Kids & Family

Celebrate Milton's 350th Anniversary with Big Event Weekend

A fireworks display, a parade and plenty of community fun will highlight this weekend's 350th Anniversary Celebration.

Milton has been celebrating the town’s 350th Anniversary since the beginning of 2012, but the “Big Event Weekend” on Friday, June 8, through Sunday, June 9, will represent the perfect combination of community and history in the Town of Milton.

The largest events recognizing the milestone will be the culmination of work done by the Selectmen-appointed 350th Anniversary Committee going back to January 2011.

“I have to emphasize this is such a group effort,” 350th Committee Chair Lynda-Lee Sheridan said of the committee and other core volunteers.

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The 350th Anniversary Committee is as follows:

Committee Members

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Lynda-Lee Sheridan, Chair

David Connolly, Vice-Chair  

Mary McLaughlin, Vice-Chair

Dorothy Cutler, Treasurer

Ursula Beattie

Janet Christensen 

Hyacinth Crichlow

Pat Desmond 

Brian Doherty 

Kevin Donahue 

Kathy Fagan 

Emma Jean Moulton 

Beth Neville 

Wallace Sisson

Sub-Committees

Big Event: Pat Desmond, Chair

Celebration Archives: Wallace Sisson, Chair 

Fundraising: Mary McLaughlin and Kathy Fagan, Co-chairs 

Historical:  Brian Doherty, Chair

Memorabilia: Dorothy Cutler, Chair 

Ongoing Events: Beth Neville and Hyacinth Crichlow, Chairs 

Operations/Steering: Lynda-Lee Sheridan, Chair 

Publicity: David Connolly, Chair 

The events, which begin Friday with fireworks, continue Saturday with a parade and Sunday with a picnic on the Town Green. Many of the events have some tie to Milton’s 300th Anniversary in 1962.

“We’re trying to replicate some history,” Sheridan said.

The weekend also has a connection to Milton’s incorporation. Monday, June 11 is the exact date the town was incorporated in 1662.

Below is a description of the events this weekend provided by the 350th Anniversary Committee.

Friday, June 8

Fireworks

Location: Lower Fields, Milton High School

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM - MHS Concert and Jazz Band performances; food for sale

 9:15 Fireworks synchronized to music begin

Sponsored by: The Copeland Family Foundation 

Join us for a spectacular display of lights synchronized to music! The fireworks kick-off the 350th Celebration weekend. The evening begins at 6:30 PM with food for sale and MHS Concert and Jazz Bands playing before the show. Fireworks start at 9:15 PM.

Please note: Gile Rd. will be closed once MHS parking lots are filled. Shuttles will be  available beginning at 5:30 PM from Ulin Rink, Town Hall and Pierce MS. Rain dates are June 9 or June 16.  A variety of foods will be available to purchase beginning at 6:30 PM. All proceeds will benefit the PTO's in town, FAME and Boosters.            

Saturday, June 9

PARADE, FAMILY FUN DAY & CONCERTS

MHS All Years Alumni Homecoming

Time: 8:30-11:00 AM

Location: MHS Copeland Field House

Join your fellow classmates to reminisce!

Memories, program, music, coffee, refreshments!

Email us at 350thalumnievent@gmail.com  if you plan to attend (but not required). All are welcome!

Parade - the Biggest Parade in Milton's History!

Time: 1:45 PM - Opening Ceremony festivities begin with the raising of a giant American flag near the Gazebo

2:00 PM - Parade begins at MHS

Route: Start at Milton High School, Finish at Cunningham Park

Giant 2 hour parade with bands from all over New England and some local favorites. Please join us along the parade route where you will see 25+ marching bands from all over New England, color guard, Shriners, Boston Police Gaelic Column, the  Philadelphia Mummers, floats, Monster Trucks, horses, clowns, and so much more! You don't want to miss this one! Bring your beach chair!

Please note: Detours and closures will be in effect near the parade route beginning at 1:00 PM. No parking along parade route beginning at noon. Public parking will be available at Ulin Rink, Town Hall, Council on Aging, Milton Academy (near Gunhill Rd.), St. Elizabeth’s, Milton DPW Yard, Cunningham/Collicot Schools and Cunningham Park. Rain date June 16.

Family Fun Afternoon

Family Activities: Food & Fun

Time: 3:30-6:00 PM

Location: Milton High School Fields

After the Parade, the campus of the high school will be set up with a stage, family game activities, food for sale, face painting and hospitality tents. Big Joe the

Storyteller & singer Susan Reed will entertain the kids. Exhibits and activities will be for adults and children alike.

The campus of the high school will be set up with a stage, family game activities, food for sale, face painting and hospitality tents.  Featuring:

• Big Joe the Storyteller

• Singer Susan Reed

• Family games run by Fitness Unlimited

• Blue Hills Bank Ms. Money & the Coins live activity for kids

Band and Drum Corps Concert

Time: 6:00-7:30 PM

Location: MHS Brooks Field

Sponsored by: Blue Hills Bank

- The Boston Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps

- The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps

- The Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps

- The Bazooka Blanks Drum Group

with Special Guests:

- The Mummers Woodland String Band - see them here, read more here.

- The Stuart Highlanders Pipes and Drums

Sunday, June 10

Union Service, First Parish Church & First Congregational Church

Time: 10:30-11:30 AM

Location: First Parish Church, 535 Canton Ave.

Town-Wide Picnic

Time: 12:00 Noon-4:00 PM

Location: the Gazebo, Town Green on Town Hall Lawn

Lunch items will be for sale, provided by Friends and Advocates of Music Education (FAME) and Milton Boosters. Free 350th Cake will be served; provided by Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical School.

Noon – 3:00  PM   Free Family Hayrides by Peter Pineo 

Noon – 1:00  PM   Bay State Stompers; Dixieland Band, Gazebo

12:15 - 12:45 PM  Jedlie Walk-Around with balloon animals

  1:00 – 1:30 PM   Jedlie’s Totally Interactive Magic Circus, Show #1 

  1:30 – 2:30 PM   The Bay State Stompers Dixieland Band

  1:45 – 2:15 PM   Jedlie Walk-Around

  2:30 – 3:00 PM   Jedlie’s Totally Interactive Magic Circus, Show #2

Community Choir Concert

Time: 3:00-4:00 PM

Location: First Parish sanctuary, 535 Canton Ave.

Featuring choirs from Milton churches and directed by Milton Music Directors. A  program of patriotic and inter-faith music led by George Ashur, Kevin Drake, Dr. Matthew Larson, Emma Jean Moulton, Joyce Painter Rice, Brother Dennis Slaughter, and Peter Watchorn. For further information, contact Emma Jean Moulton at 617-698-3200, or email her here .

Monday, June 11

Incorporation Anniversary

Milton History Bowl

Time: 6:30-8:30 PM

Location: Winchester Auditorium, Milton High School

Eight teams of local experts will battle for the 350th trophy in the Milton High School auditorium. Student contests first, based on the 5th grade curriculum, followed by adult teams of 3-5 people at 7:00 PM ($25 registration fee for adults). John and Maritta Cronin, assisted by the Milton Historical Society, will create and judge the questions based on Milton history. Interested Teams should sign-up via email milton350@gmail.com.


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