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Massachusetts 250 Events Calendar

Welcome to our Massachusetts 250 Events Calendar! Explore can’t-miss events, historic experiences, and celebrations across the state. Plus, visit our Celebrate Massachusetts 250 page for additional information and tips.


Massachusetts 250th Celebration Events

Find the dates you plan to travel or simply search the full events list below.

Charity Events Children & Families Fairs & Festivals Historic Museums Tours Workshops & Classes
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Charity Events

Patriots’ Day Pancake Breakfast at the Church of Our Redeemer

Apr 18, 2026 - Apr 18, 2026 The Church of Our Redeemer 6 Meriam Street, Lexington, MA 02420

To celebrate Patriots’ Day, the Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington invites the community to its annual Patriots’ Day Pancake Breakfast.

Held in the parish’s Great Hall, this welcoming community event offers a hearty breakfast featuring pancakes, sausages, juice, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Guests are invited to enjoy a warm and festive atmosphere while gathering with neighbors and visitors during this historic weekend.

Conveniently located at 6 Meriam Street—just past the bike path and across from the Lexington Visitor Center—the breakfast is a beloved local tradition that brings people together in the spirit of celebration and community.

All proceeds from the event will benefit local charities.
6:00 am - 10:00 am

Children & Families

Calling All Kids, Patriots And Sailors: Revolutionary Summer Saturdays

Apr 4, 2026 - Sep 26, 2026 Custom House Maritime Museum, Water Street 25 Newburyport, MA 01950

Enjoy free indoor and outdoor fun for kids every Saturday through the end of September! Families can explore 15 hands-on activity stations, including crafts, water and sand tables, printmaking with Rolling River Printmakers of New England, a bouncy castle, pirate boat with water guns, and even rideable dolphin and elephant sculptures by local artist Jeff Briggs.

The museum’s popular Discovery Center experience will also expand onto the lawn, creating an exciting day of learning and play for children of all ages. This free program is made possible through the generous support of the Institution for Savings and the Local Cultural Council.

In September, the museum will also partner with Imagine Studios, Darius Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and Jonathan Petty of the Aquinnah Wampanoag to create a traditional 20-foot mishoon (dugout canoe) over several weekends, with plans to launch it on Indigenous Peoples Day, October 11.
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
978-462-8681

Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest

Apr 10, 2026 - May 9, 2026 14 Union Street South, Hamilton, MA 01982

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest! Participants are invited to create miniature scenes from the past 250 years of American history using PEEPS as characters. Entries can depict anything from the Revolutionary War to modern highlights of US history—let your creativity run wild!

Key Dates:
Diorama Drop-Off: April 10–18
Public Voting: April 21 – May 9
Pick-Up: By May 15 (late entries will be disposed)

Guidelines:
One entry per person or team
Dioramas must be submitted with an entry form
Characters must be portrayed by PEEPS
Use a standard shoebox (max 14″x10″)
Entries must be family-friendly and well-constructed
Include a title describing your scene

Dioramas will be displayed during the Revolutionary Library Crawl for public voting. One winner from each category will receive a prize.

Entry form: Download here.
Revolutionary Library Crawl info: Learn more
April 10, 2026 - 9:30 am - May 9, 2026 - 4:00 pm
978-468-5577

Fairs & Festivals

Concord Block Party 2026 | The parade ends. And the party begins in Concord Center!

Apr 20, 2026 - Apr 20, 2026 58 Main St., Concord, MA 01742

Celebrate Patriots’ Day with an afternoon full of music, food, and community fun for all ages! From live performances to hands-on activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

✨ Event Highlights
🎶 Main Stage Performances – Featuring the Concord Women’s Chorus, local bands, and Town Crier Josh Telepman
🍴 Food Truck Courtyard – Enjoy bites from Tandoor & Curry, Bird’s Nest Italian Street Food, and Whoopie Wagon (behind Vanderhoof Hardware)
🍺 Wright Tavern Beer Garden – Relax and unwind with great drinks
🎭 Theatrical & Musical Shows – At 51 Walden, including the Concord Traveling Players’ “A Flurry of Birds”
🎨 Community Booths & Activities – Crafts, games, and interactive fun hosted by local organizations
🖼️ Arts & Culture Experiences – Featuring Art for All, the Thoreau Society, and more
🏛️ Concord Museum – Free admission, plus a colonial encampment and food trucks on-site
🌸 Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House – Special activities throughout the day
🍵 Barrow Bookstore Boston Tea Tasting – A unique historical experience

…and so much more to explore!
11:30am - 3:00pm
978-318-3061

Historic

“Expansive Histories of the American Revolution” Free Virtual Lecture Series

Mar 22, 2026 - May 24, 2026 Memorial Street 16, Deerfield, MA 01342

Join Historic Deerfield for a free virtual Winter Lecture Series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This series goes beyond battles and politics to explore the Revolution’s profound impact on Native nations, free and enslaved Black communities, and everyday life across the colonies—from labor and material culture to political and social change.

Lecture Schedule (all at 2 PM, via Zoom):
Jan 25: Dr. Woody Holton, Professor of History, University of South Carolina
Feb 22: Dr. Kathleen DuVal, Carl W. Ernst Distinguished Professor of History, University of North Carolina
Mar 29: Dr. Paul Staiti, Professor of Fine Arts, Mount Holyoke College

All lectures are free and presented virtually. Gain fresh insights into the global and often-overlooked dimensions of the American Revolution.
Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 2:00 pm / Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 2:00 pm
413-774-5588

Patriot’s Day Celebration in Lexington

Apr 14, 2026 - May 14, 2026 Lexington Battle Green Lexington Battle Green, Lexington, MA 02421

Patriots’ Day in Lexington marks the opening moments of the American Revolution with a day of remembrance, reenactment, and community celebration.

At dawn, the historic Lexington Battle Green comes alive as militia and British regulars recreate the events of April 19, 1775, bringing to life the first clashes that helped ignite a revolution. The day continues with parades, ceremonies, music, open historic homes, and family-friendly activities that honor courage, sacrifice, and civic pride.

Blending education, reflection, and live storytelling, the celebration invites visitors and residents alike to experience Lexington’s enduring revolutionary spirit and to connect with the shared history that continues to shape the community across generations.
8AM

Salt and Revolution: The Saltworks of Cape Cod in the 18th Century

Apr 16, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026 Cape Cod Museum of Art 60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638

Join us for an engaging historical talk with historian Bob Kelley of the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, as he explores the fascinating history of salt production along the uplands at Sesuit Creek in the East Precinct of Yarmouth.

This lecture examines why the Atlantic coast struggled to produce salt as efficiently as Europe, and how the Prohibitory Act of 1775 prompted Captain John Sears to experiment with early solar salt production on the eve of the American Revolution. The talk also highlights how materials recovered from the wreck of the Somerset in 1785 contributed to this evolving industry.

Attendees will learn how salt production became a vital part of the regional economy for over 80 years, supported in part by early federal tariffs enacted after 1789. The presentation traces the innovations of early salt makers, the spread of influential patents across Cape Cod, and the eventual decline of the industry in the mid-19th century.

Drawing on extensive research, Kelley—also a longtime commissioner with the Yarmouth Historic Commission and researcher of local genealogy, Quaker history, and Indigenous history—shares insights from his discovery of hundreds of saltworks-related deeds across Yarmouth and Dennis, as well as his upcoming reference book on the subject.
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
508-385-4477

Revolutionary Roads: From Anti-Catholicism to the founding of Emmanuel College

Apr 16, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026 Emmanuel College Pilgrim Road 103, Boston, MA 02215

The American Revolution helped usher in a new era of religious toleration in Massachusetts. With the adoption of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780, Catholics and other religious minorities were granted freedom of worship, marking an important step toward broader religious inclusion in the Commonwealth.

Although acceptance developed gradually, these constitutional changes allowed Catholic communities to establish deeper roots in Massachusetts and, over time, become an integral part of the state’s cultural identity.

Education—long central to Massachusetts society since its Puritan origins—also became a shared value across faith traditions. In 1849, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur arrived in Boston’s North End to educate Irish immigrants, expanding their mission of teaching and service in response to growing community needs. Their legacy continued into the 20th century with the founding of Emmanuel College, the first Catholic women’s college in New England.

This panel discussion explores the connection between the revolutionary ideals of 1776 and the enduring educational and social contributions of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, highlighting their lasting impact on Massachusetts history and identity.
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm
617-735-9779

Patriots Vigil at Old North Bridge

Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026 Old North Bridge Old North Bridge, Concord, MA 01742

Join us for the Patriots Vigil, an evening of remembrance and reflection honoring the events of April 19, 1775 at the historic North Bridge battlefield.

As night falls, visitors are invited to reflect on the meaning of liberty and sacrifice during a lantern-lit ceremony featuring poetry, music, and the reading of the names of the soldiers who lost their lives on that “ever-memorable” day in the early stages of the American Revolution.

A luminous path of 122 luminaries will guide attendees from the North Bridge Visitor Center to the battlefield, honoring those who gave their lives in the opening conflict at Concord.

The evening will also include a lantern-light procession beginning at the North Bridge Visitor Center (174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA). Participants are invited to carry their own real candle lanterns and are welcome to wear 18th-century attire if they choose. (Please note: muskets are not permitted.)

This commemorative event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park.
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

South Shore History Symposium: The Revolution, Independence, and the South Shore

Apr 18, 2026 - Apr 18, 2026 The Spire Center for the Performing Arts Court Street 25 1/2, Plymouth, MA 02360

Presented by the Backroads of the South Shore, a consortium of 20 nonprofit organizations spanning 12 towns from Weymouth to Plymouth, the annual South Shore History Symposium brings together leading local historians to explore the region’s rich past.

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, this year’s symposium focuses on “The Revolution, Independence, and the South Shore.” The program highlights the South Shore’s pivotal role in the struggle for independence through maritime activity, local leadership, community action, and cultural expression.

The full-day symposium features expert presentations, including:

Privateers and Warships of Plymouth Bay during the Revolution – Patrick Browne, Executive Director, Plymouth Antiquarian Society
George Partridge: Duxbury’s Zealous Patriot and the Revolution – Tony Kelso, Duxbury Town Historian
Hingham’s Black Revolutionaries: Stories of Service on the Battlefield and Home Front – Paula Bagger, Hingham Historical Society
To Declare for Independence: South Shore Town Meetings in Revolutionary Massachusetts – Stephen C. O’Neill, Hanover Historical Society & Dyer Memorial Library
Music of the American Revolution – Dr. Anne C. Mason, Pilgrim Hall Museum

The program opens with welcoming remarks from Donna Curtin, Chair of Back Roads of the South Shore and Executive Director of Pilgrim Hall Museum.
9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Museums

Gallery Talk: The Declaration in American Memory

Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026 Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, MA 02215

Join Library Assistant Brandon McGrath-Neely for “The Declaration in American Memory,” an engaging gallery talk connected to the exhibition 1776: Declaring Independence.

This short talk invites visitors to explore how the Declaration of Independence has been remembered, interpreted, and reimagined throughout American history. Participants are encouraged to tour the exhibition and take part in a discussion that brings new perspectives to this foundational document and its evolving legacy.

Following the talk, guests are welcome to explore the exhibition further and ask questions.

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
617-536-1608

Gallery Talk: The Declaration in American Memory

Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026 Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, MA 02215

Join Library Assistant Brandon McGrath-Neely for “The Declaration in American Memory,” an engaging gallery talk connected to the exhibition 1776: Declaring Independence.

This short talk invites visitors to explore how the Declaration of Independence has been remembered, interpreted, and reimagined throughout American history. Participants are encouraged to tour the exhibition and take part in a discussion that brings new perspectives to this foundational document and its evolving legacy.

Following the talk, guests are welcome to explore the exhibition further and ask questions.

Attendance is free, but advance registration is required.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
617-536-1608

Untold Stories: The Battle of Menotomy, Voices of the Overlooked, & Centennial Commemorations At Arlington Historical Society

Apr 19, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA 02476

Our new “Untold Stories” exhibition explores the perspectives of often-overlooked communities involved and examines how the people of the Commonwealth commemorated, memorialized, and celebrated the important anniversaries of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.
See website for more details.

Tours

Revolution 250 Salem Tour

Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 19, 2026 Salem Historical Tours Central Street 8, Salem, MA 01970

While Salem is best known for the events of the 1692 Witch Trials, the city also played a significant and often overlooked role in the early days of the American Revolution.

This special Rev250 experience explores Salem’s revolutionary legacy, from its bold maritime activity to its strategic resistance against British authority. Visitors will learn how the “shot heard round the world” nearly involved Salem, and how the town’s privateers—legally commissioned seafarers often referred to as “legal pirates”—became highly effective in challenging British naval power.

The program also highlights the tensions between local patriots and British military leadership, including Governor General Thomas Gage, who faced some of his strongest opposition in Salem.

Join this immersive tour to discover how Salem’s maritime strength, political resistance, and revolutionary spirit helped shape the course of American independence—and why the nation’s history might have unfolded very differently without it.
Friday, April 17, 2026 - 11:00 am - Sunday, April 19, 2026 - 12:30 pm
978-745-0666

Workshops & Classes

Fireside Chat with Historian & Guide Daniel Berger-Jones

Apr 17, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026 776 boylston street Boylston Street 776, Boston, MA 02199

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and Boston’s citywide commemoration, join us for a special series of fireside chats in the lobby featuring historian Daniel Berger-Jones, founder of the Boston History Company.

These engaging sessions bring local history to life through storytelling, highlighting the people, events, and streets that helped shape the birth of a nation. Guests will hear vivid accounts of Boston’s revolutionary past—from the unrest surrounding the Boston Tea Party to the legendary midnight journey of Paul Revere.

Set in the heart of Boston, these fireside chats offer an immersive and accessible way to connect with the city’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. Through interactive storytelling and historical insight, guests are invited to reflect on 250 years of American independence in the very place where history unfolded.

This event is held in the lobby lounge and is complimentary for hotel guests. Food and beverages are available for purchase. Limited availability; advance booking is encouraged.
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm