Planning Your Trip to Boston - Boston 2009 - page 25

Swan Boats Return to the Public
Garden. Since their introduction in
1877, the Swan Boats ( & 617/522-
1966; www.swanboats.com) have been
a symbol of Boston. Like real swans,
they go away for the winter. Saturday
before Patriots Day (in 2009, April 18).
Patriots Day, North End, Lexington,
and Concord. Festivities commemo-
rate and reenact the events of April 18
and 19, 1775. Lanterns glow in the
steeple of the Old North Church
( & 617/523-6676; www.oldnorth.
com). Participants dressed as Paul
Revere and William Dawes ride from
the Paul Revere House ( & 617/523-
2338; www.paulreverehouse.org) in
the North End to Lexington and Con-
cord to warn the Minutemen that “the
regulars are out” (not that “the British
are coming”—most colonists consid-
ered themselves British). Musket fire
rings out on the Battle Green in Lex-
ington and then at the North Bridge in
Concord. Contact the Lexington
Chamber of Commerce Visitor Cen-
ter ( & 781/862-1450; www.lexington
chamber.org), or the Concord Cham-
ber of Commerce ( & 978/369-3120;
concordchamberofcommerce.org), for
information on battle reenactments.
See chapter 11 for information on visi-
ting both towns. Third Monday of
April (in 2009, April 20).
Boston Marathon, Hopkinton, Massa-
chusetts, to Boston. International stars
and local amateurs join in the world's
oldest and most famous marathon
(www.bostonmarathon.org). The first
wave of competitors begins at 9:25am.
Cheering fans are welcome until the
last weekend warriors stagger across the
Boylston Street finish line in the late
afternoon. Third Monday of the
month (in 2009, April 20).
Freedom Trail Week, various locations
in Boston, Cambridge, Lexington, and

Concord. This is another school vaca-
tion week, with plenty of crowds and
diversions. Family-friendly events
include tours, concerts, talks, and
other programs related to Patriots Day,
the Freedom Trail, and the American
Revolution. Third week of April.
Independent Film Festival of Boston,
various locations. Features, shorts, and
documentaries by international film-
makers make up the schedule for this
increasingly buzz-worthy event. Check
ahead ( & 617/697-8511; www.iff
boston.org) for the schedule. Late April.
May
Museum-Goers' Month, various loca-
tions. Contact individual museums or
surf ahead for details and schedules of
special exhibits, lectures, and events.
See chapter 7. All month.
Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, Boston
Harbor and various waterfront loca-
tions. The biggest deal in professional
yacht racing makes the only North
American stop on its round-the-world
route. An in-port competition on or
near the harbor takes place the day
before the pro-am race, which uses a
course designed to make the boats eas-
ily visible from the shore. Visit www.
volvooceanrace.org for more info.
Two weeks leading up to the competi-
tors' departure for Galway on May 16.
Lilac Sunday, Arnold Arboretum,
Jamaica Plain. This is the only day of
the year that the arboretum ( & 617/
524-1717; www.arboretum.harvard.
edu) allows picnicking. From sunrise
to sunset, wander the grounds and
enjoy the sensational spring flowers,
including more than 400 varieties of
lilacs in bloom. Mid-May.
Street Performers Festival, Faneuil
Hall Marketplace. Everyone but the
pigeons gets into the act as musicians,
magicians, jugglers, sword swallowers,
and artists strut their stuff. Late May.