Lexington To Celebrate 'Ultimate Yankee Rebel' With Cake, Concert

Update, July 11: Parker's Prelude has been canceled due to inclement weather. The town will soon announce a new date for the festival.

LEXINGTON, MA — The town of Lexington is set to host a community festival Saturday to celebrate Captain Parker, who is known as the ultimate personification of a Yankee rebel during the Battle of Lexington in 1775.

The festival, dubbed Parker's Prelude, will consist of food trucks, a concert, activities including a colonial-themed tintamarresque, henna artist, seed planting, card making for veterans, and a giant birthday cake in honor of Parker.

It's part of the 250th Anniversary Celebration lineup of the battle, during which Parker led the Lexington Militia in a skirmish with British regulars and eight militia lost their lives in a successful delaying action against the British.

"Captain John Parker was a New England farmer, smith, soldier, and Colonial militia officer," the town said in a news release. "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."

Details of the event are as follows:

WHEN:

Saturday, July 13, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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 & Drum Corps
12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Children's Community Chorus
1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Cake cutting/ Happy Birthday sing-along
1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Jamaica Plain Honk Band

WHERE:

Lexington Battle Green, Massachusetts Avenue at Bedford Street