Later this month, history will come to life across Lexington and Concord as the towns unite to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. Commemorating the iconic battles of April 19, 1775, this milestone celebration has a lineup of events for all ages. From authentic reenactments to community art projects, this collaborative effort results from dedicated planning by the Lex250 Commission, Concord250 Executive Committee, the Lexington History Museums, local reenactor groups, and numerous volunteers. “These types of opportunities don’t come up often,” says Suzie Barry, Chair of the Lex250 Commission. “We want to share this special event with the state, the country, and the world.”
A Historic Weekend of Events
The celebration begins on Thursday, April 17, with a visit from award-winning documentarian Ken Burns. Joined by co-directors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, as well as historian Rick Atkinson, Burns will preview his upcoming PBS film The American Revolution, which will premier this fall. The two sold-out panel events—one in Lexington’s Cary Memorial Hall and another at Concord-Carlisle High School—will feature film clips and a conversation about the war. “This event will help kick off a full slate of events leading up to Patriots’ Day 2025,” says Barry. “We can’t think of a better person to speak to our students and residents about the history of this important weekend.”
On Friday, the weekend of reenactments starts with Paul Revere’s famous ride from Charlestown to Lexington. Spectators can witness this dramatic midnight ride beginning at 10 p.m. and ending at the historic Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington. The following day, at 5:15 a.m., the Battle of Lexington will be reenacted in real time on the Lexington Battle Green. More than 300 reenactors will recreate the battle that marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War. “This reenactment is a chance to portray the chaos and intensity of this battle up close,” says Sarah McDonough, programs manager at the Lexington History Museums and a reenactor. “When you see the sun coming up, hear the drums of the British and then you hear the soldiers marching, and it is a really powerful moment, and it is very visually arresting.”
New this year is the reenactment of the civilian evacuation. As the militia faced off with British forces, women and children fled for safety—a powerful reminder of the untold stories beyond the battlefield. “That part of the story doesn’t always get told—we hear about the Minute Men versus Redcoats, but no one talks about what the other three-quarters of the population was doing while this was going on,” says McDonough. “There were people of color who were fighting and women who were involved in the revolution too; it was complicated and more complex than people think.”
After the battle, the day continues with a full schedule: a five-mile road race, commemorative ceremonies, military demonstrations, and a parade featuring over two hours of floats, bands, and performers. Weather depending, members of the U.S. Army will parachute onto the Battle Green with ceremonial battle streamers, including one that reads “Lexington 1775.”
Art, Architecture, and Family Fun
There will be satellite parking, shuttles, food trucks, ample facilities, and many more programs throughout the weekend. The Riding Through History scavenger hunt invites families to explore Lexington Center in search of life-sized horse statues painted by local artists. The Witness to 1775 project brings history into the neighborhoods of Lexington by marking the 24 surviving buildings from the pre-Revolutionary era.
Whether you are a lifelong resident, history buff, or curious visitor, Patriots’ Day 2025 offers an opportunity to understand America’s past on a deeper level. “When people come here to learn about the Battle of Lexington and Concord, they usually have certain stories that they remember about the Revolution,” says McDonough. However, she says, in some cases, people’s understanding of this period is filled with names and dates, but there are so many more stories that dive deeper into the complexity of that time. “These were real people with real problems just like you and me,” she says. “When we start to learn more about these people, we see that the issues they were dealing with were not simple or black and white. They were complex people with complicated choices, and the more we learn, the more we realize how much we have in common with them.”
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this living history. For full schedules, maps, and updates, visit lex250.org and visitconcord.org.
