Press Release: Boston Tea Party Annual Reenactment

NEW IN 2017: SEND LOOSE TEA TO BE THROWN INTO BOSTON HARBOR DURING THE 244th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY - ANNUAL REENACTMENT ON DEC. 16, 2017

London’s East India Company to Provide 220+ lbs of Expired Loose Tea to be Thrown Overboard & Boston Hotels, Restaurants, Bars Offer a Dose of Patriotism with Tea-inspired Specials and Cocktails in December

WHAT:

The Boston Tea Party comes alive in December! Taking place at Boston’s Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the 244th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment offers the public to experience one of America's most iconic public protests at one of the largest moving historical reenactments in the U.S. More than 100 reenactors tell the story of The Boston Tea Party and theatrically recreate the evening of December 16, 1773 which sparked the American Revolution. It begins with a fiery tea tax debate at Old South Meeting House, the historic hall where the colonists gathered 244 years ago. Then, the public joins a procession led by fife & drummers to the waterfront and witnesses the Sons of Liberty destroy actual loose [expired] tea from London’s East India Company!  NEW IN 2017: Inviting one and all to send loose tea to be thrown into Boston Harbor as part of this year’s reenactment.

HOW TO SEND TEA:

Send dried loose leaf tea (NO used tea bags) to: Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, ATTN: ‘Toss That Tea’, 306 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210. Include name, address, e-mail & phone number. An official certificate of participation will be sent to each partaker sending tea. Deadline to send tea: December 1, 2017.

EVENT DATE:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2017 - Actual Boston Tea Party Anniversary

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

EVENT TIMELINE

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The Meeting of the Body of the People -Ticketed Portion (Ticket includes admission to  Old South Meeting House plus reserved seating at Boston’s waterfront for the Destruction of the Tea).  FREE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OUTSIDE

Old South Meeting House - 310 Washington St

Inside Old South Meeting House, ticket holders join an authentic, spirited and theatrical colonial debate to protest the tax on tea and demand liberty from the British crown. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and other Patriot leaders join in a heated debate with crown-loving Loyalists in this final attempt to peaceably resolve the crisis before the midnight deadline. Visitors are encouraged to join the debate, letting their voices be heard in the very place where Boston’s most famous act of rebellion began.  A town crier calls out all the details to the crowds and women reenactors gathered outside.

7:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Huzzah for Griffin’s Wharf! - FREE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Procession from Old South Meeting House to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum - Milk St to Congress St to Pearl St

Led by fife & drums and accompanied by colonial reenactors, the public marches from Old South Meeting House to Boston historic waterfront where Griffin’s Wharf once stood along the same route the Sons of Liberty took to Boston Harbor to destroy the tea in 1773.

8:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Boston Harbor, a Tea Pot Tonight! - FREE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC (Ticket holders have access to a reserved viewing area on the Harborwalk)

Destruction of the Tea at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum-306 Congress St.

The public is invited to join reenactors to line the shores of Boston Harbor and watch as the Sons of Liberty storm aboard the Brig Beaver and destroy chest after chest of East India tea. In this fully narrated program, the Sons of Liberty board the ship, opening the hold and hoisting tea chests on deck. Tea chests are broken open and actual tea from the East India Tea Company (still in existence) and tea from those who sent tea their loose tea is spilled into Boston’s historic waters. Viewers are encouraged to cheer “Huzzah!” during this dramatic conclusion of the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution.

TICKETS: General Admission pricing - $30/per person

To purchase tickets go to: http://gottea2017.bpt.me or visit Old South Meeting House at 310 Washington St.

Tickets include admission to the Meeting of the Body of the People at Old South Meeting House and access to an exclusive reserved viewing area on Boston’s Harborwalk for the Destruction of the Tea. All ticket proceeds help support Old South Meeting House, a non-profit National Historic Landmark.  This event takes place rain, sleet, snow or shine.

NOTE: Both Old South Meeting House and Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum will be free and open to the public on Sat., December 16, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

HOTEL INFO:

Boston Harbor Hotel, 230-room Forbes Five-Star hotel situated on Boston Harbor, is offering a Boston Tea Party Package starting from $420.00:

• Deluxe room overlooking Boston’s historic waterfront
• Afternoon Tea for two at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille
• Tickets for two to the 244th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment

Package is available Sat., Dec. 16, 2017 ONLY. Based on double occupancy. The package is bookable on www.bhh.com.  The hotel is located at 70 Rowes Wharf.

Inn at Hastings Park, Boston area’s only Relais & Châteaux hotel located in Lexington, MA steps from the site of the first battle of the American Revolution, is offering a Boston Tea   Party Celebration Package:

• Superior accommodations (from $315.00) / Suite (from $415)
• Two tea-infused welcome amenity cocktails
• Breakfast for two in the award-winning Artistry on the Green
• Take home tea amenity
• Tickets for two to the 244th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment

Package is available on Sat., Dec. 16, 2017 ONLY and is based on double occupancy. Transportation to the reenactment can be arranged (additional fee). To book, call Inn at Hastings Park at 781-301-6660. Inn is located at 2027 Massachusetts Ave. in Lexington, MA.

INTERCONTINENTAL BOSTON, 424-room luxury hotel located adjacent to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, is offering its REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY: BOSTON TEA PARTY PACKAGE starting from $299.00:

• Deluxe accommodations overlooking Boston’s waterfront and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
• Two adult (age 13+) combo tickets with access to both the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum and Old South Meeting House
• Two tea infused beverages - choice of RumBa’s hard tea rum cocktails (Life & LiberTEA or The Tea Act) or hot tea
• Tea Amenity - Boston Tea Company Connoisseur’s Mini Wooden Tea Chest - includes 20 tea bags in five gourmet blends: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Oriental Treasure Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea and Lemon Honey Chamomile Herbal
• Tickets for two to the 244th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment - available Sat., Dec. 16, 2017 ONLY

Package is available year-round. Based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call InterContinental Boston at 877-747-BOSTON. The hotel is located at 510 Atlantic Ave.

Revere Hotel Boston Common, 356-room independent hotel inspired by the legendary Paul Revere, is offering a #BeRevered Boston Tea Party Experience starting from $289.00:

• Premiere Skyline guest room overlooking Boston’s Back Bay
• Special in-room tea at turndown for two featuring TeaNog cocktails infused with black  tea and spices created by L’Espalier Tea Sommelier Cynthia Gold
• Admission for two to the Paul Revere House in Boston’s North End
• Tickets for two to the 244th Boston Tea Party Anniversary & Annual Reenactment - available Sat., Dec. 16, 2017 ONLY.

Package is available the entire month of December 2017. Based on double occupancy, blackout dates apply. To book, call Revere Hotel Boston Common at 855-673-6373. The hotel is located at 200 Stuart St.

BOSTON RESTAURANT & BAR SPECIALS

OFFERED THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 2017:

• Anthem Kitchen + Bar - London Mule - Earl Grey tea-infused vodka, lemon, ginger beer - $13
• ArtBar at Royal Sonesta Boston - The Boston Tea Party - Tea-infused Stoli, St. Germain, lemonade, iced tea - $16
• Avery Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common - A.Toddy - Cinnamon spiced tea, choice of bourbon or rum served with sugar, vanilla bean, dehydrated orange, lemon twist, honeycomb & salted caramel truffle - $15
• Bastille Kitchen - Tea Smoked Mussels with fennel, white wine, butter, rouille toast - $14
• Blue Dragon - Tea Time Cocktail - vodka, citrus, apple-cinnamon tea syrup - $14
• Blue State Coffee (Available at all locations in MA, CT & RI) - Revolutionary Blend Tea - $2.60
• Bon Me - Boston Deviled Tea Egg Chinese black tea infuse eggs topped with spicy mayo, cayenne pepper, scallions - $2.50 each
• City Tap House -  Sons Of LiberTEA - Absolut Boston Hibiscus Martini - $14
• Coopersmith -
• Pop Tea-Tart - Orange vanilla marmalade, lavender pastry, black tea glaze - $5
• London Fog - Earl Grey tea latte with vanilla - $5
• Flour Bakery + Café (7 locations in Back Bay, Cambridge, Fort Point & South End) - Honey Chamomile Boston Tea Party LatTEA - $3.50 sm/$4.00 lrg
• Harpoon Brewery -Annual Boston Tea Party Ale. Craft beer made with Souchong  tea, classic black tea from  the Wuyi Mountains in China (tea is donated by Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum). This tea is famous for its smoky aroma and is one of the five teas thrown into Boston Harbor during The Boston Tea Party.
• Lucky’s Lounge - Spill the Tea - Vodka infused with wild orange blossom and Acai white tea, Guillaume, Domaine De Canton - $11
• The Marliave - The Boston Tea Party - Lunazul Tequila, Earl Grey tea, ginger beer, lemon - $13
• Outlook Kitchen & Bar at The Envoy Hotel - Two, If By Tea - Berkshire Ethereal Gin, Gunpowder Green Tea  honey, Prosecco - $14
• Pastoral - Festa del Te - Bombay Dry Gin, Earl Grey syrup, Cocchi Barolo Chinato, lemon - $10
• RumBa at InterContinental Boston
• Life & LiberTea - Earl Grey tea steeped Rum steeped, honey syrup, muddled lemons -$14
• Tea Act - Rum, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Mathilde Pêche, iced tea, lemon - $14
• The Tap Trailhouse - Old Grog - Rum, lime, black tea, Falernum - $10
• The Spa at Cliff House (Maine) - Matcha Tea Facial - Matcha and white tea compounds blended with marine algae for high dose of antioxidants.  The double tea potion is effective in reducing the appearance of sunspots. Also includes a neck & décolleté treatment to improve tonality - 50 min $160 /80 min $225
  
  

OFFERED FROM SAT., DEC. 1 - SAT., DEC. 16, 2017:

• The Reserve at the Langham - G&Tea - Two-level glass teapot with the hotel’s custom Reserve Gin, infused with The Langham’s proprietary loose-leaf Palm Court Tea.  Second level offers a mix of lemon, honey, soda water - $30

OFFERED FROM SAT., DEC. 10 - WED., DEC. 20, 2017:

• Durgin-Park Restaurant - Boston Tea Party Special - 1 cup of clam chowder, Yankee Pot Roast with 2 sides, 1 pint of John Durgin Ale, petite Indian Pudding - $30

OFFERED THE EVENING OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY ANNIVERSARY/REENACTMENT ON SAT DEC. 16, 2017:

• Barking Crab - The Barking Tea Party - 1 cup of clam chowder, 1 entree of Harpoon IPA battered fish & chips, 1 pint of Harpoon IPA - $25

OFFERED THE EVENING OF MON., DEC. 18, 2017

• L’Espalier - Tea Dinner -  Exclusive 5-course tea-inspired dinner which will also be paired with a selection of tea cocktails - $98/person

ABOUT OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE:

Famed as the place where The Boston Tea Party began, the 1729 Old South Meeting House is one of the nation's most important colonial landmarks and was the center for Boston's protests against British rule in the years leading to the American Revolution. Saved from demolition in 1876, this treasured National Historic Landmark has been open to the public since then as a non-profit historic site, museum and an active center for public dialogue and free expression in downtown Boston. The Old South Meeting House is a 501 (c) 3 organization supported by The Massachusetts Cultural Council and other public and private funders. Presents exhibits, rare artifacts and a full schedule of programs and events year round. Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April 1 - Oct. 31, and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. from Nov. 1 - March 31. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.  For more information, visit www.osmh.org  or call 617-482-6439. Old South Meeting House is located at 310 Washington St., Boston, MA.

ABOUT BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM:

The Boston Tea Party, "the single most important event leading up to the American Revolution,” occurred the night of Dec. 16, 1773. Opened in June 2012, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, owned and operated by Historic Tours of America, is dedicated to accurately reliving and representing a key time in history (1773-1775). Through actors, tea throwing reenactments, high-tech interactive exhibits, authentic replica ships: the Beaver and the Eleanor, and an award-winning multisensory film, Let it Begin Here. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is open 7 days/week from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Summer/Spring) and from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Fall/Winter). Tours run every 30 minutes in fall/winter and every 15 minutes in spring/summer and last 1 hr. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum was voted ‘Best Historical Experience’ in Yankee ‘2017 Best of New England’, #1 ‘Best Patriotic Attraction’ in USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice Awards 2016, ‘Best New Museum’ by Yankee in 2012 and ‘Best of the New 2012’ by Boston Globe Magazine.

To learn more visit www.bostonteapartyship.com or call 1-855-(TEA)-1773. The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum is located at 306 Congress St., Boston, MA.