UPDATED: In a bit of a timeline twist, the reenactment of the rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes was held, Monday, April 21, at Town Hall, when the National Lancers, the historical equestrian unit, accompany the riders through Arlington. In anticipation of their arrival, there will be poetry readings at the Cyrus Dallin Museum starting at 10 a.m.
The first weekend of events to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War comes to a close today. These reenactments and celebrations begin a multiyear series of events to celebrate the country’s history and the role Arlington – then called Menotomy – has played in the 250 years since, and included the reenactment of the Battle of Menotomy on Sunday, a beer hall at Town Hall on Saturday, and the groundbreaking for the Foot of the Rocks memorial on Thursday.
Arlington, along with the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, and MA250, local groups and businesses have been working on a series of celebrations and commemorations of the country’s semiquincentennial birthday this Patriots Day weekend. In Lexington on Saturday, thousands gathered for the early morning reenactment on the town’s Battle Green and later in Concord, where the British hoped to take a store of ammunition and gun powder in 1775, did a full reenactment followed by a parade.
The Arlington 250 Committee and Arlington Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the town of Arlington and Leader Bank, planned several events and initiatives. Residents and visitors can join in on the celebrations, which include:
Patriots Day celebrations
On Patriots Day, celebrated this year on Monday, April 21, occurs at the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum, 611 Mass. Ave., starting at 10 a.m. This free, family-friendly program will allow attendees to experience Paul Revere-inspired poems, Arlington’s revolutionary history and Cyrus Dallin’s 57-year monument battle, brought to life by Arlington locals.
As part of the reenactment of the historic Battle of Menotomy, attendees can witness another important moment in the town’s history: the reenactment of the ride of Paul Revere and William Dawes on horseback from Boston. Meet in front of Arlington Town Hall, 730 Mass. Ave., to greet Paul Revere. There will also be crafts for kids and refreshments. The events today are at Arlington Town Hall, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Town officials noted that they have been notified by the Lancers that the riders will arrive later this year, at approximately 12:30 pm. 730 Mass. Ave.
Due to limited parking and road closures, attendees of Arlington250 events are encouraged to use public transportation. For more information about what transportation services are available, click here. Any updates regarding transportation will be posted on arlington250.org. Additionally, various organizations and businesses throughout Arlington will be hosting their own events through 2026. See a full calendar of upcoming events here >>
Installation and tours at the Jason Russell House
The Arlington Historical Society is looking for volunteers to lead tours of the historic Jason Russell House on weekends from June through October. Training for the 2025 season will be held Saturday, May 3.
The house saw some of the bloodiest fighting on the first day of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775, and its walls still bear musket ball holes from the fighting. The volunteers will lead people through the house and help visitors get a vivid sense of what happened in the house on that day and of its impact on the family who lived there, both then and in the century to follow. For more information or to sign up, email contact@arlingtonhistorical.org or call the Arlington Historical Society at 781-648-4300.
Arlington Restaurant Week
Arlington’s diverse cuisine, representing all corners of the world, was on display during Arlington Restaurant Week. Running from Sunday, April 12, through oday, 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. For more information, visit arlingtonrestaurantweek.com
Transportation plans
On Monday, April 21, there were some delays on Mass. Avenue for the reenactment rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes. On April 19, two complementary town-operated shuttle bus routes will run between Arlington Center and Lexington Center as well as from Lexington Center through Lincoln and Concord. These shuttles will run on a continuous loop from early morning until evening, according to the town. Expanded MBTA bus service will also be offered from Alewife to Lexington Center via Arlington Heights. The MBTA has announced a list of detours and bus route changes based on upcoming road closures in Arlington Center for Routes 77, 80, 95, and 350. View additional MBTA changes related to MA250 events. The town has announced road closures and other information, see here >>>
Battle of Menotomy reenactment
The Arlington 250 historic events peaked Sunday, April 20, with the reenactment of the historic Battle of Menotomy — as Arlington was then called — at the Jason Russell House and along long Mass. Avenue. (ACMi was streamed live at ACMi.tv and can be viewed online.) This year’s reenactment of the historic Battle of Menotomy featured the Menotomy Minuteman and participants from many historical reenactment groups, beginning at Mass. Avenue and Grove Street in Arlington. This “running” battle will stretch nearly one mile down Mass. Avenue, ending at Mystic Street. Spectators will watch several significant battle engagements. Spectators are only allowed to watch on the northern side of Mass. Avenue.
Foot of the Rocks Battlefield Memorial
The groundbreaking for the Foot of the Rocks Battlefield Memorial was held April 17 at 9 a.m. Work on the memorial is expected to be completed by this summer. The “Foot of the Rocks” is located at the intersection of Mass. Avenue and Lowell Street. Members of the committee working on this commemoration told YourArlington that the panels describing the Battle of Menotomy are being worked on. To learn more about this battle and its implications for the country’s history, you can visit the Old Schwamb Mill, just steps away off of Lowell Street, to see a display on the battle. The Mill is open Tuesday and Saturday.
Menotomy Beer Hall
On Saturday, April 19, from noon to 5:30 p.m., a steady stream of people made their way to Town Hall to enjoy craft brews, local cuisine, live music and community cheer at Menotomy Beer Hall. Hosted the Arlington Historical Society, Arlington Brewing Co. served up two special beers brewed for this celebration to honor those who served in Arlington on the first day of the American Revolution.
“Menotomator,” a double bock, is a rich, bold, dark lager brewed to celebrate the brave souls who answered the call of liberty on the first day of the American Revolution. “Whittemore” is an anti-imperialism strong stout named after Samuel Whittemore, who was shot, bayoneted and left for dead on the first day of the American Revolution, only to recover and live another 18 years in a free country. To view what beers will be available, click here. Menotomy Tavern will serve up a sampling of fare from their Arlington establishment.
Paul Revere’s Ride
A special reenactment of Paul Revere’s legendary “Midnight Ride” to warn the patriots was held on Friday, April 18, and started at Paul Revere House museum in Boston’s North End, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visitors were encouraged to meet Paul and Rachel Revere at home as he prepares to depart on his Midnight Ride. There were historical talks from staff members in the museum’s visitor center. This was a separate celebration from Monday’s Patriots Day events that will bring “Paul Revere” through Arlington.
At 8 p.m., visitors gathered in North Square to witness Revere’s departure from his home, and followed in his footsteps as he made his way stealthily to the waterfront. Along the route in the North End and Charlestown, attendees enjoyed theatrical presentations, fife and drums, historical talks, and remarks from Mayor Wu and other local officials.
Revere’s legendary journey was reenacted on foot, by rowboat, and on horseback. Spectators witnessed his storied journey in the North End, across the harbor, and through the streets of Charlestown. He made stops at the Old North Church, Langone Park, the Charlestown Navy Yard, USS Constitution, the USS Constitution Museum, Boston Harbor, and Charlestown’s City Square throughout the evening. For a complete listing of the evening’s activities, see the National Parks of Boston website.
The Revere reenactor ended his Ride at the Hancock-Clarke house in Lexington from 10 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Daffodil display 
Some work from last fall is now blooming in time for Patriots Day. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce collaborated with the town to plant 10,000 daffodil bulbs along the historic Battle of Menotomy reenactment route. This ambitious project has resulted in “bright and cheerful daffodils will not only mark this historic occasion but also serve as a beautiful and lasting tribute for the community to enjoy for years to come,” according to a Chamber press release.
The Chamber distributed daffodil bulbs to individuals and local groups in October for planting in pre-selected locations along the reenactment route and throughout the town’s business districts. “This is a large-scale endeavor, and we are calling on the entire community to join us in making it a success. The more hands we have, the more beautiful Arlington will be next spring,” Beth Locke, Chamber executive director, said in October. “We’re excited to see so many diverse groups come together for a shared goal that will leave a lasting legacy for our town.”
Art installation
A public art installation that honors the past and inspires the future. The year 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Menotomy and the start of the American Revolution. The town of Arlington is commemorating its historical legacy with many celebratory events, including a public art installation, Riding Through History.
Members of Arlington’s Department of Public Works stand before the art they helped install in front of the Jefferson Cutter House.Two life-size painted horse sculptures that retell some of Arlington’s untold stories as well as a visual landscape of our town’s past and present, will be on view in Whittemore Park and in Broadway Plaza. The horses themselves remind us of the famous Revolutionary War riders William Dawes and Paul Revere.
They are: Menotomy – Dawn of Democracy by artist Dawn Evans Scaltreto, which marks the Battle of Menotomy on April 19, 1775. Considered a pivotal event of the start of the Revolutionary War, this battle showed the British at the Foot of the Rocks and Jason Russell House that the colonists were ready for battle. The scene depicts the flora and fauna that existed then and still exists today, peacefully living in the fields of Arlington. And NeighborHood by artist Renee Majkut. This design is inspired by Arlington’s historical fabrics of the 18th century as well as the current cityscape landscape of our town. The painting maps out neighborhoods by “memory, feeling and experience with playful lines and rich historic color pallets.”
The region celebrates
A ticket lottery was held for tickets to attend the April 17 special screening of “The American Revolution,” the latest film from Emmy Award-winning documentarian Ken Burns. He will be in Concord, on Thursday, April 17, to discuss the film with the audience, which will have residents from area towns in attendance who secured tickets through the lottery. Those who won tickets were notified by April 3.
The film, co-directed by Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, examines how America’s founding “turned the world upside down” and analyzes the virtues and contradictions in the fight for independence. Starting in March, the filmmakers are visiting states across the country to host screenings and conversations with the audiences before the film is released to the public this fall.
Kickoff held on April 6
The Arlington 250 Committee kicked off the townwide celebration featuring multiyear events commemorating local history at the Capitol Theatre on April 6, with a party that was attended by more than 300 people and (a cardboard cutout of) “William Dawes,” the military officer and counter-rider of Paul Revere who made his way through Menotomy during his trek to warn Lexington of a British invasion.
Jan. 17, 2025: Arlington 250 Battle of Menotomy reenactment set for April 20
This news announcement, based on information from the town and the Arlington 250 website, was published Thursday, March 20, 2025, and updated.
