Special Events 2026

Check out all of our special events from historic trades demonstrations to walking tours

NPS Photo

Check back often for summer 2026 special events as we continue the national celebration for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution!

For regularly scheduled programs, please visit our calendar of events.

 

 

June 2026

All events are free and open to the public. No registration required.

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The King of Battle: Artillery in the American Revolution

June 6, 2026
Firing demonstrations at 11 am and 2 pm
Hartwell Tavern, 112 North Great Rd. Lincoln

See how a cannon was loaded and fired during the American Revolution. Here the roar as it is fired. Learn how such weapons were used in battle and why they were so important to the colonists in the lead-up to the outbreak of war in 1775.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man

*Cannon firing dependent on weather and crew numbers.

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"It was the sound of death to us all:" Fiske Hill Battle Walk

Saturday, June 13
3:00 pm until 5:00 pm
Minute Man Visitor Center

Join National Park Ranger Jarrad Fuoss as he explores the Fiske Hill battlefield. This beautiful rolling terrain marks the eastern boundary of the Battle Road Trail in Minute Man National Historical Park. Today the hill comprises about 75 acres of field and forest on the western edge of Lexington, Massachusetts. On April 19, 1775 fighting between Colonial Militia and British Regulars spilled over the crest of Fiske Hill including through the Fiske farm.

This will be a two mile walk. Please bring bug spray, water, and sturdy hiking shoes. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man

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Lexington's Lost Battlefield: Parker's Revenge Battle Walk

Saturday, June 20, 2026
3:00 pm until 4:00 pm
Minute Man Visitor Center

On April 19, 1775 a column of 700 British soldiers desperately fought their way through swarms of militia on the Bay Road from Concord back toward Boston. In the town of Lexington the road crossed a small stream and curved at the base of a small hill. Here, new archaeological discoveries and historical research point to a fierce fight when members of Captain John Parker's Lexington Militia extracted their revenge on the weary British soldiers. Join a Park Ranger on a one-hour guided walk to the battle site, examine the evidence and discover what happened there 251 years ago.

This event co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man National Park

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July 2026

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Reading of the Declaration of Independence with Musket and Cannon Salute

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence at Minute Man

Friday, July 3, 2026
8:30 pm
North Bridge, Concord
Parking available at 174 Liberty St. and 280 Monument St. Concord

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the hillside overlooking Concord’s North Bridge. Following the reading, park staff and volunteers will present a thrilling nighttime musket and cannon-fire salute and music of the Revolution.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man

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Four Score and Seven Years: The Wayside and the American Civil War

Sunday, July 5, 2026
10 am - 4 pm
The Wayside, 455 Lexington Rd. Concord MA

From July 1-3, 1863 the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War raged through the small farming community of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In November of that year President Abraham Lincoln traveled to dedicate a new National Cemetery and deliver his famous “Gettysburg Address.” For Lincoln the American Civil War marked the continuation of the struggles set forth by the spirit of 1776. Although separated by 430 miles Concord and Gettysburg were linked together by blood and ideas. Join a Park Ranger to uncover the connections between Concord Massachusetts and the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man

Wayside House Program Schedule
10 am- House Tour
11 am- Ranger Program
12 pm- House Tour
1:00 pm- House Tour
2:00 pm- Ranger Program
3:00 pm- House Tour
4:00 pm- House Tour

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Learn More!

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  Welcome to your National Park

  Welcome to your National Park

  Plan your visit with park information and hours

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  Experience the park with a ranger!

  Guided Programs

  Ranger Programs Return! If you visit between Memorial Day weekend and the end of October, you may catch one of our daily Ranger programs.

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  Follow the story!

  April 19, 1775: The First Battle

  Learn about the people and events of April 19, 1775!