How to Celebrate America 250th Birthday in Massachusetts
When:
Friday, May 01, 2026 11:00a -
Sunday, Jul 05, 2026 9:00p
Friday, May 01, 2026 11:00a -
Sunday, Jul 05, 2026 9:00p
Where:
Boston
Surrounding areas
Boston, MA
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Festivals & Fairs, Good for Groups, History, Sports & Active Life
Event website:
https://massachusetts250.org/
Boston is the place to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America. Learn about the history of America’s independence like never before – discover the stories of hidden heroes, watch live reenactments, honor those who have sacrificed their lives, and celebrate 250 years of revolutionaries who paved the way for our future.
Take a look at this list of some of the best MA250 events that are in the Greater Boston area. We’ve also included a few that are easily accessible by the Commuter Rail and that are an hour or less away by car!
Check out the full list of MA250 events across the state. More events will be added throughout the year!
by Yelena Nicolle Salvador
GREATER BOSTON AREA
When: Year-round, special 250th programming all summer
Where: Downtown Boston
Cost: $Varies
Info: The 2.5-mile red-brick path connecting 16 historic sites, from Boston Common to the Old North Church, Paul Revere House, and Bunker Hill Monument, has special MA250 programming all summer long.
The Road to Revolution: Massachusetts and the Independence Movement
When: Ongoing now through Wed. 9/2
Where: Downtown
Cost: Free
Info: Step inside the Old State House, where protest turned into action, and explore the major Massachusetts events of the first year of the American Revolution. Created in partnership with Revolutionary Spaces and the Massachusetts Historical Society, this exhibit puts you right in the middle of 1775. A natural stop if you're already walking the Freedom Trail.
1776: Declaring Independence Exhibition
When: Mondays to Saturdays, starting Fri. 3/6
Where: Back Bay
Cost: Free
Info: Visit the Massachusetts Historical Society for a special exhibit that features manuscripts, artifacts, and other treasures. Find monumental documents like handwritten copies of the Declaration by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, as well as private letters and diary entries.
Museums 250: Mary Baker Eddy and Her Revolutionary Legacy
When: Open daily, starting Thu. 4/23
Where: Back Bay
Cost: Free for youth under 18, $6 for adults
Info: This temporary exhibit explores the life and legacy of one of the only women to found a worldwide religion, tying her revolutionary ideas to the broader story of American independence. The exhibit is part of the library's larger How Do You See the World?® experience, which includes a walk through the famous Mapparium globe.
When: Tuesdays to Saturdays, starting Thu. 4/23
Where: Back Bay
Cost: $10
Info: Check out the Family Heritage Experience at American Ancestors, which is free every Thursday until May 21. There, you can check out the Patriots of Color Exhibition which highlights the stories of Black, Native, and multiracial men and women who helped lead America to independence.
Handwriting the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
When: Every first Tuesday of the month, starting Tue. 5/5
Where: Back Bay
Cost: FREE
Info: Head to the BPL's courtyard and handwrite the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution yourself. The program is self-paced, so stay for the full session or as long as you'd like. Participants can also transcribe from reproductions of John Adams's personal copy of the Constitution, held by BPL's Special Collections.
When: Sun. 5/17
Where: Newton
Cost: Free
Info: Cheer on the annual Salute to Service Parade which will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There will be new floats, special traditions, and other fun surprises for this year’s festivities.
No Recombination Without Representation Show
When: Sat. 6/13, Sun. 6/14, & Sun. 6/21
Where: Cambridge
Cost: Free
Info: 250 years ago, the Cambridge City Council faced a daunting question of who has the power to decide how far scientific discovery can go. Relive the tension, the debate, and more in this live theatrical performance of this hearing that discussed recombinant DNA research. Stay after the show for more conversation about community-centered science!
When: Sun. 6/14
Where: Charlestown
Cost: Free
Info: One of Boston’s longest-running traditions returns to Charlestown for the annual Battle of Bunker Hill Parade, commemorating the first major battle of the American Revolution fought on Breed’s Hill in 1775. Expect marching bands, local groups, historic pride, and classic parade-day favorites as the route winds through Charlestown.
Museums 250: MFA Boston's America at 250 Exhibit
When: Starting Mon. 6/19
Where: Fenway
Cost: $Museum admission cost. FREE on 6/19 & 6/20
Info: The MFA is reimagining its 18th-century galleries in the Art of the Americas Wing this June, bringing together Native and non-native art from across the Americas to explore how artists have shaped and sometimes challenged ideas of nationhood and identity. As part of the Museums 250 initiative, the museum is also spotlighting collection objects tied to the Revolutionary era, from Paul Revere's Sons of Liberty Bowl to Gilbert Stuart's iconic unfinished portrait of George Washington.
When: Thu. 7/2 – Sat. 7/4
Where: Downtown Boston
Cost: Free
Info: This year's Harborfest is unlike any before. The 44th annual festival falls on America's 250th anniversary, making it the biggest Independence Day celebration the city has seen in a generation. Three days of fireworks, historical reenactors, live music at Christopher Columbus Park and the Greenway, art markets, and free family activities across the waterfront.
Boston Pops July 4th Fireworks Spectacular
When: Sat. 7/4
Where: Charles River Esplanade
Cost: Free
Info: Massachusetts was the first state to recognize July 4th, which makes it the best place to celebrate where the Revolution began. We know there’s nothing like spending an Independence Day in Boston, but this year will be even bigger. Celebrate Keith Lockhart’s 30+ anniversary as Pops conductor with a spectacular orchestra performance and fireworks extravaganza right on the Esplanade. This year, three Grammy-winning artists, Chance the Rapper, Lainey Wilson, and Trombone Shorty, will play a FREE concert at this signature event of the Commonwealth’s MA250.
Boston Reading of the Declaration of Independence
When: Sat. 7/4
Where: Downtown Boston
Cost: Free
Info: Every July 4th, the Captain Commanding of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company reads the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House – the same spot where it was first read publicly in Boston in 1776. This year marks the 250th anniversary of that moment.
When: Sat. 7/11 - Wed. 7/15
Where: Boston Harbor
Cost: Free
Info: Cheer on the Grand Parade of Sail where giant ships will be making their way across the Harbor. Then, stay for the festival where you can enjoy public ship boarding, two fireworks shows, and a street parade for everyone to enjoy. There’s nothing like seeing the Harbor full of tall ships – check out and board a slice of history.
Boston Tea Party Special Anniversary Walking Tour
When: Wed. 12/16
Where: North End & Downtown
Cost: $39
Info: Relive the pivotal moments of the Boston Tea Party with a special anniversary walking tour. Join Hub Town Tours as you wander along the Freedom Trail from Downtown to the North End, while learning new facts about the key revolutionary moment in history.
See the full list of MA250 events here.
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
Museums 250: The American Revolution: A Story of the War in 28 Paintings at Cabot House
When: Wednesdays to Saturdays from fall 2025 to summer 2026
Where: Beverly
Cost: Free
Info: This free exhibition consists of 28 paintings commissioned to illustrate Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Sr.'s landmark book on the American Revolution, on view at the Cabot House through July 4, 2026. The works also appear in Ken Burns' upcoming documentary on the Revolution, making this a rare chance to see them in person before the film's release.
Museums 250: The Charles River Museum’s MA250 Project
When: Wednesdays to Saturdays from fall 2025 to summer 2026
Where: Waltham
Cost: Included with general admission
Info: The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation is celebrating Massachusetts' 250th by highlighting Waltham's outsized role in American industrial history, from its origins in the Francis Cabot Lowell Mill to the innovations that shaped the modern world. As part of the MA250 project, the museum has placed "250 Years of Revolutionary Innovation" banners at a dozen sites across Waltham, turning the city itself into an outdoor exhibit through summer 2026.
Museums 250: Concord Museum Celebrates The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution
When: Daily except for Mondays
Where: Concord
Cost: Included with general admission
Info: The Concord Museum is marking America's 250th with two exhibitions rooted in the physical objects of the Revolution, including the lantern from Paul Revere's midnight ride and dozens of artifacts from April 19, 1775. Its special exhibition Revolutionary Legacies goes further, tracing how Americans have remembered and reinterpreted that founding moment across 250 years, pairing historical objects with contemporary works to ask what we choose to commemorate and what gets left out.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Fitchburg Line from North Station to Concord.
Yankee Ingenuity at Old Sturbridge Village
When: Weekends throughout May
Where: Sturbridge
Cost: Included with general admission
Info: Old Sturbridge Village kicks off its MA250 programming with a month of weekend events celebrating New England's role in American innovation. Local makers, small businesses, and historical interpreters come together around four themes: Eat, Move, Play, Work. A great full-day trip outside the city.
Calling All Kids, Patriots and Sailors: Revolutionary Summer Saturdays
When: Every Saturday through September, starting Sat. 5/2
Where: Newburyport
Cost: Free
Info: Every Saturday all summer long, the Custom House Maritime Museum hosts free indoor and outdoor kids' programming centered on the Revolution. Fifteen new hands-on activities, plus the popular Discovery Center experience extended onto the lawn.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station to Newburyport.
When: Sat. 5/16
Where: Concord
Cost: FREE to watch, $75 to register as a rider
Info: Two great reasons to make the trip to Concord this spring. Attend the community Patriots' Day celebration on April 20, then return in May for the second annual Paul Revere bike ride retracing his legendary midnight route.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Fitchburg Line from North Station to Concord.
When: Sat. 5/16 - Sun. 5/17
Where: Fairhaven
Cost: Free
Info: Just an hour outside of the city, Fort Phoenix rests on the waterfront where you can watch a Revolutionary War encampment showcasing. There will be food trucks for savory bites and sweet treats as you watch demos, a cannon fire and a 10-gun salute, and other surprises.
Deborah Sampson Day at the Eustis Estate
When: Sat. 5/23
Where: Milton
Cost: Free
Info: Pack a picnic and bring your family to the Eustis Estate in Milton for some neighborly lawn games and an immersive performance. Learn about Deborah Sampson, a woman who disguised herself to join the Continental Army, and enjoy a Q&A after the show to learn more.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Fairmount Line from South Station to Readville, then a short ride share to the estate.
When: Sat. 6/13
Where: Salem
Cost: $28
Info: Hop on the Commuter Rail and head to Salem for a different history lesson. While this city is known for the 1692 Witchcraft Trials, it also played an important role in the American Revolution. The shot heard round the world almost happened here, and legal Pirates in Salem were the most successful against the British. Take this walking tour and uncover new stories about the Revolution.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station to Salem.
47th Annual Old Newbury Garden Tour
When: Sat. 6/13 - Sun. 6/14
Where: Newburyport
Cost: $40
Info: Make your way to Newburyport for specialty garden tours that honor 250 Years of Growth. Learn about the history of American gardens — this event is perfect for garden designers, horticulturists, and nature lovers! Come explore the best of urban pocket gardens and formal landscapes.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station to Newburyport.
Battle of Gloucester Reenactment
When: Sat. 6/20 - Sun. 6/21
Where: Gloucester
Cost: FREE
Info: Over 500 reenactors recreate the Battle of Gloucester on land and sea across two days at Stage Fort Park. This will be one of the biggest reenactment events in Massachusetts this year. A morning naval battle, an afternoon land battle, a colonial marketplace, and a Revolutionary War encampment fill the grounds all day.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station to Gloucester. A shuttle runs from the station to Stage Fort Park.
Newburyport 250 Declaration of Independence Day: The Die Is Cast
When: Sun. 7/19
Where: Newburyport
Cost: FREE
Info: On July 19, 2026, Newburyport will mark the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the city with a free community commemoration in Market Square, featuring a procession, reenactors, colonial-era music, and a public reading of the Declaration. The event wraps up at the waterfront with the arrival of two schooners and public access to both vessels through 5:30pm.
🚊 MBTA Commuter Rail accessible: Take the Newburyport/Rockport Line from North Station to Newburyport.
See the full list of MA250 events here.
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