Throughout the Greater Merrimack Valley, history comes alive thanks to the dedicated reenactors who call the Valley home. Learning history from a book is good, but few things are more exciting than watching a battle in motion or talking to a “living” person about what their life was like in Colonial times. If history is your passion, visit Lexington, MA to watch historical reenactments of important local events or hear the stories of the people who lived them.
Lexington Battle Green Walking Tours
The Lexington Battle Green Walking Tours provide one-hour tours of the Battle Green led by expert guides in Colonial dress. These reenactors will show you the important landmarks and memorials of this historic site, answering questions in-character about the event and what life was like for the average patriot as they prepared for the Revolution.
Liberty Ride Trolly Tour
Travel back in time with the Liberty Ride Trolly Tour in Lexington. This fascinating, 90-minute guided tour is led by a knowledgeable guide performing as a character for the tour. Wearing authentic period dress, they’ll provide you with well-researched historical facts as you’re driven throughout Lexington and Concord. They’ll keep you informed about the daily life of the Colonists, how they prepared for the upcoming battles, and even how things changed after the war.
While in town, be sure to visit the Lexington Visitor’s Center. Here you can get information on the local attractions, view dioramas, and get tickets for both the Battle Green Walking Tours and Liberty Ride Trolly Tours.
Patriots’ Day Reenactments
Patriots’ Day weekend is a great time to catch historical reenactments in Lexington. As the place where the Revolutionary War began, the town is dedicated to creating memorable reenactments that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
If there’s ever a reason to stay overnight in Lexington during Patriot’s Day weekend, it’s to catch the reenactment of Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride. If you stay up until a quarter to midnight on Sunday, you might catch a Paul Revere reenactor galloping through town on horseback, shouting “The British are coming!” at the top of his lungs. Every Patriots’ Day weekend, this iconic and important event in American history is brought to life, with the ride finishing at Hancock-Clarke House.
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World
The reenactments of the start of the Revolutionary War doesn’t stop with just Paul Revere’s ride. You can catch soldiers gathering on the Lexington Battle Green to reenact the second call to arms for Captain John Parker’s Company of the Militia. Then there’s the sight of the British soldiers marching down Mass Ave to meet the Minutemen to reenact the Battle of Lexington and Concord. These spectacles are brought to life by dedicated performers looking to give visitors an incredible taste of history.
Historical reenactments are the closest you’ll get to time travel without the risk of messing up the timestream. From talking to historic figures to seeing revolutionary battles, the reenactments of Lexington are an unforgettable experience when you visit the Greater Merrimack Valley.