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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.

Arts & Crafts Shows Children & Families Fairs & Festivals Historic Museums
We welcome the events that are open to the public. Click here to Submit your Event for FREE
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Arts & Crafts Shows

Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution

May 15, 2026 - Nov 16, 2026 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186

Explore the personal stories, memories, and myths behind the American Revolution in Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution, a compelling exhibition from Historic New England.

Drawing from Historic New England’s extensive collection of artifacts and archival materials, the exhibit examines how the Revolution shaped the lives of everyday people across New England. Through objects connected to individuals, families, and communities, visitors gain an intimate look at the hopes, struggles, loyalties, and sacrifices experienced during the birth of a new nation.

Organized around the themes of Resistance, Loyalty, Liberty, and Memory, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect not only on the events of the Revolution itself, but also on how its stories have been remembered, interpreted, and woven into America’s collective identity over time.

By highlighting deeply personal experiences alongside broader historical narratives, Myth and Memory offers a thoughtful exploration of the Revolution’s enduring legacy and the many voices that helped shape the nation’s history.
Friday - May 15, 2026 - 11:00 am / Monday - November 16, 2026 - 5:00 pm

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

Fairs & Festivals

75th Annual Flag Day

Jun 13, 2026 - Jun 13, 2026 1259 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169

Save the date, Quincy!

Join us for Quincy’s beloved 75th Annual Flag Day Celebration — an evening filled with community spirit, tradition, and patriotic pride.

The festivities will feature a parade, flag-raising ceremony, and spectacular fireworks. Bring your friends, family, and Quincy spirit as the community comes together to celebrate this special tradition.
7:00PM

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

Revolutionary Narratives: From Broadsides to Hollywood

May 13, 2026 - Jun 13, 2026 Massachusetts Historical Society Boylston Street 1154, Boston, MA 02215

Explore how the story of the American Revolution has been debated, interpreted, and reshaped across generations in this thought-provoking hybrid program featuring historians Jordan Taylor and Michael Hattem.

From Revolutionary-era newspapers and broadsides filled with competing opinions and misinformation to later reinterpretations shaped by events like the Civil War and Cold War, this discussion examines how Americans have continually revisited the nation’s founding to define what it means to be American.

Presented during the 250th anniversary of the Revolution, the program will explore how historical narratives evolve over time and how public understanding of independence continues to influence modern conversations about identity, politics, and national memory.

Hosted as a hybrid event, the program includes an in-person reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the discussion at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free for virtual attendees and Massachusetts Historical Society members, with additional accessibility options available through the Card to Culture program.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
617-536-1608

The Aspirations of Ordinary People – Stories of the American Revolution from a local perspective

May 20, 2026 - May 23, 2026 North Andover Historical Society 800 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, MA 01845

Step into the stories of courage, sacrifice, and hope that shaped the American Revolution at the North Andover Historical Society. Through REV250, a special series of exhibits and programs commemorating America’s founding era, visitors can explore preserved artifacts, records, and personal stories that reveal how generations of Andover revolutionaries helped shape the nation’s ongoing pursuit of liberty, equality, and justice.

The exhibit highlights hometown heroes, battlefield experiences, and the enduring ideals that continue to inspire progress today. By bringing local Revolutionary history to life, REV250 offers an engaging and meaningful look at the people and events that helped define America’s story.

The exhibit is open weekly. Visitors are encouraged to check the website for additional details and program information.
8:00AM-2:00PM

Soldiers & Sailors: Patriots of the American Revolution, East Precinct of Yarmouth

May 21, 2026 - May 21, 2026 Cape Cod Museum of Art 60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638

Soldiers & Sailors offers a compelling local perspective on the American Revolution, bringing the stories of Cape Cod patriots to life through historical research, artwork, and personal narratives. Written and researched by Diane Rochelle and featuring illustrations by South Dennis artist Howard Bonington and others, the book highlights the experiences and service of Revolutionary-era soldiers and sailors connected to the East Precinct area.

The publication includes biographies of local patriots buried in Dennis cemeteries, along with summaries of their military service and an extensive bibliography for further exploration. Funded by the Dennis Historical Society and published through Amazon KDP Publishing, the book reflects Diane Rochelle’s deep commitment to preserving and honoring local history.

Books are available for purchase in the museum shop. This event is presented in conjunction with Old Yarmouth: Life During the American Revolution, running April 9 through July 19, 2026.
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
508-385-4477

Museums

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.