Massachusetts 250 Events Calendar

Welcome to our Massachusetts 250 Events Calendar! Explore can’t-miss events, historic experiences, and celebrations across the state. Plus, visit our Celebrate Massachusetts 250 page for additional information and tips.

Children & Families Historic Museums

We welcome the events that are open to the public. Click here to Submit your Event for FREE

Children & Families

Calling All Kids, Patriots And Sailors: Revolutionary Summer Saturdays

Apr 4, 2026 - Sep 26, 2026 Custom House Maritime Museum, Water Street 25 Newburyport, MA 01950

Enjoy free indoor and outdoor fun for kids every Saturday through the end of September! Families can explore 15 hands-on activity stations, including crafts, water and sand tables, printmaking with Rolling River Printmakers of New England, a bouncy castle, pirate boat with water guns, and even rideable dolphin and elephant sculptures by local artist Jeff Briggs.

The museum’s popular Discovery Center experience will also expand onto the lawn, creating an exciting day of learning and play for children of all ages. This free program is made possible through the generous support of the Institution for Savings and the Local Cultural Council.

In September, the museum will also partner with Imagine Studios, Darius Coombs of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and Jonathan Petty of the Aquinnah Wampanoag to create a traditional 20-foot mishoon (dugout canoe) over several weekends, with plans to launch it on Indigenous Peoples Day, October 11.

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
978-462-8681

Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest

Apr 10, 2026 - May 9, 2026 14 Union Street South, Hamilton, MA 01982

Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the Patriotic PEEPS Diorama Contest! Participants are invited to create miniature scenes from the past 250 years of American history using PEEPS as characters. Entries can depict anything from the Revolutionary War to modern highlights of US history—let your creativity run wild!

Key Dates:

Diorama Drop-Off: April 10–18

Public Voting: April 21 – May 9

Pick-Up: By May 15 (late entries will be disposed)

Guidelines:

One entry per person or team

Dioramas must be submitted with an entry form

Characters must be portrayed by PEEPS

Use a standard shoebox (max 14″x10″)

Entries must be family-friendly and well-constructed

Include a title describing your scene

Dioramas will be displayed during the Revolutionary Library Crawl for public voting. One winner from each category will receive a prize.

Entry form: Download here.

Revolutionary Library Crawl info: Learn more

April 10, 2026 - 9:30 am - May 9, 2026 - 4:00 pm
978-468-5577

Historic

“Expansive Histories of the American Revolution” Free Virtual Lecture Series

Mar 22, 2026 - May 24, 2026 Memorial Street 16, Deerfield, MA 01342

Join Historic Deerfield for a free virtual Winter Lecture Series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This series goes beyond battles and politics to explore the Revolution’s profound impact on Native nations, free and enslaved Black communities, and everyday life across the colonies—from labor and material culture to political and social change.

Lecture Schedule (all at 2 PM, via Zoom):

Jan 25: Dr. Woody Holton, Professor of History, University of South Carolina

Feb 22: Dr. Kathleen DuVal, Carl W. Ernst Distinguished Professor of History, University of North Carolina

Mar 29: Dr. Paul Staiti, Professor of Fine Arts, Mount Holyoke College

All lectures are free and presented virtually. Gain fresh insights into the global and often-overlooked dimensions of the American Revolution.

Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 2:00 pm / Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 2:00 pm
413-774-5588

Patriot’s Day Celebration in Lexington

Apr 14, 2026 - May 14, 2026 Lexington Battle Green Lexington Battle Green, Lexington, MA 02421

Patriots’ Day in Lexington marks the opening moments of the American Revolution with a day of remembrance, reenactment, and community celebration.

At dawn, the historic Lexington Battle Green comes alive as militia and British regulars recreate the events of April 19, 1775, bringing to life the first clashes that helped ignite a revolution. The day continues with parades, ceremonies, music, open historic homes, and family-friendly activities that honor courage, sacrifice, and civic pride.

Blending education, reflection, and live storytelling, the celebration invites visitors and residents alike to experience Lexington’s enduring revolutionary spirit and to connect with the shared history that continues to shape the community across generations.

8AM

Museums

Untold Stories: The Battle of Menotomy, Voices of the Overlooked, & Centennial Commemorations At Arlington Historical Society

Apr 19, 2026 - Oct 31, 2026 7 Jason Street, Arlington, MA 02476

Our new “Untold Stories” exhibition explores the perspectives of often-overlooked communities involved and examines how the people of the Commonwealth commemorated, memorialized, and celebrated the important anniversaries of the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

See website for more details.