reflect on what it meant to those first hearing it in 1776 and what it means to us today. We will conclude the reading with a musket firing salute from 10th Massachusetts Regiment.
Saturday, July 5th
1:00 & 3:00 pm
Meet at Hartwell Tavern
Join us for a special walk of the Elm Brook Hill battle site. Edmund Foster, a militiaman from Reading, Massachusetts (portrayed by park volunteer, Ed Hurley), will lead guests on a guided tour to the Elm Brook Hill (Bloody Angle) Battle Site where he fought on April 19, 1775. Foster will be joined by Lincoln, Massachusetts historian and author Don Hafner.
250th Anniversary Event: Artillery and the Creation of the Continental Army Day
Hartwell Tavern
July 12, 2025
10:00am- 4:30 pm
Visit Hartwell Tavern on Saturday, July 12th and learn about the importance of artillery to both the Crown and Provincial forces during the events of 1775 and the creation of the Continental Army.
On April 19, 1775 British soldiers marched to Concord with the goal of destroying militia cannons. When the battle began later that day, the British soldiers used artillery to fight their way back to Boston. As thousands of militia poured into the area, an 11-month siege took shape and in July, General George Washington arrived to reorganize the Continental Army. For Washington's soldiers and the British Regulars, artillery played a key role in the events that drove the British from Boston in March 1776.
Join Park Rangers and Living History Volunteers to learn about these important weapons. Programs will be held at 11am and 2pm. Firing will be dependent on weather and cannon crew. Hartwell Tavern will be open from 10am - 4:30 pm.
Join us for an exciting day of Art at Hartwell Tavern! In 18th century New England, the arts were an important part of everyday culture! From founding women like Mercy Otis Warren, to politicians like John Adams many recognized the importance of art in a well rounded and progressive society.
So join us, as park staff and volunteers explore everything from Music to needle work! This program will also feature a special presentation by Historian Michele Gabrielson on the life of Mercy Otis Warren, a founding mother of the American Revolution. Through the use of primary sources and storytelling, this informal drop-in program explores Warren’s multifaceted role as a poet, playwright, and prolific writer who used her voice to influence the revolutionary cause. Discuss with Mercy how her satire, poetry, and compelling plays captured the spirit of independence and challenged the political status quo. Perfect for history enthusiasts, students, and families, Michele's portrayal reveals insights into the life of one of America's most influential female voices of the 18th century. Come hear Mercy's story and gain a deeper appreciation for her enduring legacy in American history and literature.
Sunday, July 20, 2025
1:00 pm: Ranger Story Hour
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Open House
Join us at the Wayside: Home of Authors for our new Ranger Story Hour and Open House.
Elementary school-aged children and their parents are invited to enjoy a story read by a park ranger at 1:00 pm, followed by an interactive activity. This weekend's book is "The Story of a Story" by Deborah Hopkinson. After the story, children and their families are invited to stay for a writing activity that helps kids tell the most important story: the story of you!
The general public is welcome to explore the Wayside, including the kitchen pictured above, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The King of Battle: Artillery and the Siege of Boston
Hartwell Tavern
July 26, 2025
10am - 4:30 pm
On the afternoon of April 19, 1775 a reinforcement column led by British Brigadier General Hugh Percy arrived in Lexington to rescue the battered British Soldiers retreating from Concord. As Militia soldiers swarmed through Lexington the boom of two 6-pounder British Artillery pieces echoed across the town and sent the militiamen scattering for cover.
In the days and weeks that followed, provincial militia soldiers brought their own artillery to bare on the city of Boston.
Join Park Rangers and Living History Volunteers to learn about these important weapons. Programs will be held at 11am and 2pm. Firing will be dependent on weather and cannon crew. Hartwell Tavern will be open from 10am - 4:30 pm.
