Patriot's Day in Massachusetts

Relive the "shot heard 'round the world"

Patriot's Day, a unique Massachusetts State holiday, honors the memory and meaning of the first battle of the American Revolution, fought on April 19, 1775.

The Patriot's Day holiday is officially observed on the 3rd Monday in April, also the day of the Boston Marathon.  However, celebrations take place throughout the weekend, as well as other times throughout April.

Patriot's Day reenactment of Colonial militia at Minute Man National Historic Park

Although the celebrations include parades, commemorative ceremonies, demonstrations, and even pancake breakfasts, dramatic reenactments of Paul Revere's midnight ride from Boston across the countryside, battles on Lexington Green, Old North Bridge in Concord, and Menotomy (now Arlington), and 18th century Colonial life take center stage.

If you're visiting Boston during April, or considering a visit, attending one of the reenactments should be at the top of your "must see!" list. 

What types of Patriot Day reenactments will you see?

You'll see 2 major types of reenactments:

• Battles, skirmishes, and the events leading up to them, such as Paul Revere's ride, the engagement between local militia and the British Regulars on Lexington Green, and the dramatic battle at North Bridge when the Colonists first fired at British soldiers.
• Depictions of 18th century daily life, using actual historical buildings such as Paul Revere's house in Boston's North End and Hartwell Tavern in Minuteman National Historical Park in Lincoln.

In addition, a number of demonstrations show you aspects of the Colonial period.  For example, hundreds of Colonial and British reenactors stage the"Bloody Angle Tactical Demonstration at Hartwell Tavern" along a half-mile stretch of Battle Road in Lincoln. 

You'll get to see all the different types of muskets and other weapons in use, learn about their accuracy at 100 feet ("inaccurate" would be a better description), and get a sense of what an actual battle might really have been like.

The day-long demonstrations and reenactments at Hartwell Tavern on the Saturday before Patriot's Day is particularly interesting. 

Demonstration of Colonial food in Hartwell Tavern at Minute Man National Historic Park

The reenactors - which include men, women, and children of all ages - stay in character of the person they represent.  They share lots of information about their daily lives, Colonial America, and their feelings about the British and their taxes. 

If you want to learn about daily life in Colonial Boston and the Massachusetts Bay State Colony - for example, the average family had 11 children - this is the perfect place to do it.

Who are the Patriot's Day Reenactors?

A variety of reenactor groups, with names like "First Foot Guards," "Lexington Minutemen and Lexington Training Band," "His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot," "Colonel Bailey's Second Massachusetts Regiment," "Lincoln Minutemen," and "Concord Independent Battery" participate. 

Many of these groups are local, while some come from other New England states, and even farther away.  In general, members share a keen interest in Colonial and Revolutionary War history, and a commitment to preserving history through authenticity.

Although some of these groups have been active for a long time, many arose in the 1960s, when New England towns revived their long-dormant local militias and minute companies in preparation for the country's Bicentennial celebrations in 1976.  They began by staging mock battles, and then became fascinated by the history.

Patriot's Day Reenactor wearing Colonial clothes that he made by hand

Have you noticed the uniforms and other clothing worn by the Reenactors in the photos? 

As one explained, "These are 'real' Colonial clothes, not 'costumes.'  If you want your clothes to look right and fit right, you have to make them yourself . . . I made my own, by hand.  I finally even learned how to do buttonholes - must have made 100 or more before I got it right.  The trick is to use silk thread."

What are the "best" Patriot's Day events for visitors?

You'll find details about major reenactments in the "Essentials" box - although plenty of other local parades and celebrations aren't even on these lists.  Most events cluster around Patriot's Day weekend, but others scatter throughout the month of April.

Paul Revere (played by a Royal Lancer) rides through Medford on his ride across the countryside to Lexington and Concord

With so much going on, how do you decide what to see?  Quite frankly, whatever you see will be a fascinating glimpse of an earlier time - but here are my recommendations:

Boston

• Events at Paul Revere's House - especially interesting for children.
• Lantern-lighting ceremony in Old North Church commemorates the first in the chain of events leading to the Battle at Old North Bridge. 
• Reenactment by the National Lancers, a Massachusetts Militia cavalry troop formed in 1836, of the start of Paul Revere's famous ride to Concord to warn Patriots such as Samuel Adams about the imminent arrival of British troops.  
• Monday morning - Reenactment by a National Lancer of Paul Revere's departure from the North End on horseback, with stops in Medford, Lexington, and other spots along the way.

Lexington 

• Reenactment of the skirmish on Lexington Green

Lincoln - Minute Man National History Park

• Saturday reenactments at Hartwell Tavern - reenactments, tours, demonstrations, led by hundreds of reenactors - it's like being in a living history museum - great for kids and adults

Concord

• Reenactment of the Battle at Old North Bridge

Reenactment of Colonial militia marching toward Concord

Directions

North End:   Green and Orange Lines/North Station (Commuter Rail stops here also) or to Haymarket; 8-10 minute walk to Paul Revere's House

Lexington/Lincoln/Concord:  By car - take Mass Pike or Storrow Drive/Route 16/Route 2 out of Boston to Route 128 North; for Lexington, take Route 2A East, and for Lincoln/Concord, take Route 2A West; Lexington and Concord have municipal parking lots near the town center.  For Minute Man Park (Lincoln), you'll find signs along Route 2A directing you to parking lots.