Lex250

LexSeeHer's Annual Spinning Tableau
2024-08-31 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | MA
On August 31, 1769, 45 women gathered at Anna Harrington’s home, using spinning wheels in an act of public protest just steps from the Town Commons. Learning to spin and making cloth locally was one way to resist King George’s taxation on imported cottons.
LexSeeHer organizes an annual reenactment of the protest to commemorate the 45 Lexington women who stepped outside with their spinning wheels help fortify a community where – just 6 years later – the first shots of the American Revolution would be fired.

Reenactment of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 Lexington Visit
2024-09-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Lexington Battle Green, Lexington Battle Green, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States
In 1824, the people of Lexington awaited a major milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and the Revolutionary War. Also anticipating this occasion was one of the last surviving war heroes of that generation: General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. The celebrated soldier made one last visit back to the United States to tour the expanding country and celebrate its past. Now, join us on the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit, on the original site, to see how Lexingtonians in the early 19th century welcomed celebrated war heroes! Using extensive research, we will recreate the original program of this event. The General will be welcomed by the townspeople with bells ringing and cannons firing, followed by presentations by notable townsfolk of the period.

To brush up on your Lafayette history, be sure to stop by Munroe Tavern to view The President & Le General, a special satellite of our Lexington Celebrates exhibition. Artifacts from Lafayette’s visit are on display, including the iconic banner hung over Massachusetts Avenue reading “Welcome, Friend of America.”

For more information, please visit the Lexington Historical Society website.
In case of rain, this event will be held in Battin Hall, Cary Memorial Building.

Fragrance in the Garden
2024-09-11 09:30 | Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Joanne Pearson has been a professional photographer for over 25 years and formerly was a Massachusetts registered landscape architect where she practiced for 12 years. In her lecture, accompanied by a vibrant slideshow, Joanne will explore the fascinating ways plants use scent to attract pollinators and to deter harmful insects; specify plants, shrubs and trees with fragrant flowers and foliage; and discuss where to place them in the landscape to maximize our enjoyment of the fragrance throughout the garden. Members and non-members are welcome.
RSVP

Lexington Celebrates Walking Tour 2024
2024-09-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Buckman Tavern, 1 Bedford Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Parades, pageants and pandemonium have defined the many commemorations of the 1775 Battle of Lexington and the first shots of the War for Independence. Over the centuries, thousands of people have descended upon the Battle Green to welcome Revolutionary War heroes like the Marquis de Lafayette on his tour of America in 1824. The anniversaries of the battle offered them a glimpse of President Grant in 1875 and a word from President Ford in 1975. On this land, protestors have sat and monuments have been built to the fallen. Join a Lexington Historical Society educator as they illuminate 250 years of stories full of crowds, chaos and celebrations!
Starting and ending at Buckman Tavern, this tour explores areas around the Lexington Battle Green. The tour is 1 hour long and covers about a 1/2 mile on flat ground.
$10 members, $15 nonmembers

Bikeway Block Party
2024-09-15 11:00 - 16:00 | Minuteman Bikeway, 3 Bow St, Lexington, MA, United States
The Bikeway Block Party will be an inclusive, community-focused festival designed to showcase the diverse and rich array of arts, music, and cultural activities throughout Lexington and our local region.
The Block Party will transform parks and open spaces along the Minuteman Bikeway into venues for interactive activities and performers in areas such as dance, music, art, theater, wellness and special activities for kids. We hope to leverage the artistic and cultural richness of our community and at the same time have lots of fun. We will be using our parks for musical performances, dance lessons, yoga classes, history walks and talks, drum circles, bubble blowing, bike decorating, pickup kickball, and so much more!
This event is co-hosted by the Munroe Center for the Arts & the Friends of Lexington Bikeways.

"Riding Through History" Public Art Series
2024-09-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Lexington Post Office, 1661 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
The public art series, titled “Riding Through History” will be unveiled on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10:00.
A series of four life-size, fiberglass horses that reflect Lexington’s history and pay homage to Paul Revere’s ride will be unveiled throughout town during a ceremony.
Starting at the Lexington Post Office at 10 a.m., opening remarks about the project will be shared, and visitors are invited to walk to each work as they are revealed one by one by the Lex250 Commission.
Artists Howie Green, Dawn Evans Scaltreto, Renee Majkut and Emily Bhargava will be present to briefly discuss their works as visitors walk to explore each piece.
The walk will end at the Lexington Visitors Center at 11 a.m., and the celebration for Parker’s Prelude will commence on the Lexington Battle Green.
Click Here to learn more about Riding Through History

Parker's Prelude (Location Update: Lexington High School)
2024-09-21 11:00 - 14:00 | Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA, 02121, United States
Location Update: Parker’s Prelude will take place at Lexington High School
Parking & Access: Please park in the main school parking lot & enter through the main entrance off Worthen Road.
Parker’s Prelude
Join us for a free community event to celebrate Captain John Parker’s 295th Birthday with a festive celebration on the Lexington Battle Green. Bring along a chair or blanket. There will be music, activities, and a one-of-a-kind birthday cake creation by Wilson Farm Bakers! Leading off the musical performances will be a joint concert of the Lexington Bicentennial Band and the Concord Band.
Captain Parker

Seen by many as the ultimate personification of a Yankee rebel and represented by a statue standing resolutely at the head of the Lexington Common, Captain John Parker was a New England farmer, smith, soldier, and colonial militia officer.
On April 19, 1775, Parker led the Lexington Militia in a skirmish with British regulars at the Battle of Lexington, where eight militia lost their lives in a successful delaying action against the British. While the militia lost the Battle of Lexington, Captain Parker’s actions of defiance gave inspiration to further acts of rebellion against the tyranny of King George during the American War for Independence.
Schedule of Events
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Lexington Bicentennial Band & Concord Band
12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. William Diamond Junior Fife and Drum Corps
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Children’s Community Chorus
1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Remarks, Cake Cutting & Sing Happy Birthday
1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Jamaica Plain Honk Band
In case of rain: Lexington High School Auditorium

A Taste of Greece: GyroFest & More!
2024-09-21 11:00 - 21:00 | St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 17 Meriam Street, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 21, 11am – 9pm and join us for “A Taste of Greece: Gyrofest & More!” Savor authentic homemade Greek dishes and spirits while enjoying a live Greek band from 5pm-9pm. Delight in gyros, spanakopita (spinach pie), loukoumades (honey-covered pastry puffs), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and visit our newly renovated Church. Discover the flavors and traditions of Greece and immerse yourself in a lively cultural experience. Opa!
This event coincides with Parker’s Prelude and will make an excellent lunch option as the church is just a one block walk down Meriam Street from the Battle Green!
The intended audience is anyone in the community and especially people coming to the Battle Green for Parker’s Prelude!

2nd International Chinese Original IP Film Festival
2024-09-23 18:30 - 20:30 | The Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
Join us in the closing ceremony of 2nd International Chinese Original IP film festival where famous international film makers, award winning film directors, writers and script writers come together to celebrate Lex250!
The event is organized by CAAL and Dragon Tales Foundation jointly. There will be two films presented, the 2024 Student Academy Award Winner Narrative “Neither Donkey Nor Horse” and 1989 Chinese film “The last Aristocrats” (no English subtitles) by esteemed Chinese film director Jin Xie.

Lafayette Redux: Exploring the Man and the Mania
2024-09-26 19:00 - 20:30 | The Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
How does it happen that Americans are still staging rituals of adulation for Lafayette, cheering him on Broadway, 190 years after his death? It’s entirely fitting, as it turns out, because if anyone is suitable for immortality, it’s the Marquis. Come explore why the man may well have been even greater than his myth, with one of the nation’s leading Lafayette aficionados, Alan Hoffman. He’ll talk us through Lafayette’s triumphs and setbacks, his astonishing accomplishments, and the lessons his life holds for each one of us and for our society.
Doors open at 6:30 for refreshments.
$10 members, $15 nonmembers

18th Century Living History and Games Day
2024-09-28 11:00 - 16:00 | Lexington Visitor’s Center, 1875 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA, 02420, United States
What was life actually like in Lexington at the time of the American Revolution – who lived here, what did they do, and did anyone actually have time for fun? Stop by the Visitors Center and meet a variety of reenactors showcasing different trades and perspectives of the time, as well as some favorite historic toys and games for all ages!
This event coincides with Lexington PorchFest, so be sure not to miss performances by our own Lexington Historical Society Singers and Dancers, performing 18th century music and dance!
Free!

Porchfest
2024-09-28 13:00 - 17:00 | MA
Porchfest is a fun grassroots community music festival where musicians jam on front porches, patios, driveways, and backyards and you can wander around the neighborhood, soaking up free music and local vibes! It’s the perfect chance for talented folks to share their tunes with neighbors and for everyone to rediscover their neighborhood in a fun new way!

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.

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

Stories in Stone Graveyard Tour
2024-10-05 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-10-26 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

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

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

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.

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/

'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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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!
