"People, Plants & Revolution" Public Art Banners and Audio Tour
2025-04-04 - 2025-05-31 | Town of Arlington, MA, Massachusetts Avenue 730, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
April 4 to May 31, 2025
Public Art: Commemorative Banners and Audio Tour
Arlington Center, outside along Mass Avenue
People, Plants & Revolution is the theme for a series of colorful banners and an audio tour commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Arlington, MA. Organized by ArtsArlington, the banners portray the landscape elements and important plants that shaped life in 1775 in Menotomy, as the town was known at the time, a colonial farming village. Learn more about these plants and how people lived, interwoven with revolutionary history, by listening to the audio tour – available anytime and anywhere at www.PlantStories.us. The original silkscreen art used to make the banners is on view at 13FOREST Gallery (through May 23) and the Old Schwamb Mill (through May 31). See versions of the banners up close at Robbins Memorial Town Hall (through September 6) on the second floor. All of the banners and text versions of the audio tour are available at https://artsarlington.org/plants-and-people/.
About the Artists
ArtsArlington’s Public Art Curator Cecily Miller invited artists Suzanne Moseley and Liz Shepherd to design commemorative banners; they were assisted by Lily McDonald and Andrew Palladino.
Suzanne Moseley is an experimental artist, working in printmaking, cyanotype and sculptural formats. She often collaborates, recently with co-artist Liz Shepherd. Her work is in private collections, is often grant-funded and has been exhibited in the US and abroad. Her sculptures from repurposed materials, created with fellow artist Adrienne Shishko, have been featured in Fiber Art Now, The Boston Globe, and New Visionary Magazine. Her ability to work collaboratively garners its own attention, with invitations to discuss her experience, most recently at Berklee College of Music, Harvard Art Museum’s Maker Space and for an upcoming program on Newton Cable News.
Liz Shepherd produces large-scale sculptural installations, which bring to mind ideas about the earthly and the divine. She uses printmaking to enhance objects made of wood or paper. She also produces small, hand-pulled print editions. In the past 15 years she has exhibited in the United States and internationally. Shepherd’s work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Edinburgh College of Art, Syracuse University, Boston Children’s Hospital, the Hanoi (Vietnam) Contemporary Art Centre and the Bernard Zuckerman Museum of Art in Kennesaw, Georgia as well as numerous corporate and private collections. Originally from New York City, Shepherd now lives in Boston. She received her MFA in 2006 from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, which awarded her the prestigious Traveling Fellowship in 2015.
About the Audio Producer
Molly Edwards, Ph.D. produced the audio tour portion of this project. Dr. Edwards is a plant biologist turned science communicator who goes by Science IRL (‘in real life’) online. She is dedicated to telling stories that showcase the humanity and joy of being a scientist and foster a sense of belonging in STEM. In 2022 she received her Ph.D. from Harvard University, where she studied the wild and wonderful petals of columbine flowers. During graduate school she realized her science video hobby was quickly becoming a passion project that would shape her future career. Upon graduating she founded Science IRL Productions and now works with scientists and artists to bring STEM stories to life through digital media.
About ArtsArlington
The Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture – ArtsArlington for short – serves as the umbrella organization for all town-related arts and culture activities. Our mission is to cultivate a sustainable and supportive environment for the arts, enliven public space with accessible creative experiences to strengthen and enrich our community, create opportunities for artists, and invigorate the local economy. Our Public Art Curator, Cecily Miller, organized four projects to commemorate Arlington250 including these commemorative banners as well as work by Nilou Moochhala, Christopher Frost, Asia Kepka, and the fiber artists of Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilting Guild. See https://artsarlington.org

Untold Stories: Public Art Commemorating Arlington 250
2025-04-05 08:00 - 2025-05-23 17:00 (America/New_York) | 13 Forest Gallery, Massachusetts Avenue 167a, Arlington, MA, 02474, United States
On view April 5 – May 23, this 13Forest Gallery exhibition spotlights three major public art projects commissioned by Arts Arlington and planned by Public Art Curator Cecily Miller to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and the critical role of Arlington (formerly the Village of Menotomy) on its very first day of fighting, on April 19, 1775.
Featured artists in the exhibition include Chris Frost and Asia Kepka, Nilou Moochhala, and Suzanne Moseley and Liz Shepherd.
Sat April 26, 4-6PM, “Telling Stories”, talk by curator Cecily Miller and the artists of Untold Stories
Sat May 10, 4-6PM, Show and Tell – a demonstration of natural dyeing techniques and sustainability practices in art and fashion with Asia Kepka.

Arlington Restaurant Week
2025-04-12 - 2025-04-21 | Massachusetts
Arlington Restaurant Week
Sunday, April 12-Monday, April 21
Arlington’s diverse cuisine, representing all corners of the world, will be on display during Arlington Restaurant Week. Running from Sunday, April 12 through Monday, April 21, Arlington Restaurant Week will encompass Patriots’ Day Weekend 2025 and will celebrate 250 years since the Battle of Menotomy which took place at the beginning of the American Revolution. Participating restaurants will feature culinary specials and entertainment.
Arlington offers a thriving arts scene, boutique galleries, independent theaters, diverse dining, public art and access to the Minuteman Bikeway all within five square miles. This blend of history, natural beauty and vibrant arts makes Arlington a destination for foodies and history buffs just in time to kick off the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution.

Concord250: Weaving an Address
2025-04-14 09:00 - 2025-06-14 21:00 | The Umbrella Arts Center, Stow Street 40, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Exhibition: April 14 – June 14, 2025
Opening Reception April 14, 6 p.m.
The Umbrella Arts Center in historic Concord Center will commemorate the semiquincentennial of the American Revolution and “the shot heard round the world” with an ambitious outdoor/indoor public and gallery art exhibition, Weaving an Address, curated by artist Marla McLeod.
For the first time, Weaving an Address combines The Umbrella’s popular Art Ramble public art installation, on view April 15 through October 7 at Brister’s Hill in nearby Walden Woods, with an indoor exhibition (on view April 14 through June 14) in The Umbrella’s Allie Kussin Gallery. The exhibition features site-specific work by eight prominent Black artists combining sculpture, fiber art, installation and live performance inspired by little-known experiences of historical Black inhabitants of Concord and its Walden Woods.
Featured artists in the exhibition are Sharon Chandler Correnty, Ifé Franklin, Stephen Hamilton, Whitney Harris, Ekua Holmes, Perla Mabel, Marla McLeod, Kimberly Love Radcliffe, and Anthony Peyton Young.
Outdoors, large-scale work will be installed on Brister’s Hill, named for Brister Freeman, an enslaved man who won his freedom by serving in the Revolutionary War and then bought the property and lived there along with other formerly enslaved.Indoors at The Umbrella, inter-related fiber artworks will weave narratives from fragmented pasts to offer a vision of how history shapes the present and influences the future.
Supporting community activities include an opening reception on April 14, monthly curator talks, a processional with artist Ifé Franklin, and participation in the town-wide Revolutionary Concordians Trading Card program.
This exhibition is presented as part of the Concord250 commemoration, in partnership with The Walden Woods Project and The Robbins House, in association with Gather 2025, a month-long exploration and celebration of fiber and textile art in Greater Boston, and with permission of Concord Natural Resources Division.
See https://TheUmbrellaArts.org/Weaving for more information about special engagements, wayfinding, artist bios, and background to the exhibition.

Historical Talks Illuminate the Midnight Ride on the 250th Anniversary
2025-04-18 | Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, Boston, 02113, United States
Join Paul Revere House staff people as they review the story of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride on the 250th anniversary of his now famous adventure. Learn new angles to the story that you may have never learned in school and discover how the humble silversmith became famous long after his death at the venerable age of 83, thanks to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow! Talks will repeat throughout the day and are included in the price of admission.

Isaac Davis Trail March - Acton Minutemen commemorate the march to Concord
2025-04-18 06:30 - 10:30 | Old North Bridge, Old North Bridge, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Annual Isaac Davis March on Friday April 18, 2025, at 6:30 am, to commemorate the 250’th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution. Walk with us from the Isaac Davis homestead to Concord’s North Bridge. (7 miles on foot, please be prepared for any weather. We march rain or shine)
Parking for the Isaac Davis Trail March by visitors, guests and member overflow is at the Acton Boxborough High School across the street from Haartz Fabric on Hayward Rd, Acton.
Shuttles provided from Concord North Bridge to Acton until 12:30 PM.

250th Anniversary Paul Revere Midnight Ride Dinner & Candlelight Procession at The Inn at Hastings Park
2025-04-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-18 18:00 - 22:00 | The Inn at Hastings Park, The Inn at Hastings Park | Town Meeting Bistro, Lexington, 02421, United States
On the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere was summoned and given the task of riding on horseback from Charlestown to Lexington, approx. 12.5 miles, to inform two leaders of the Sons of Liberty, John Hancock and Samuel Adams who were staying in Lexington, with the news that British soldiers stationed in Boston were about to march into the countryside northwest of the town. During his famous Midnight Ride, Revere alerted the countryside of the British military movements with shouts of “the Redcoats are coming!” In the early morning on April 19, 1775, Capt. John Parker led 77 local militiamen and faced arriving British troops. Someone — still unknown to this day — fired a shot, which provoked the start of the American Revolution.
To honor the 250th anniversary of this historic ride, The Inn at Hastings Park, Boston area’s only Relais & Châteaux property located in historic Lexington, MA, is offering a special four-course Colonial-themed feast created by Executive Chef Alissa Tsukakoshi paired with local area brews and spirits from 6 – 8 p.m. in a communal dining setting in Town Meeting Bistro. As a nod to Paul Revere, a portrait of him on horseback is featured over the fireplace. This dinner is for adults only, 21+ / $150/person, plus tax & gratuity.
Following the dinner at 8:15, guests gather in the foyer of the Inn to receive a candle lit lantern and are guided on a 10-minute walk to the Hancock-Clark House to watch a 30-minute dramatized and theatrical reenactment as Paul Revere (and William Dawes), fellow Sons of Liberty, rode hard from Boston arriving in Lexington just before midnight to warn Patriot leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who were staying in town, of the impending British raid.

Paul Revere’s Ride Reenactment
2025-04-18 10:00 - 23:00 | Hancock-Clarke House, 36 Hancock Street, Lexington, 02420, United States
Lexington was preparing for battle long before British soldiers arrived on April 19th, 1775. The day before, Paul Revere and William Dawes, fellow Sons of Liberty, rode hard from Boston, arriving in town just before midnight. Their destination: the home of Reverend Jonas Clarke, cousin to patriot leader John Hancock. Their mission: To warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the impending British raid. Their arrival would start the chain of events leading to armed rebellion on Lexington Green at dawn the next day.

Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts
2025-04-18 11:00 - 16:00 | Congregational Library & Archives, Beacon Street 14, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
The Congregational Library & Archives presents a new in-person exhibition, “Sacred Rebellion: Congregationalists in Revolutionary Massachusetts.” The exhibition highlights the stories of Massachusetts Congregationalists drawn from the CLA’s important collections.
By the time the war began, many Congregationalists had embraced a theological justification for war and revolution. They believed that God favored them and that their cause was a morally justified, sacred rebellion. Through sermons, books, poems, songs, and letters, Congregationalists shared their stories, reflected on their moral obligations to each other, and debated questions of liberty and loyalty. But consensus was elusive, and implementation proved difficult and unsatisfactory to many, especially those on the margins.
These discussions shaped the legacy of Congregationalism and the way the Revolutionary War is remembered today, 250 years later.

Midnight Ride Special Anniversary Walking Tour
2025-04-18 15:00 - 18:00 | Massachusetts
Join Hub Town Tours for a special commemoration of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere that began on April 18, 1775. We will travel the iconic Freedom Trail through Downtown Boston and explore the gripping story of a small colonial town careening toward war with the British Empire. This historic walking tour highlights Boston’s principal role in the outbreak of the American Revolution and will conclude in time for guests to enjoy commemorative activities at historic sites including the Paul Revere House and Old North Church.

Carbo Loading Menu at il Casale Lexington before 111th Patriots' Day 5-Mile Road Race
2025-04-18 16:30 - 20:00 | il Casale Lexington, 1727 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, 02420, United States
Located in the heart of Lexington Center, il Casale Lexington will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington with a carbo-loading menu ahead of the 111th Patriots’ Day 5-mile road, revolutionary-inspired specialty cocktails, a themed live jazz brunch, and extended hours to accommodate the influx of visitors. Additional details below:
Carbo Loading Menu (Fri, April 18th from 4:30-9pm): il Casale Lexington will offer a carbo loading menu for dine-ins on April 18 ahead of 111th Patriots’ Day 5-Mile Road Race on April 19, which will feature its Tufoli al Pomodoro (tubular pasta, San Marzano tomato sugo, grana Padano, basil) at ½ off, Tagliatelle Bolognese (9 hour ragu of beef, pork, veal, chicken, mirepoix, vino Sangiovese, a little sundried tomato paste, sage), Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare (shrimp, mussels, white wine saffron broth, garlic, parsley), and more.

Robbins Ride, Acton Massachusetts
2025-04-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Acton, Ma, Concord Road, Acton, MA, 01720, United States
Samuel Prescott, it is thought, arrived in Acton, after alarming and leaving Concord, where he awoke Captain Joseph Robbins, one of Acton’s militia leaders, at about 3 in the morning of the 19th. Upon hearing the news, Captain Robbins had his 13-year-old son saddle up their horse, whereupon the young boy took off with (or probably without) Prescott across town to alarm Captain Isaac Davis of the Acton Minutemen, and Francis Faulkner and Deacon Hunt, of Acton’s other militia unit.
We commemorate this heroic deed today as Robbins’ Ride, and for the purposes of safety and practicality, we combine the riders into one or two adult rider(s), but the rider still makes the rounds to all 4 stops that were alarmed on that fateful early morning in April of 1775, calling out “The Regulars are out of Boston – gather your units and head to Concord!”
We begin at 5PM FRIDAY APRIL 18:
Robbin’s House site, Concord Rd
Isaac Davis House Hayward Rd,
Faulkner House, High Street,
Liberty Tree Farm, Liberty Street.
Onlookers and public visitors are asked to detour around horse and rider with police escort and use an alternate route to the three locations after the start of the event and allow Minutemen priority in their vehicles first, from each location.

Irish Contribution to America/America 250
2025-04-18 17:00 - 21:30 | Massachusetts
Celebrate in Menotomy/Arlington where most of the battle was fought. The bloodiest, where the Irish joined the Minuteman, where canons were sunk and history has been hidden.
Celebrate with music and education at each stop Friday 4/18 in Arlington. Watch Paul Revere’s ride at 10 p.m.

Paul Revere Bids Farewell
2025-04-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, Boston, 02113, United States
Encounter Paul and Rachel Revere in their home as he prepares to depart on his Midnight Ride. Tour the museum’s Visitor Center, where museum staff will share the full story of Revere’s adventures on April 18, 1775.
This Open House is FREE but admissions will be limited by the space constraints of the historic home.
As the evening progresses, folks are encouraged to gather in North Square to witness Revere’s departure from his home around 8:00 PM, and then follow in his footsteps as he makes his way stealthily to the waterfront.
As the evening progresses, gather in North Square to witness Revere’s departure from his home, and follow in his footsteps as he makes his way stealthily to the waterfront.

Paul Revere's Ride to Revolution
2025-04-18 17:30 - 22:00 | Old North Church, Salem Street 193, Boston, MA, 02113, United States
On the evening of April 18, 2025, Boston will commemorate the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s legendary Midnight Ride, a pivotal moment in American history. Through immersive activities, participants can engage directly with historic and cultural sites in the North End and Charlestown to be a part of Boston’s revolutionary legacy. Follow Paul Revere’s departure from Boston as he walks, rows, and begins the ride that spurred the American Revolution. The commemoration features performance arts, storytelling, and crafts, bringing history to life against the backdrop of Boston’s iconic landscape.
The evening begins with an open house at the Paul Revere House in the North End, before Paul Revere traces his storied route from across the harbor, and through the streets of Charlestown. Spectators can follow on foot from the Paul Revere House to the US Coast Guard Station Boston in a lantern-lit “parade,” and from the USS Constitution Museum to Charlestown City Square. They can also line the Harborwalk in Langone Park in the North End, and in Charlestown to watch the row across the water, and on Main Street to witness Paul Revere’s race to alert the American Minutemen horseback.
For a full schedule of events and times of activity beginning from 5:30 pm please visit Website for the Paul Revere House and the Charlestown Preservation Society.

The Osgoods - 250 Years Ago They Started A Revolution
2025-04-18 18:00 - 20:00 | North Andover Historical Society, 800 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, 01845, United States
Doors at 6 p.m./Presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Based on shared research about their families, cousins Rich Pitra and Kathleen Osgood will bring their ANCESTRY CLUB research to North Andover on the eve of the 250th anniversary of our town’s involvement in the early days of the American Revolution.
From the “shot heard round the world” on April 19, 1775, to September 3, 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the Osgoods fought in The Revolution. Now, 250 years later, Katie and Rich will highlight the family who fought in the opening battles for American Independence, including the Fryes and Osgoods from Andover, the Osgoods and Prescotts from Lancaster, and the Hales from Hollis, Massachusetts. The presentation will follow their routes to Lexington and Concord and on to the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Paying Homage to Harriet Powers: A Revolutionary Quilter
2025-04-18 18:00 - 2025-04-19 16:00 | Mystic Open Studio, Massachusetts Avenue 785, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
In celebration of the American Revolution’s ideals of freedom and equality, ArtsArlington has invited the fber artists of Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild to share their powerful quilt blocks on Patriots Day Weekend. Guild members Mada Coles Galloway, Lesyslie Rackard & Tarsha-Nicole Taylor will be at Mystic Open Studio during visiting hours to share their perspectives and expertise; organized by Juandamarie Gikandi.
The Princeton Sankofa Stitchers Modern Quilt Guild (PSSMQG) honors the legacy of African American quilting by celebrating Harriett Powers (1837–1910), a Black quilter and folk artist born enslaved in Madison County, Georgia. PSSMQG has faithfully recreated Powers’ “Pictorial Quilt” in a modern context, using their own vibrant fabrics and contemporary sensibilities.
Powers’ quilts are considered some of the fnest examples of African American art and have made lasting contributions to American cultural heritage. Only two of her quilts are known to survive: the “Bible Quilt” (1886), held at the Smithsonian Institution, and the “Pictorial Quilt” (1888), housed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Mrs. Powers used appliqué, machine stitching, and hand stitching to create these quilts, which depict Bible stories, prophecies, and astronomical events.
Related Events
OPENING RECEPTION:
Thursday, April 17, 6 to 8 pm
VISITING HOURS
Friday, April 18, 2 to 5 pm
(Coincides with Stitching Bee* organized by Mystic Open Studio; * $10 participation fee for Stitching Bee)
Friday, April 18, 6 to 8 pm
(on view during Drum Circle organized by Mystic Open Studio (artists not present) FREE)
Saturday, April 19, 11am–4pm
(Coincides with tours of the historic Jason Russell House & Menotomy Beer Hall at Town Hall – FREE)
Hosted by Mystic Open Studios
785 Mass Avenue, Arlington, MA
www.mysticopenstudio.com
Exhibit free and open to all!

Burying Ground Tour 1: Old Hill and Newburyport's Road to Revolution
2025-04-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Old Hill Burying Ground, Greenleaf Street 25, Newburyport, Massachusetts, 01950, United States
Join Ghlee Woodworth and Bethany Groff Dorau for a fascinating journey through history as we explore the Old Hill Burying Ground. Discover the stories of the men and women who played a vital role in the Revolutionary War.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the past and uncover the secrets buried in this historic site.
Important: Please wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The tour involves walking on uneven terrain.
Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Revolution’s Edge: Costumed Reading of the Hit Play
2025-04-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Paul Revere Mall, Unity Street 21, Boston, Massachusetts, 02113, United States
To kick off Boston’s Patriots’ Day weekend celebrations in partnership with the City of Boston, Old North Illuminated will stage a free reading of the hit play Revolution’s Edge behind Old North Church on Paul Revere Mall. Mayor Michelle Wu and other local officials will attend the play and give remarks to commemorate this historic anniversary. Written by Patrick Gabridge and produced by Plays in Place, Revolution’s Edge is a gripping 45-minute historical drama that ran at Old North Church in the summers of 2023 and 2024. Guests will be greeted with live music before brief speaking remarks welcome the crowd and introduce the 45-minute costumed read of the play. Old North’s lanterns will light up soon after the play’s conclusion, at the beginning of the reenactment of Revere’s row across the Charles River.

Shadows of 1775
2025-04-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Centre Cong. Church Chapel & Meeting House on Common, Lynnfield, MA, 01940, United States
An original play telling the story of Lynnfield on April 18-19 through the voices of the Lynnfield Militia members. their families, and other townspeople.
It will be led by a narrator who calls on various characters sitting in the audience. Characters, (who are real people from 1775 Lynnfield) tell their individual stories, which, in turn, tells the whole story. Actual words are used whenever possible.
The play takes place at the Centre Congregational Church Chapel on Summer Street, and refreshments will be across the street in the 1714 Meeting House on the Common.
The event is free and open to the public.

Event Website: https://www.lynnfieldhistoricalsociety.org/lhs–revolution-250.html

250th Anniversary Lantern Service Featuring Heather Cox Richardson
2025-04-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Old North Church, Salem Street 193, Boston, MA, 02113, United States
The Old North Church is offering a traditional Lantern Service on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 7:00pm in honor of the 250th anniversary of the “two if by sea” signal from the church’s steeple on the eve of the American Revolution. Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, acclaimed author and professor of history at Boston College, will deliver the keynote address. Organized by Old North’s clergy and congregation and modeled on the service offered for the 200th anniversary in 1975 with Pres. Gerald Ford, this 250th Anniversary Lantern Service recalls the lights of freedom and encourages reflection on the meaning of faith, freedom, and American democracy today. It will include inspirational music; Paul Revere’s own recollection of his historic ride and Old North’s signal lights; Heather Cox Richardson’s address; and prayers for our nation as we begin our Semiquincentennial. The service will culminate with the lighting of the church’s historic lanterns.

Good Friday Procession to the Battle Green
2025-04-18 20:00 - 22:00 | St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to Lexington Battle Green, Meriam Street 17, Lexington, Massachusetts, 02420, United States
All are invited to the Battle Green on Friday evening, April 18th to honor those who perished in the Battle of Lexington 250 years ago. This brief commemoration will be part of the annual Good Friday Procession which will commence from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 17 Meriam Street at approximately 8:15 pm. The eight colonists who gave their lives for our country on Lexington’s Battle Green on April 19, 1775, will be remembered when the Lamentations procession reaches the Battle Green. For more information visit www.stnicholaslex.org or follow St. Nicholas GOC of Lexington MA on Facebook.
