Battle Road Events - March and April 2024

Unless noted, there is no charge to attend any of the events below. Every effort has been made to create an accurate events list, but please verify dates, times and locations with the individual organizers. Items in gray have not been confirmed and may not be held. Please contact the event organizers directly.

· Battle Road Muster, Saturday March 30, 2024, at Minuteman National Park – A mandatory muster for all participants. See Participant Information for details.

• Events for Saturday April 6^th and 7^th:
• Bedford Parade and Pole Capping - Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 10:30 am at Wilson Park in Bedford
  Minutemen from throughout New England will convene on the Town Common and march with fife and drum down The Great Road to Wilson Park to watch the official Pole Capping tradition. A minuteman will proclaim freedom by shinnying up a 25-foot pole and placing a red cap atop it, and British soldiers will arrive to disrupt the festivities.
  Contact: The Bedford Minuteman Company.
• Meriam's Corner Exercise - Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Meriam's Corner, Lexington Rd., Concord
  The town of Concord, joined by area minute companies and Minute Man National Historical Park, commemorate the fight at Meriam's Corner that sparked the six-hour running battle back to Boston.
  Contact: Minute Man National Historical Park
• Dress Rehearsal for the Battle on Lexington Green - Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm on the Battle Green, Lexington Center. (Rain date Sunday April 7.)
  This is the public dress rehearsal for the Patriots Day reenactment of the skirmish of April 19. 1775. Contact: Lexington Minute Men via email, or the 10^th Regiment of Foot.
• Paul Revere Capture Ceremony - Saturday, April 6, 2023 at 3:00 pm, Paul Revere Capture Site of Minute Man National Historical Park, Route 2A, Lincoln. The Minute Men march down Battle Road and narrate the story of Revere’s capture at the actual site. Hear Revere, Samuel Prescott, William Dawes, Mary Hartwell, even Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Music, dramatic reading and musket fire in the Park. For all ages. Contact: Lincoln Minute Men.
• Search the Colonel Barrett House, Sunday April 7, 2023 from 1:30 to 4:30 - visit the Col. Barrett House, experience the intense military preparations that launched America into the Revolutionary War. British soldiers arrive to search the grounds. 448 Barrett’s Mill Rd, Concord. See Events at Minuteman National Park for details.

• BATTLE ROAD EVENTS SATURDAY April 13th, 2024:
  
• Parker's March and Wreath laying - Saturday, April 13, 2024: The Lexington Minutemen are called to arms by Captain Parker at 9:30 am on Lexington Green, marching to the battle site for a noon ceremony at the Parker’s Revenge site.
• Civilian evacuees on the Battle Road – leaving from the Smith House, Lincoln, at noon.
• Parker’s Revenge Scenario – Saturday, April 13, 2024: A tactical scenario along the historical road near the Whittemore House at 1:00 pm by British and Colonial soldiers. Contact: Minute Man National Historical Park.
• Jason Russell House in Arlington may be open for tours on Saturday April 13, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Contact the Arlington Historical Society for further information.
• Re-enactors assemble at Munroe Tavern, Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Munroe Tavern, Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. British troops arrive on the retreat from Concord and occupy the Tavern, tending to their wounded and planning their next steps. The Tavern will be open for tours.
• Tower Park Battle - Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Tower Park on Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington. A battle in the American Revolution will be demonstrated for the public in this natural amphitheater site.
  Contact: Lexington Minutemen or the Tenth Regiment of Foot.

• SUNDAY April 14th:
• Battle of Menotomy, Jason Russell House Re-enactment, Sunday, April 14, 2024 at noon: pm: Battle Re-enactment open for house tours through the afternoon. Contact the Menotomy Minutemen or Arlington Historical Society.

· Lincoln Salute: Festival of 18th Century Fife & Drum Music Pierce Park, 17 Weston Road, Lincoln, MA, Sunday April 14, 2024 at 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. The Lincoln Minute Men host fife and drum groups in a musical performance for your enjoyment. Stirring and fun. Bring your picnic basket and lawn chairs for rousing entertainment.

• Paul Revere's Arrival in Lexington - Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 11:30 pm at the Hancock/Clarke House on Hancock Street, Lexington, MA,
  1/8th mile west of Buckman Tavern and the Green. Contact: Lexington Historical Society

· Robbins’ Ride, Sunday April 14, 2024 - The Acton Minutemen will portray the spreading of the alarm throughout Acton with a horse and rider galloping past the homes of Acton’s 4 militia leaders. At the historic Faulkner Homestead, Colonel Faulkner himself will fire 3 alarm shots into the air with his musket, and those shots will be repeated again and again off in the distance, illustrating how the alarm was spread.

o 5pm at the Robbins' Home site - soccer fields at bottom of Concord Rd.

o 5:20 at the Isaac Davis Homestead - 39 Hayward Road

o 5:40 at the Faulkner Homestead - 5 High St. in So. Acton (corner of Rte. 27)

o 5:55 at the Liberty Tree Farm - 24 Liberty St., also in So. Acton

· Lincoln Alarm and Muster at the White Church, Sunday April 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm - Library Lawn opposite First Parish, 3 Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA

• PATRIOTS DAY MONDAY April 15th:
• Stow Minutemen Patriots Day Trail March - Monday, April 15, 2024 at 4:15 am in Stow. The Stow Annual Trail March and Parade starts from Stow Lower Common. The air is cool and quiet, but not for long as the sounds of the fifes and drums and the firing of the muskets awaken the townsfolk along the route. The Minutemen arrive at the North Bridge around 9 am then join up with the Concord parade.
  Contact: Stow Minutemen
• Col. John Robinson Trail March - Monday, April 15, 2024 at 4:45 am in Westford. Every year members of the Westford Colonial Minutemen walk the route travelled by the Westford militia and minute companies as they answered the alarm on April 19th, 1775. The public is in invited to join them in the 10-mile walk that ends at Concord's North Bridge. Contact: Westford Minutemen.
• The Battle on Lexington Green - Monday, April 15, 2024 at 5:30 am in Lexington center.
  This event recreates the historic skirmish in Lexington on the first day of the American Revolution. Following the ringing of the bell in the Old Belfry, members of the Lexington Training Band (now known as the Minutemen) gather on Lexington Green to await the column of British Regulars as they march into the town center. A shot rings out, the skirmish follows, and the British column marches on towards Concord leaving dead and wounded behind. Contact: Lexington Minutemen. Please see the Town of Lexington’s Schedule of Events (open in a new tab) for important details and restrictions on backpacks, large containers and ladders.
• Pancake Breakfasts - Monday, April 15, 2024 in Lexington
• St. Brigid Church, 2001 Massachusetts Avenue, sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 160. 6:00 am to 10:00 am. Nominal cost.
• First Baptist Church, 1580 Massachusetts Avenue (across from the police station). 6:00 am to 10:00 am. Nominal cost.
• Isaac Davis March to Concord - Monday, April 15, 2024 at 6:00 am at the Isaac Davis Homestead, 37 Hayward Road, Acton. The Acton Minutemen will make their annual march to the North Bridge in Concord, arriving at 9:00 am, where they will lead the fight against the British regulars across the Old North Bridge. Contact: The Acton Minutemen
• Lincoln Minute Men Dawn Tribute and the March to Concord - Monday, April 15, 2024, outside Bemis Hall, 15 Bedford Road, Lincoln, 6:40 am. The Lincoln Minute Men will salute the patriots buried in the Old Meetinghouse Cemetery. Roll call is read, fifers play a lament, minute men mysteriously emerge from the morning mists in the cemetery, and a musket salute is fired. The Minute Men begin their march along Sandy Pond Road toward Concord with colonial music and musket fire. All ages welcome to walk along. The Concord Parade steps off at 9:00 a.m.
  Contact: Lincoln Minute Men
• Lexington Sunrise Youth Parade - Monday, April 15, 2024 starting at 7:30 am at Munroe Cemetery driveway, Massachusetts Avenue.
  Contact: Lexington Town Celebrations Committee, 781 862-0500 x708
• Commemoration of the Battle at North Bridge - Monday April 15, 2024, from 8:00 am. The peace of the Concord countryside will once more be shattered musket fire as British and colonial reenactors, park rangers and volunteers commemorate the fateful morning of April 19, 1775 - the first time that colonists were ordered to fire upon British soldiers that became known as "the shot heard 'round the world."
  Contact: Minute Man National Historical Park
• Mourn Arms Ceremony at British Graves, North Bridge, Concord - Monday April 15, 2024, approximately 8:30 am: Prior to the Concord Parade, British Regulars from the King's Own 4th Regiment of Foot, Tenth Regiment of Foot, and First Foot Guards will Mourn Arms and salute the fallen soldiers of the 4^th at Old North Bridge.
• Concord's Patriots Day Parade - Monday, April 15, 2024 starting at 9:00 am in Concord Center. Contact: Concord Chamber of Commerce via email or at 978 369-3120.
• Lexington’s Patriots Day Road Race, starting at Lexington Green at 10:00 am.
• Patriots' Day Handbell Concert of American Music – Monday, April 15, 2024, 11:15am to 12noon at Hancock Church, 1912 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington. The handbell choirs of Hancock Church present patriotic and American music. Lighthearted and family-friendly, the concert includes music played on 5 octaves of hand bells and chimes by ringers young and old. See Hancock Church Events or email handbells@hancockchurch.org.
• Jason Russell House Open House, April 15, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Contact the Arlington Historical Society.
• Lexington Patriots Day Parade, Monday April 15, 2024, stepping off at 2:00 pm – Massachusetts Avenue through East Lexington and Lexington Center.
• The Patriot Vigil, North Bridge, Lantern light procession: Thursday April 18, 2024 7:45 pm from North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St. Concord MA, Ceremony at North Bridge 8:00 – 8:45 pm. This evening ceremony will feature a lantern-light procession, poetry, music, and a recitation of the names of the soldiers who gave their lives on that “ever-memorable” 19th of April.

Friday, April 19, 2024

· Dawn Salute at the North Bridge - Friday, April 19, 2024 at 6:00 am at Minute Man National Historical Park, Monument Street, Concord
The Concord Minute Men, the Concord Independent Battery and the Old Guard Fifes and Drums observe the opening battle of the American Revolutionary War in a moving musket and cannon salute to America's past. Following this, join Park staff and volunteer for a wreath laying and historical speeches. Contact: Minute Man National Historical Park

• Arrival of the Sudbury Militia, North Bridge, Concord, Friday, April 19, 2024, 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, 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.

· Patriots Day Candlelight Tribute at Fairview Cemetery, Westford MA, Friday, April 19, 2024 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, Fairview Cemetery, Westford MA
Main St & Tadmuck Rd, Westford MA 01886 - This Patriots Day (April 19th) pay homage to our fallen Revolutionary War Patriots. Stroll the beautifully illuminated, old division of historic Fairview Cemetery for our first-ever candlelight tribute. Access the service records of Westford’s Revolutionary War Soldiers on your phone or tablet as you are strolling through the cemetery. Colonial interpreters will be present to answer questions. Use the Tadmuck Road entrance to enter the cemetery.  Hosted by the Westford Museum & Historical society. For more information see our website at museum.westford.org

• Old Burial Ground Tribute, Lincoln, MA - Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:00 pm, the Lincoln Minute Men will assemble at the Pierce House and at 2:30 pm march to the Town Cemetery on Lexington Road. The Minute Men will be accompanied by clergy, honored guests, and a contingent of British Regulars accompanied by a bagpiper. There will be gravesite ceremonies honoring both the Lincoln patriots of the Revolution and the five British soldiers who were killed in Lincoln on April 19, 1775, and buried there. Following the ceremonies, the Minute Men and their guests will march back to the Pierce House, where refreshments will be served to all, courtesy of the Lincoln Historical Society. For further information, contact the Lincoln Minute Men at press@lincolnminutemen.org.