Looking for a special way to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026? Few places can rival Massachusetts, where the American Revolution began. On the third Monday of every April, the Bay State celebrates Patriots’ Day to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord with a variety of activities. Check out these 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts to get a head start on the nationwide July 4th celebrations.
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
On the night of April 18, 1775, seven hundred British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize arms stored there and arrest Colonial leaders. Early the next morning, about 80 militiamen—warned by Paul Revere and other horseback riders—confronted the Redcoats at Lexington Green. Someone unknown fired a musket—the renowned “shot heard ‘round the world.” It prompted a volley by the British that killed 8 militiamen and wounded 10 more. The Lexington militia dispersed.
The Redcoats continued to Concord. There, they split into search parties. At the town’s North Bridge, 400 militia engaged 100 British troops. There were casualties on both sides. The Redcoats—including about 1,000 reinforcements—retreated toward Boston, harassed the entire way by 4,000 militiamen from towns across Massachusetts. The American Revolution had begun. And nearly fifteen months later, the 13 colonies declared their independence.
2026 Patriots’ Day Events in Massachusetts
Given the year-long separation between the start of the Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, you’ve already missed the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 2025. But you can still honor the nation’s 250th birthday with these 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts, concentrated in Lexington, Concord, and Boston.
Patriots’ Day Events in Lexington
Among the 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts are these historical reenactments held in Lexington.
Reenactment of Paul Revere’s Ride
Paul Revere was one of several riders who set out on horseback to alert Colonists of the British advance. Revere made it to Lexington, where he warned Colonial leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams that the Redcoats were coming.
From 9:00-10:00 pm on April 17, 2026, the public is invited to the Hancock-Clarke house in Lexington for a live re-enactment of Revere’s famous ride. The event is free, although a VIP experience is still available to just 40 participants for $250 per person. For more information about the free event, click here.
Battle of Lexington Reenactment
You’ll have to be up early for this one. From 5:15-6:30 am on April 18, 2026, a group of reenactors will reprise the famous skirmish at the precise time and spot where it occurred on Lexington Green. Church bells will summon the militia at 5:15am, but shots won’t ring out until 6:00 am. Organizers advise arriving no later than 4:00 am, though, since the crowd of observers is thick even at this hour. More info here.
Patriot’s Day Parade in Lexington
If you’re still awake after a late night ride and early morning skirmish, make your way to Lexington’s Patriots’ Day parade at 2:00 pm on Saturday April 18, 2026. The route starts at Massachusetts Avenue and Maple Street, goes west on Massachusetts Avenue through the center of town, turns left on Worthen Road, and finishes at the town pool.
Click here for information about the weekend’s other activities, including children’s events, visits to historic homes/taverns, and opening hours for museums.
Things to See and Do in Concord, Massachusetts
The town of Concord will put its own spin on 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts.
North Bridge in Concord
Concord’s North Bridge, in Minute Man National Historical Park, is the spot where 400 militiamen engaged British troops who were guarding the crossing on the morning of April 19, 1775. The conflict lasted only a few seconds but sent the detachment—and other British troops in the area—into retreat. The Colonists attacked the King’s men the entire 16-mile route back to Boston, now nicknamed “Battle Road.”
Although reenactments of the famous confrontation are a regular feature of Patriots’ Day celebrations, Concord’s plans for 2026 have not yet been posted. (Reenactor sites, though, indicate they are preparing for an April 2026 event.) Check the park’s website for updates.
For more details about the battle and the bridge, click here.
Wright Tavern
Concord is a quaint town that’s still home to original buildings from the 1770s. Among them is Wright Tavern, where militia leaders gathered on April 19, 1775, to discuss the British advance and the Colonists’ strategy. It’s now a museum open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday holidays from 11:00-4:00 pm. Admission is $8-10 depending on your age. More info here.
Old Hill Burying Ground
Across the street from Wright Tavern is the Old Hill Burying Ground, Concord’s earliest cemetery. The oldest grave here dates to 1677, with the most recent burial taking place in 1854. The site has a commanding view of the town center. Captain John Buttrick, who led the militia at North Bridge, is buried here.
But if you’re looking for Concord’s literary notables, you’re in the wrong place. Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, among others, are buried at Authors Ridge in nearby Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Concord’s Patriots’ Day Parade
Concord’s annual Patriots’ Day parade is scheduled for April 20, 2026. But the town again is slow to post details. Click here for updates.
Concord Museum
The Concord Museum is a worthwhile stop to get a good, general grasp of what transpired in April 1775. (It covers Concord’s history before and after the Revolution, too.) And they have an impressive, wall-sized animated map that clearly illustrates exactly what happened with a time-lapse of April 18-19, 1775.
And they have one of the two lanterns that hung in the steeple of the Old North Church to signal Paul Revere and his fellow riders that the British were moving toward Concord. Muskets, powder horns, ammunition, pocket watches, and other artifacts from the actual battle also are on display.
For more information about the museum, click here. And to find other nearby historical sites, click here.
Patriots’ Day Events in Boston
If history’s not your thing, fear not. Sports are included among the 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts.
The Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon—the world’s largest and oldest annual marathon—takes place on Monday, April 20, 2026. It began in 1897 and this year welcomes more than 31,000 participants. The race begins in Hopkinton with staggered start times and finishes in Boston. For more details click here.
The Boston Red Sox
Monday, April 20, 2026, also features a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. The first pitch is at 11:10 am at Fenway Park, and you can buy tickets here. And to find everything you could possibly want to know about visiting Fenway Park, click here.
And for more 2026 Patriots’ Day events in Massachusetts, click here.
Final Thoughts
July 4th obviously claims top honors in 2026 for the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations. But if you’re looking to get a jump on the festivities, Lexington, Concord, and Boston offer a slew of 2026 Patriots’ Day Events in Massachusetts. And a spring trip to the Bay State will give you a well-rounded view of the people, places, and events that led us down the path to independence.
