April Events And Happenings In Concord, MA
April in Concord means nice weather, Patriot’s Day and school vacation. There are many ways to safely celebrate the season while attending to COVID protocols. All public buildings and restaurants have COVID plans on file with the Department of Health.
April 19 is a special day in Concord when we celebrate the “shot heard round the world” that began the American Revolution. Although the annual Patriot’s Day Parade is canceled due to COVID, Minuteman Media Network’s Virtual Patriots Day will offer past footage of reenactments and celebrations. You can access it at www.minuteman.media. You can venture over to the North Bridge where a ranger will be on duty to answer any questions. Follow Battle Road and check out the Minuteman Visitor Center which is now open. And the Concord Museum, with its new April 19, 1775 gallery, will be open with timed tickets, outdoor revolutionary activities on April 17 and 18 and the Acton Minutemen Encampment on April 19.
Here comes the sun! Celebrate the arts with The Umbrella Artfest – an expansive multi-week festival of arts, performance and creative community events including both virtual and safe, in-person options for participation. Beginning with an outdoor celebration of Earth Day on April 24, the festival continues through May 16. All information can be found at: https://theumbrellaarts.org/program/umbrella-artfest-here-comes-sun.
The Concord Visitor Center is offering Historic Walking Tours of Concord throughout April and beyond.
- The Family and Children’s Tour of Historic Concord will run every day from April 19-23 at 10:00 a.m. This engaging 45 minute tour is designed to make the history of Downtown Concord come alive for elementary-aged children.
- Beginning April 24, we are offering a Daily Historic Walking Tour of Concord at 1:00 p.m. The 75 minute experience will introduce you to the Downtown Concord area and will touch on Concord’s rich revolutionary and literary history.
- The Visitor Center is continuing to celebrate Women’s History month through April by offering the Women of Concord Tour on Saturday, April 10 and 17 at 1:00 p.m. Come hear the stories of Concord’s remarkable women and see the places where they made their mark.
Drop on into the Visitor Center at 58 Main Street, go to www.visitconcord.org, call 978-318-3061 or email visitors@concordma.gov for more information and to purchase tickets.
The spring weather invites us to enjoy the outdoors. If you just want to enjoy nature and be inspired as the transcendentalists were in the 19th Century, take a hike on one of Concord’s Conservation Land trails. The Natural Resources Division of the Town of Concord just published a book, Ecology along Concord Trails, that explores 14 local areas and their trails; it is for sale for $15 at the Visitor Center. Come on into the Visitor Center for specific trail maps and suggestions.
Outdoor dining has returned to Concord! Grab an outdoor table at Colonial Inn, Nosh, or Main Street Café in Concord Center. Or get a lunch at the Cheese Shop or Sally Ann’s and eat at the picnic tables in front of the Visitor Center or the tables at the Concord Free Library. Indoor dining is offered at most of Concord’s restaurants with barriers between tables. If you would rather eat at home, then support local businesses by ordering take-out at most area restaurants.