The Patriots' Day Award Ceremony will feature multiple award presentations from VO250, the White Tricorne Hat Award sponsored by the Lexington Lions Club, the Minuteman Cane Award, the Pat Flynn Outstanding Youth Award presented by the Lexington Youth Commission, and the Lexington Minute Men Scholarship.
Please join us to light more bulbs on the VO250 Arch in recognition of community-wide volunteer service.
Lexington was preparing for battle long before British soldiers arrived on April 19th, 1775. Paul Revere and William Dawes, fellow Sons of Liberty, rode hard from Boston, arriving in town just before midnight.
Additional details to follow.
View our famed diorama depicting the Battle of Lexington and view video short highlighting our Black Patriot’s Prince Estabrook and Eli Burdoo.
Presentations at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM
Public Restrooms available
Our museums are open on a special schedule for April 18th! We will be open early to accommodate visitors in town for the big reenactment, and will be closing early to coincide with the afternoon parade. Please see exact hours below.
To celebrate Patriots' Day, the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street, will host its annual Patriots' Day Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 18 from 6:00 to 10:00 AM in the parish hall.
First Baptist Church of Lexington is holding their annual Patriot’s Day Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 18th from 6 a.m.-10 a.m. “All you can eat” pancakes, sausages, o.j. and coffee.
The memorial commemorates the role played by the U.S.S. Lexington ships and honors those who served aboard the six vessels named U.S.S. Lexington.
VO250 is more than a label—it’s a legacy. It tells a story that spans four centuries and captures the spirit that has defined Lexington since its founding: the power of volunteers to shape history.
In the 1700s, when everyday people—farmers, blacksmiths, ministers—stood together on April 19, 1775, they weren’t professional soldiers. They were volunteers, driven by principle and a shared sense of responsibility. Their courage didn’t just launch a revolution, it forged Lexington’s civic identity.
In the 1800s, that spirit continued to blossom. Concerned about the town’s appearance for the nation’s Centennial in 1876, Lexington residents created the Lexington Field & Garden Club, the first in the United States. Their efforts beautified streets, planted trees, and transformed the Common from a rough hayfield into a town green worthy of its legacy. Around the same time, the Lexington Historical Society and Cary Memorial Library were founded—both by residents who saw a need and volunteered together to fill it.
Then came the 1900s and, with them, a new symbol of Lexington’s volunteerism. In 1955, during the standardization of telephone systems, Lexington was assigned the prefix “VO” for “volunteer.” Local phone numbers began with VO2, which translates to today’s 862. The town didn’t choose that code. The phone company did. But it resonated because, in Lexington, “volunteer” isn’t just a word; it’s who we are. Long before hashtags and online organizing, Lexington’s phone lines were already echoing civic commitment. Many residents still have landlines beginning with “86”—a daily reminder of the values we live by.
VO250 is a celebration of Lexington’s 250 years since April 19, 1775. But more than that, it’s a tribute to the people who have made this town what it is—through vision, generosity, and service. It’s an invitation to carry that legacy forward.
