Lex250

Annual Reenactment of the Lexington Tea Party
2024-12-14 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
On December 13, 1773, three days before the Boston Tea Party, the Lexington Town Meeting concluded a multi-day debate with a resolution to stop purchasing or drinking imported British tea. The crowd spilled out onto the common behind the meeting house and made a bonfire, throwing the entire town’s supply of tea into it.
Each year, we reenact this occasion with a day of tea history! Join us for fun, interactive activities to learn more about why tea was so important to the Revolution. Meet with the Lexington residents of 1773 to hear their side of the story, find out where tea comes from, and end the day by gathering around the fire and burning the tea!
12:00 – 3:00 PM: Drop-in activities upstairs at Buckman Tavern
12:30 PM: The Lexington Minute Men practice military drill to ready themselves for the coming conflict
1:00 PM: The 18th century townspeople of Lexington (led by local Boy Scouts) begin to build a fire to destroy the detested tea
1:30 PM: William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps rallies the crowd with patriotic music
1:45 PM: THE BURNING OF THE TEA
2:00 PM: Program conclusion with music from William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps and a musket salute from the Lexington Minute Men
This event is presented in partnership with the Lexington Minute Men, the Chinese-American Association of Lexington, Boy Scout Troop 160, and Mark T. Wendell Tea Company.

Holiday POPS! Kids POPS!
2024-12-08 03:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-06 16:00 - 20:30 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 44106, United States
December 6 & 8, 2024 Holiday POPS!
Kids POPS! 4:00 PM
Holiday POPS! 7:30 PM
Sunday matinee (Dec 8) 3:00 PM
With Lexington Children’s Chorus and New World Chorale. Program still to be developed.

Mandarin Glow Year-end Party
2024-12-07 15:00 | Clarke Middle School, 17 Stedman Rd, Lexington, MA
Celebrate the end of the year with the **Mandarin Glow Year-End Party**, a vibrant and festive event co-hosted by the New Legacy Cultural Center (NLCC) and Lexington Community Education (LCE) in collaboration with the LPS Mandarin classes. Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with entertainment, cultural activities, and community fun!
**Date:** December 7, 2024
**Location:** Clarke Middle School, Lexington, MA
Event Highlights:
**Performances:** Enjoy captivating performances in the auditorium from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, showcasing the talents of students and local performers.
**Interactive Booths:** From 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, visit the cafeteria for hands-on activities, including arts and crafts, games, and opportunities to learn more about Mandarin language and culture.
**Community Celebration:** Connect with friends, teachers, and families while celebrating the accomplishments of the past year.
This event is open to all, and we encourage participants to come and enjoy a fun-filled evening that highlights the beauty of Mandarin language and culture.
Mark your calendars and join us for this glowing celebration! Learn more: https://newlegacyculturalcenter.org/

Thanksgiving Interfaith Service & Reception
2024-11-24 15:00 | First Parish Church, 7 Harrington Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
This service is open to all Lexingtonians, regardless of faith or belief, as an opportunity to come together and celebrate with thanks what we have. A reception will follow. The offering will be donated to the Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry.
Church website: fplex.org

The Will To Live Concert by Lexington Symphony
2024-11-23 19:30 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 44106, United States
Ives | Three Places in New England 1st Movement
(The ‘St. Gaudens’ in Boston Common, Col. Shaw
& his Colored Regiment)
Nielsen | Symphony No. 4
Holst | The Planets
All ages.
Written in 1916, Nielsen said the word Inextinguishable sums up his Fourth Symphony – “the elemental will to live …. Music is Life. As soon as even a single note sounds in the air or through space, it is the result of life and movement.” These three works exemplify the human spirit that was America in the Revolutionary War. The Ives is a very local Massachusetts story. The Nielsen and the Holst were written in the same year and were influenced by what was in the air in WWI – again, humanity’s desire to live in Freedom from oppression and the forces of evil.

Voices on the Green: "Better Together"
2024-11-22 18:30 - 20:00 | First Parish Church, 7 Harrington Road, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
Voices on the Green, First Parish in Lexington’s live storytelling and music series now in its seventh season, is partnering with the Lexington 250 Celebrations Committee to present the first of four shows that celebrate the 250th anniversary of the conflict on Lexington’s green that is often considered the beginning of the war for independence. But prior to the flashpoint of April 19, 1775, the colonists in this town had realized that they were “better together.”
In today’s Lexington, and throughout its history, friendships, marriages, protest groups, sports teams, choruses, fraternal organizations, houses of worship, twelve-step programs, cultural affinity groups, advocacy groups, and governments all share the same commonality —they bring people together with the hope that more can be achieved together than alone. In the first of four shows celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Town of Lexington, our production will focus on how we are “Better Together” as shown in both historic and contemporary Lexington.
The show, featuring six storytellers and four musical performances, is hosted by award-winning spoken word artist Regie O’Hare Gibson. And for each show, Voices on the Green partners with a community organization carrying forward work that aligns with the performance theme. The community partner for this show is Lexington Lyceum Advocates, who are focused on re-energizing the spirit and synergies that come from people gathering in common space to promote dialogue and advance justice in our town. Join us to enjoy an evening when we are all “Better Together.” Doors open at 6:30 pm. All are welcome.
Learn more: www.voicesonthegreen.org

Revolutionary Rum Craft Cocktail Class
2024-11-21 18:00 - 20:00 | The Inn at Hastings Park, 2027 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
During this 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington Commemorative Year, rum will be the focus of this craft cocktail class. Rum is the focus of this craft cocktail class. During the colonial era, Boston was booming in the business of molasses distillation and rum became plentiful. It was the preferred alcoholic drink of American colonists and, on average, colonists consumed 3.7 gallons annually per head by the time of the American Revolution! Today, rum is again at the top in popularity. The Inn at Hastings Park’s mixology instructor, Dipendra Karki, leads this hour-and-a-half guided craft cocktail class. Guests enjoy delicious bar snacks while learning the basics of building the perfect rum cocktails along with take away tools to practice the craft at home. What’s included: introduction to various bar tools, learning measurements and pour counts, building rum cocktails, creating creative garnishes, and introduction to infusions.
Must be 21+ to participate. $125/person.

Purchase tickets: https://www.innathastingspark.com/experience/featured-experiences-and-events/250th-anniversary-experiences/#!/e/revolutionary-rum-craft-cocktail-class-nov-21st-2024-1036c2c0/participants/a644a5b0-471d-4ad9-90ae-b5b2601a345d

Music of Resistance, Resilience and Hope
2024-11-17 15:00 | Maxwell Hall, 33 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
The Concord Chamber Music Society (CCMS) will present its first concert in Lexington during its celebratory 25th Anniversary Season, in Maxwell Hall at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum. Founded in 2000 by Boston Symphony Orchestra Violinist Wendy Putnam, the Concord Chamber Music Society has come to be known and appreciated for providing unique opportunities to experience world-class chamber music in intriguing, personal, and multi-faceted ways. Artists often share spontaneous insights about the music from the stage, and audience members enjoy interacting with musicians after the concerts.
The CCMS concert on November 17th features renowned pianist and composer Marc-André Hamelin, joined by Violinists Wendy Putnam and Lucia Lin, Violist Kim Kashkashian and Cellist Cristine Lee. Known worldwide for his unrivaled blend of consummate musicianship and brilliant technique, Hamelin has been honored with multiple Juno Awards and Grammy nominations throughout his career.
The program will include Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello, the piano quartet Concordance by Yehudi Wyner, and Hamelin’s own Piano Quintet, Nowhere Fast.
Ticket are $47 – $69, including fees: https://concordchambermusic.org
The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library is ADA accessible and offers free on-site parking.

2024 Rising Star Quilt Show
2024-11-16 10:00 - 17:00 | Arlington Town Hall, 730 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA, 02420, United States
Don’t miss the 2024 Rising Star Quilt Show! Catch a rare glimpse of over 100 unique hand-crafted quilts that will be on display on November 16 from 10 am until 5 pm, and on November 17 from 10 am until 4 pm at Arlington Town Hall. In celebration of the upcoming Semiquincentennial, this year’s challenge theme will be “Freedom”. There will also be handmade items available for purchase in the boutique and a café selling beverages and baked goods. Tickets for this year’s raffle quilt “Triangle Party” will be available at the show. This colorful quilt, a collaborative effort by RSQ members, will be on display at our show as well. Back-by-popular demand this year are “Small Fiber Works.” These 5”x7” gems, hand made by members, sell for just $10 each and will fit easily into a picture frame or can be mailed. They make beautiful and affordable gifts.
Admission is $8; children 12 years old and under are admitted free. Visit RSQ’s website for more details.
Hope to see you there!

Gardening Beyond the Horizontal Plane, Planted Walls and Inclines
2024-11-13 10:30 | Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Warren Leach is the owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth, MA that displays gardens designed by Warren. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society honored Warren with a gold medal for his horticultural expertise and landscape design in 2010. He is a speaker and educator at many horticultural institutions, botanic gardens and professional organizations throughout the Northeast and has taught courses at Univ of Rhode Island, Brown Learning Comm, R.I School of Design Continuing Education and the Arnold Arboretum.
Warren’s talk will cover how planting the vertical plane can add drama to a garden space as well as new possibilities. Planting a steep slope is more dramatic than a wall. Warren Leach will explore green walls and ramparts in the landscape. He will show their construction and design application in the garden as well as the plants that inhabit the vertical space.
Learn more: https://lexgarden.org/programs-events/

Book Chat on the Revolutionary Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff
2024-11-12 19:00 | Munroe Tavern, 1332 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
The Revolution is coming! New for 2024-25, our Book Chat series will examine books and biographies that explore the people and legacy of the American Revolution – just in time for 250th anniversary celebrations.
Stacy Schiff’s latest book explores one of the most pivotal figures in the Battle of Lexington – who was not even from Lexington! When Paul Revere rode into town on the night of April 18th, 1775, his mission was to alert Adams and John Hancock – two of the most radical and well-connected revolutionaries in Massachusetts – that the British raid on military supplies in Concord may include their arrest for treason. The need for the leader of the Revolution to hide in a sleepy suburban town initiated a chain of events that would change American history forever. But how did a man from an affluent family become the fiery politician we know today, who orchestrated some of the most important events of the Revolution? Join us for a discussion on Schiff’s book and Adams’s life to find out!
Please note that due to construction at the Depot, Book Chats for the 2024-25 season will take place in the archives and Research Center at Munroe Tavern.
$10 members, $15 nonmembers
Get Tickets

“Join or Die”: Film Screening and Discussion
2024-11-12 19:00 | Lexington Venue, 1794 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02140, United States
Join the Lexington Lyceum Advocates and The Lexington Observer for a screening of “Join or Die”, which follows the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam. The Bowling Alone author’s research into America’s decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy’s present crisis.
Flanked by influential fans and scholars – from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker – as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, Putnam explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most important, what can we do about it?
After the film, we invite you to stay for a short, facilitated discussion. Proceeds will support future civic events like this and the Lexington Venue.
If your organization is interested in joining as a co-sponsor and getting the message out about building community in Lexington, please let us know at events@lexlyceum.org!

Ghosts and Graves
2024-10-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
The spirits of the Old Burying Ground are eager to bring Lexington’s past back to life and share with you the tales of what brought them to the grave on this special candlelight tour. As you walk along the winding paths of Lexington’s oldest graveyard, hear from John Parker, leader of the Lexington militia on the fateful first day of the American Revolution, Sarah Childs, who lost six children during an epidemic in 1778, and more!
For ages 5 and up; some walking required. Tours cover half a mile and last approximately 45 minutes.
Tours will depart every five minutes from Buckman Tavern between 6:30 and 7:15 PM.
Event is rain or shine; in the event of heavy rain, this tour will take place inside Buckman Tavern.
Members: $10 adults, $6 children
Non-Members: $15 adults, $8 children

Stories in Stone Graveyard Tour
2024-10-26 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Visit over three centuries of Lexington’s past on a walking tour of the historic Old Burying Ground. Beautiful gravestone artwork – from skulls and crossbones to willow trees and urns – reveal how our ancestors grappled with the concept of death. Discover how mortuary art has changed over time, and meet some of Lexington’s most famous inhabitants along the way!
Leaves from Buckman Tavern; total walking distance about one mile.
$10 members, $15 nonmembers

Drone Show Event
2024-10-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Town Fields, Worthen Road, Lexington, MA, United States
Celebrate Light & Liberty with an unforgettable experience as Lex250 presents…Weekend of Light Drone Show Extravaganza! This event marks six months to go until the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and the start of the American Revolution, April 19, 2025.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS

Diwali Spectacular
2024-10-19 16:00 - 19:30 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 44106, United States
Every year, Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL) puts on a Diwali event full of food, mehndi, multi-cultural performances, and of course a dance party for the audience to join in on the artistic expression.
This year with the 250 celebration approaching, Diwali feels even more important. Diwali is a time for Indians of all backgrounds to celebrate and commit ourselves to making choices that move us toward enlightenment and away from ignorance and vice. While the Indian community revels in its shared cultural history and experiences, our true sense of belonging comes from our willingness to care for each other despite our differences.
With belonging redefined in enlightened Diwali-inspired terms, this year we want to extend a special invitation to each of our fellow Lexington community members, regardless of background, to come and celebrate Diwali, 250 years of a America’s great multi-cultural experiment, and strengthen our bonds of belonging and cooperation as we head into November together.
Please join us at Cary Hall for a joyful dinner from Nirvana, learning, and making friends on October 19th from 4pm to 7:30pm.
Tickets are all-inclusive and are available here: https://www.indianamericansoflexington.org/tickets

Six Months to Go!
2024-10-19 | MA
Check back for more details about this event as it nears.

Reconstruction and the “Moral Sense of the Nation” with Dr. Robert Bellinger
2024-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Dr. Bellinger is a public historian with a background in Black Studies and almost half a century of experience as an educator, and a Professor Emeritus in History Suffolk University. He has served as a consultant and historian for documentary films, most notably the well-received documentary Birth of a Movement (2017).
Dr. Bellinger has been engaged in public history projects at historic sites, monuments, and installations. Recently Dr. Bellinger completed a research project with the Lexington Historical Society on the history of Black people in Lexington 1690-1800, to expand the understanding and interpretation of the history of this Massachusetts community. A recent inductee into the Old Middlesex Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Dr. Bellinger also serves on several boards, including for the Robbins House in Concord, the Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury, and Middleton Place in Charleston, South Carolina. QUESTIONS? Email events@lexlyceum.org.
This event is co-sponsored by the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington. A community reception will follow.
Tickets

Into the Thaw
2024-10-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 44106, United States
In 2024, Minuteman National Historical Park and Walden Pond were named as among the top 11 endangered historic sites in America, in part due to climate change. The alterations to our natural environment during the climate crisis have far-reaching consequences to the preservation of historic structures like those we steward in Lexington and Concord, as well as the natural historical landscape.
More than 40 years ago, park ranger Jon Waterman took his first journey to Alaska’s Noatak River. Astonished by the abundant wildlife, the strange landscape, and its otherworldly light, he spent years of his life exploring Arctic North America on extended sea kayaking, packrafting, skiing, dogsledding, and backpacking journeys—often alone for weeks at a time. After three decades away from the Noatak, he returned with his son, and amid a now-flooded river bereft of the once-plentiful caribou, he was shocked by the changes. The following year, 2022, he took one final journey to film and document the climate crisis across the North in his new book, Into the Thaw (Patagonia Press)—the subject of his October 17 image-intensive presentation.
A frequent National Geographic grantee and NEA Literary Fellow, Waterman (Lexington High class of 1974) is the author of 17 books.
$10 Lexington Historical Society members, $15 nonmembers

'Roast Revolution' Supper Club
2024-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | The Inn at Hastings Park, 2027 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
A revolutionary spin on roasts…the classic versions have endless possibilities for variation. Sunday roast will never be dull again! This revolutionary foodie experience is an interactive feast of the senses and guides guests through the execution of a sumptuous contemporary roast dinner (with ideas for meat & fish) and inspired veggies plus a rib-sticking dessert within a themed dinner party setting. Begins at 6 pm with welcome bubbles while crafting hors d’oeuvres. Then, guests create a three-course sit-down roast dinner with wine pairings. Participants receive a signature apron and American Revolution-themed event favors. Guests can create an evening with an overnight stay and receive a 15% discount on nightly room rates.
Tickets can be booked: https://resy.com/cities/lexington-ma/venues/town-meeting-bistro/events/supper-club-all-about-roasts-2024-10-16?seats=2&date=2024-08-03

Making Meaning and Memories: The Creation of the Lexington Women’s Monument with Meredith Bergmann, Celeste Freeman and Jessie Steigerwald
2024-10-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
This special panel event features sculptor Meredith Bergmann, designer of the newly unveiled Lexington Women’s Monument. The work is called “Something Is Being Done” and this panel will include both descendants of women commemorated in the monument, as well as members of the LexSeeHer Research Team. The monument recognizes more than twenty women and girls. Learn more about both the creation of the monument, and the way community members have engaged with the work since the unveiling.
For over 40 years, Meredith Bergmann has been making sculpture that deals with complex themes in an accessible, beautiful, and provocative way. Working within the tradition of narrative sculpture, she draws on her love of history of art, literature, and mythology to make the past speak to the present. Blending the sensuality and power of representational sculpture with her own subtle sense of mischief, her work evokes multilayered responses. She works on both public and private monuments, exploring issues of history, social justice, race, human rights, different abilities, and the power of music and poetry. Her work has been shown in more than two dozen exhibitions and appears in over a dozen institutional collections. Her public commissions include the Boston Women’s Memorial on Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay, the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in New York City’s Central Park, the FDR Hope Memorial in Roosevelt Island, and The Lexington Women’s Monument.

Tickets: https://lexingtoncommunityed.org/class/hurley-event-photography-making-meaning-and-memories-the-creation-of-the-lexington-womens-monument-with-meredith-bergmann-celeste-freeman-and-jessie-steigerwald/

Indigenous Peoples Day Conservation Walk
2024-10-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Estabrook School Parking Lot, 117 Grove Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Walk led by Fran Ludwig to identify and discuss plants, animals and minerals and how they were used by Native People. This walk is sponsored by Citizens for Lexington Conservation.

Lexington's 1st Indigenous People's Day Event
2024-10-14 09:00 - 14:00 | Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
12-3pm: Free event will have music, dancing & storytelling
12-1 pm: Redhawk Singers & Dancers
1:15-2:15pm: Haudenosaunee Creation Story by Storyteller Tina Square

Only Murders in the Tavern: A Buckman Tavern Murder Mystery
2024-10-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Revolution is in the air…and so is murder! In the spirit of Halloween, this month’s interactive Tavern Night will revolve around a mysterious death at historic Buckman Tavern. Who done it, and why? Guests will enjoy an evening of food and drink while collecting clues to unveil the murderer. Join the investigation and catch the culprit — before they strike again!
Admission includes one alcoholic drink ticket. Cash bar also available.
Costumes are encouraged but not required.
Pricing:
Early Bird (through September 13): $40
Standard Pricing: $50 members, $60 nonmembers

Hancock Street Architecture Walking Tour
2024-09-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
When the Battle of Lexington was fought in 1775, Hancock Street was a country lane with just two houses. The next 150 years saw many houses built with various architectural styles. Come take a stroll and learn about the Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Gothic Revival homes that populate the street today.
Leaves from Buckman Tavern rain or shine, total walking distance about one mile.
$10 members, $15 nonmembers

Vive La France! Concert by Lexington Symphony
2024-09-28 19:30 | Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 44106, United States
Antheil | McKonkey’s Ferry Overture
Ravel | Piano Concerto in G Major
Clayton Stephenson, piano
Berlioz | Symphonie Fantastique
All ages.
France helped America succeed in overthrowing a repressive monarchy which began what is known as the Age of Revolutions in a Global Context, 1760-1840. This program is inspired by the French influence on the success of the American Revolution, and also marks a turning in point in the revolution that France helped finance – Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware and attack of the Hessian mercenaries in New Jersey on Christmas Day.
