Lexington and Concord's 250th: How to commemorate the battles
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Expect heavy traffic in Boston and the surrounding suburbs between those in town for the Boston Marathon and the 250th anniversary attendees.
- Look out for several road closures starting 8pm Friday in Lexington, as well as additional road closures starting 12pm Saturday until 6pm Saturday.
Thursday, April 17
Concord hosts a patriot vigil at the North Bridge Visitor Center, 7:30pm.
- The vigil includes a lantern-light procession, poetry, music and a recitation of the names of soldiers who died on April 19, 1775.
Friday, April 18
Watch Boston's reenactment of Paul Revere's ride from North Square to Charlestown, 8-10pm.
If you're in Lexington, the city will host a separate reenactment from Buckman Tavern to the Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington, 10-11pm.
Saturday, April 19
The reenactment of the Battle of Lexington kicks off, 5:15am.
Concord hosts a dawn salute at Buttrick Hillside, 6am.
- Concord's parade begins at 8:30am on Thoreau Street, runs until midday on Everett Street, followed by the Concord250 Block Party at the Concord Museum.
- Concord's ceremony at North Bridge starts at 9:30am.
The USS Lexington Ceremony at 9am on the USS Lexington Memorial commemorates the fallen soldiers and five U.S. Navy vessels named the "USS Lexington."
- Lexington's Patriots' Day Parade kicks off at 2pm.
Sunday, April 20
Arlington commemorates the Battle of Menotomy with a reenactment, 2pm.
- The battle involved minutemen from 16 towns that beat back the British as they retreated from Concord and Lexington.
Monday, April 21
Boston's Patriots' Day Parade starts at City Hall Plaza and ends at the Paul Revere Mall, 9-10am.
- The parade concludes with a reenactment by the National Lancers of Paul Revere's famous midnight ride on the Paul Revere Mall in front of Old North Church and Historic Site.
Somerville hosts its Patriots' Day Colonial Fair at Foss Park, 10am-12pm.
Lexington hosts a patriotic picnic in Hasting Park, 11am-2:30pm. (RSVPs end Thursday.)
As is tradition, the Red Sox will commemorate Patriots' Day with a home game, 11am.
The National Lancers reenact the arrival of Paul Revere and William Dawes at Hastings Park in Lexington, 1pm.