Arlington, MA

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Apr

CeremonyFeatured

Patriots' Day Commemoration at the Jason Russell House

Jason Russell House Museum, 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA

Annual Patriots' Day ceremony and open house at the Jason Russell House Museum, site of the bloodiest fighting during the Battle of Menotomy on April 19, 1775. The program typically includes wreath-laying, musket demonstrations, historical talks, and tours of the house where Jason Russell and eleven other Americans were killed during the British retreat from Concord. The bullet holes from the battle are still visible in the house.

FreeHeld on or near Patriots' Day (third Monday of April); exact date varies by year. Contact Arlington Historical Society to confirm.More info →

Apr

Ceremony

Samuel Whittemore Ceremony

Samuel Whittemore Park / Whittemore Monument, Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA

Annual observance honoring Samuel Whittemore, the oldest known combatant of the American Revolution, who at age 78 single-handedly engaged British soldiers near what is now the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Mystic Street on April 19, 1775. He was bayoneted, shot in the face, and left for dead, yet survived to age 96. A ceremony is held at or near the Samuel Whittemore monument with remarks by local officials and historical society members.

FreeTypically held on or around Patriots' Day in April; contact Arlington Historical Society to confirm exact date.

Apr

Reenactment

Arlington Patriots' Day Parade and Reenactment

Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington Center, Arlington, MA

Arlington's annual Patriots' Day observance includes a parade along Massachusetts Avenue — the original route of the British retreat from Concord — with participation by militia reenactors, fife and drum corps, town officials, and community groups. The event commemorates the Battle of Menotomy, the deadliest engagement of April 19, 1775, and often includes musket firing demonstrations and living history presentations along the parade route.

FreeHeld on Patriots' Day (third Monday of April); confirm with Town of Arlington or Arlington Historical Society.

Apr

Guided Tour

Old Burying Ground Tour and Memorial

Old Burying Ground, Pleasant Street, Arlington, MA

Guided walking tours of the Old Burying Ground on Pleasant Street, where many of Arlington's earliest settlers and Revolutionary War participants are buried, including victims of the Battle of Menotomy. Tours are led by Arlington Historical Society volunteers and cover the history of the town from its colonial origins through the Revolution. Special observances are often held around Memorial Day and Patriots' Day.

FreeTours typically offered in spring and fall; contact Arlington Historical Society to confirm schedule.More info →

Date

TBD

Lecture

Menotomy History Lecture Series

Jason Russell House Museum, 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA

The Arlington Historical Society hosts periodic lectures and programs at the Jason Russell House Museum and other venues focusing on Arlington's Revolutionary War history, including the Battle of Menotomy, the British retreat, and the lives of local participants. Guest historians, authors, and archaeologists present research on the town's role in the opening day of the American Revolution.

Free or small donationLectures held throughout the year, often concentrated in spring; contact Arlington Historical Society for current schedule.More info →