Patriots’ Day and the Boston Marathon: A Weather History and What to Expect
Quick Reference: Patriots’ Day Weather
- When: third Monday in April.
- What is celebrated: the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord.
- Where it is a holiday: Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Wisconsin, North Dakota.
- Boston Marathon: the world’s oldest annual marathon, run on Patriots’ Day since 1897.
- Typical weather: 50-55 degrees F start, variable. Cold years and heat years are both common.
- 2026 date: Monday, April 20, 2026.
Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April, commemorates the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord that opened the American Revolution. It is also the day the Boston Marathon runs through Greater Boston, and weather has decided more Boston Marathons than any other factor. Here is the history of the holiday and the marathon, plus a look at the weather Boston runners can typically expect.
The Holiday
Patriots’ Day was first proclaimed by Massachusetts Governor Frederic Greenhalge in 1894. The date marks the events of April 19, 1775, when British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize colonial militia weapons and were met first at Lexington by 70 militia who became known as the Minutemen, then at Concord’s Old North Bridge by hundreds more.
Today the holiday is observed in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Other states do not officially recognize it, but the date carries cultural weight throughout New England.
The Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon was first run in 1897, modeled on the marathon of the 1896 Athens Olympics. It is the oldest annual marathon in the world and one of the six World Marathon Majors. The course runs 26.2 miles from Hopkinton through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline before finishing on Boylston Street in Boston.
Roughly 30,000 runners qualify and run each year. The 2026 race is Monday, April 20, 2026.
The Weather
April in Boston is unpredictable. Marathon-day temperatures over the past 30 years have ranged from 38 degrees F (1925) to 87 degrees F (2012). Wind direction matters as much as temperature: a strong east wind off the Atlantic can push the wind chill into the 30s even when the air temperature reads 50.
- Typical start temperature: 48 to 55 degrees F at 9 a.m.
- Typical finish temperature: 55 to 65 degrees F by mid-afternoon.
- Notable cold years: 2018 (cold rain, 40 degrees, winning time slowed by 10 minutes).
- Notable hot years: 2012 (87 degrees, hundreds of runners hospitalized).
- Notable wet years: 2007 (nor’easter, sustained 30 mph wind).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Patriots’ Day in 2026?
Monday, April 20, 2026.
What is the typical weather for the Boston Marathon?
Cool and variable. Start temperatures of 48 to 55 degrees F with afternoon highs of 55 to 65 are most common, but cold rain years and hot 80-degree years both happen.
Is Patriots’ Day a federal holiday?
No. It is observed in only five states: Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Massachusetts banks, schools, and most government offices close.
Why does the marathon start in Hopkinton?
Because 26.2 miles west of the Boston Common finish line places the start in Hopkinton. The original 1897 course was shorter, and the start point moved as marathon distance was standardized in 1924.
Caleb Weatherbee
Caleb Weatherbee is the official forecaster for the Farmers' Almanac. His name is actually a pseudonym that has been passed down through generations of Almanac prognosticators and has been used to conceal the true identity of the men and women behind our predictions.
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