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BASTROP — Lanterns will glow along Main Street this week as Bastrop joins a national call to light up communities in honor of the ride that helped ignite the American Revolution.
As part of the nationwide Two Lights for Tomorrow initiative, the city will commemorate the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere Thursday, April 18, with a community gathering steeped in history and patriotic spirit.
Coordinated by the Bastrop Museum and Visitor Center, organizers said the celebration is not only about remembering the past but also looking ahead to the nation’s 250th anniversary next year.
“This is a chance to celebrate our roots, honor our heroes and have some fun as we gear up for America’s 250th,” said Rachel Hatch, museum representative.
Local businesses will receive lanterns to display, symbolizing the iconic signal from the steeple of Boston’s Old North Church that warned colonists of the advancing British troops. Residents are also encouraged to bring their own lanterns to the event and later hang them at home to spread the revolutionary spirit across the community.
The evening will feature a reading of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” a presentation by the NJROTC and a horseback ride down Main Street.
According to organizers, the Two Lights for Tomorrow initiative traces its roots to a multi-state collaboration known as A Common Cause to All, launched in Williamsburg, Virginia.
The campaign uses the image of two shining lights as a modern-day call for unity and civic engagement.
“At its heart, it’s a call across the country, in private homes, local communities and statehouses alike, for two lights to be displayed to remind us all of the importance of coming together to form a more perfect union,” the organization said in a statement.
In other parts of the country, the lantern lighting will be followed by a day of service, with volunteer projects aimed at strengthening communities.
While Bastrop’s event focuses on celebration, organizers said they hope it sparks ongoing community pride and participation.
“This will be an unforgettable moment for the history books,” Hatch added. “Let’s light up Bastrop and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter.”
The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Bastrop.
