After years of planning, volunteer committees in Concord and Lexington are chomping at the bit for tens of thousands of people to arrive in their towns to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution.

“It’s a chance for us to recognize what happened here in this region, and in Concord in particular, which really speaks to the founding of the country,” Concord250 Co-Chairman Gary Clayton told the Herald.

Reenactments, parades and celebrations are scheduled in both towns on Saturday, 250 years to the day when British and American militiamen clashed in Lexington and Concord, marking the first battles of the Revolutionary War.

Extensive planning has gone into the day over the past few years, and Clayton and his co-chair Rob Munro say they are confident that the events will go smoothly and be full of joy and remembrance.

Events will begin in both Battle Road towns in the early morning, with a 5:15 a.m. reenactment of the Battle of Lexington – the first shots of the war. That will be followed by a 6 a.m. dawn salute in Concord.

Munro said he and his volunteer colleagues on Concord250 have been in constant partnership and collaboration with counterparts in Lexington over the years to ensure the day is successful in both towns.

“If we have people coming to Lexington, they’re going to help us by saying, ‘Well, tomorrow we’ll see Concord,’ and vice versa,” Munro said. “It’s collaborative, not competitive.”

Roads in the center of both towns will be closed, with a shuttle bus system in place, and one of the buses running all day between Concord and Lexington, Clayton said. He is urging visitors to come into town via the MBTA or other public transit; commuting privately will be near impossible.

Concord will be holding a parade featuring 2,000 participants, including the UMass Amherst marching band, in the morning, and a parade will be held in the afternoon in Lexington.

Through conversation with organizers who planned the Boston Tea Party reenactment that drew massive crowds to the Boston Harbor in December 2023, Concord250 learned that “ambassadors” are crucial to the success of such a large event, Clayton said.

The volunteers will be stationed at the Concord Commuter Rail Station and throughout the town, answering questions and greeting visitors.

“You have all of these people descending into a small area, some people live in Boston, but many people live outside of Boston,” Clayton said. “How do you manage to make it a safe and enjoyable experience?  … These ambassadors are a really good idea.”

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, along with all living presidents, have been invited to attend the celebrations, but organizers say they are still waiting to hear whether they will.

Munro said he’s not counting on a visit from the president.

“It wouldn’t change things fundamentally about the day,” he said, “but we would obviously want to work closely with the president, his team, to figure out where he wanted to go and make sure we have space around that.”

But the U.S. Army did announce over the weekend that a special guest would be in attendance.

Staff Sgt. Jay Healy, a 2018 graduate of Lexington high and a member of the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, will be back in his hometown to perform for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington.

“I have been involved in the fife and drum community for most of my life, and it’s an honor to continue that passion through my Army service with the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. I am excited to be back in my hometown to celebrate this major milestone,” said Staff Sgt. Healy in a statement.

Public safety is at the top of mind – the local towns have organized protocols with state and federal entities and neighboring communities.

President Gerald Ford attended the 200th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, speaking at the North Bridge in Concord in April 1975. His visit was brief, Clayton said.

Gov. Maura Healey and other dignitaries will be giving remarks at the North Bridge during a ceremony scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Saturday.

“It brings more media to the story,” Clayton said of what a potential visit from the president would mean. “We will have other individuals who will make for a very special day.”

Concord resident Tom Wilson, who chairs the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust, told the Herald that the business community has also been part of the process, “everybody has contingency plans.”

The Wright Tavern, open to tours, was a key gathering place for soldiers on April 19, 1775.

“People in this town want to be involved in this event,” Wilson said. “Part of our purpose here is to give people an experience about what it’s like to be in the place where things did happen and to feel what they probably felt when they were here on April 19 and other days.

Members of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment reenactors fire muskets during last year’s Boston 4th of July parade. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Staff Sgt. Jay Healy, center, is returning to Lexington to participate in the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington. (Photo Courtesy JTF-NCR/USAMDW)