Boston Occupied: The Landing of British Troops in Boston

Event brought to you by Revolution 250 and the Downtown Boston BID

In October of 1768 the British government sent troops to Boston to help Governor Francis Bernard quell the violence and unrest that had been going unchecked since the passage of the new customs duties known as the Townshend Acts, and the people’s decision to stop importing goods from Great Britain. Far from quieting the town, the arrival of the troops marked a significant escalation of tension and violence that would lead to the Boston Massacre in 1770 and widen the rift between the British Parliament and the people of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

On October 6 and 7, 2018 Revolution 250 will stage a reenactment of the arrival of the British regular troops. This is intended as a signature event of Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations working together to commemorate the 250th anniversaries of the events that led to American Revolution. Redcoats will land at Long Wharf on the morning of Saturday, October 6 and parade through the city, past the Old State House and through Downtown Crossing, en route to Boston Common, where they will set up an encampment and spend the night on Boston Common.

Special Events in Downtown Boston and Boston Common:

• Redcoats Disembark at Long Wharf
• Insolent Parade
• Governor's Levee
• An Address From Commanding Officers
• Redcoats Encampment
• Afternoon Regimental Tea
• Reading of the Riot Act
• Interrupted Church Service
• Requisition of the Manufactory House

For a detailed schedule of times and events, please click here or Download the Event Guide

OCTOBER 6, 2018

9:30 AM: LANDING OF THE BRITISH TROOPS AT LONG WHARF

10:45 AM: INSOLENT PARADE - Long Wharf through Downtown Boston

NOON: ADDRESS FROM COMMANDING OFFICERS - The Steps

12:45 PM: ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS ON BOSTON COMMON
2:00 pm - Militia Drill
3:00 pm - Redcoats Drill and Firing Demonstration
4:00 pm - Grand Review and Trooping of the Colours

12 – 4 PM: BRITISH SOLDIERS PATROL THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF BOSTON

2:00 pm - AFTERNOON REGIMENTAL TEA - Roche Bros. 

8:00 pm - READING OF THE RIOT ACT - Democracy Brewing

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2018

10:00 AM–12:00 PM: BRITISH SOLDIERS PATROL THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF BOSTON

10:00 AM - INTERRUPTED CHURCH SERVICE - Old South Meetinghouse

11:00 am - REQUISITION OF THE MANUFACTORY HOUSE - Suffolk University Law School