A Cape Cod Thanksgiving
This year, spend Thanksgiving where it all began: on Cape Cod. In 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock. The following November, the newly settled Europeans gathered with the Wampanoag Indians to give thanks, celebrating the autumn harvest.
Step back in time and renew the spirit of Thanksgiving with family and friends.
Before Thanksgiving Day
Kick-off your Cape Cod Thanksgiving vacation with America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration. It’s a weekend of fun, food, and merriment from November 16 to 18, at the Plymouth Waterfront, Plymouth, MA. There are free events for kids and families, a parade, historic villages, a waterfront festival, and much more. Visit usathanksgiving.com for more information. Reserve your Cape Cod rental today, and join both visitors and residents for this unique coastal celebration.
Get in the holiday spirit at The Sandwich Glass Museum in Sandwich Village. The museum is decked out in its holiday finest for the Glassblowers’ Christmas. Trees are decorated with hundreds of ornaments created by some of the most prominent glass artists in the area. The event runs from November 12 to December 30.
It’s Gardens Aglow every weekend from November 23 to December 30. Acres and acres of Heritage Museums and Gardens’ woodland and gardens are strung with lights – colorful, twinkling, glimmering. There will be holiday displays, family activities, marshmallows roasts, music, visits with Santa, and even baby animals. Tickets are $18 for adults, $7 for children (kids under 2 get in free). The event runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information go to heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.
Thanksgiving Day
No matter what time you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, there are activities around the island to make your day an especially memorable one.
Join your Cape Cod neighbors in celebrating the Annual Lighting of Pilgrim Monument. The 252-foot tall monument was erected in 1910 to commemorate the arrival of the Mayflower in the 1600s. More than 3,000 lights decorated the monument, shining throughout the holiday season until January 6.
Burn some calories before the big dinner by participating in the Chatham Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. The annual 5k run is untimed and just for fun. Residents and visitors from all over the area are welcome to race.
It costs just $5.00 plus two donated food items to enter. All proceeds go to the Lower Cape Outreach Council, a local organization providing emergency assistance with food, clothing, and financial support to residents of the eight towns that make up Lower Cape Cod. It’s the perfect start to a day of counting your blessings.
All aboard the Cape Cod Thanksgiving Dinner Train! You and your family will spend three hours enjoying the scenic views of the Cape’s picturesque towns and autumn landscapes. While you ride in warmth and comfort, you’ll enjoy a delectable five-course Thanksgiving dinner that includes turkey and pistachio-encrusted salmon. This is one train you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets today because they sell out fast.
The most important thing you can do to prepare for the holidays this year is to book your Cape Cod vacation rental well in advance. There is as much to enjoy in the fall and winter as there is in during the summer months.
More To See
After you make your reservation, visit the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce to find out more about what’s happening along the Cape this season. Once you experience the history and charm of Cape Cod, you’ll come back year after year.
