Day 473 America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration 2012 in Plymouth MA
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will occur in Plymouth, Massachusetts the weekend before Thanksgiving November 16, 17, & 18th 2012  The week prior to the celebration and on the Friday of that weekend, historic tours of Plymouth and her monuments are offered to the public free of charge by Education Director Dr. Paul Jehle. The purpose of these tours is to teach tourists and visitors the Pilgrim story, explaining the purpose, meaning and significance of Plymouth’s monuments.
On Friday night each year, a free Veterans Memorial Concert is given to honor all who have served in our Armed Forces. Not only is there entertainment from the best groups such as Tops in Blue.
On Saturday morning, the opening ceremony of our parade symbolically portrays the faith of the Pilgrims with the lighting of a candle and a brief explanation of the 400th anniversary of our Pilgrim forbears leading up to 2020. In addition, an explanation of the historic nature of our parade is told both on the waterfront as well as in studio on a live broadcast on local cable television. In this way, throughout the entire parade as it passes by the waterfront staging area, people are being instructed on the chronological history of America as it “floats†by them.
Following the parade on Saturday, and during the day on Sunday, a feast of historic education awaits all who visit the waterfront. In addition to a food festival (with an entrance fee) and craft tent where visitors can do some early Christmas shopping and taste the best restaurant samplings from the area, the following educational and historic activities take place:
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Friday, November  16
South Shore Living Magazine’s Taste of New England VIP Reception – Memorial Hall 5-6:30pm (Invitation only)
Free Patriotic Concert Featuring the Navy Band Sea Chanters – Memorial Hall 7-10pm (Doors open at 6pm for general seating)
Saturday, November  17th
Opening Ceremonies – Waterfront Park 10:30AM
US Airforce C5 Flyover Thanksgiving Parade – Main Street 11AM-1:15PM
New England Food Festival – Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM Cost See below for details
Kids Activity Tent – Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM
Crafter’s Pavilion – Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM
Portal to the Past -Historic Village & Demonstrations- Brewster Gardens
Wampanoag Educational Pavilion -11AM-4PM
Living History Scavenger Hunt – Brewster Gardens 2PM-3:30PM
Senior Drum Corps Competition-Memorial Hall 6:30-10:30PM (Doors open at 5:45 for general seating)
Sunday, November  18th
Makepeace Farms Harvest Market-Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM
Kids Activity Tent – Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM
Crafter’s Pavilion – Waterfront Park 11AM-4PM
Wampanoag Educational Pavilion -11AM-4PM
Portal to the Past- Brewster Gardens 9AM-12PM
Jenney Grist Mill Tours 1PM-5PM
Hospitality Pavilion11AM-4PM
New England  Food Festival
Saturday, November 17, 2012
11-4pm
Adults: $12.00
Children under 12: $7.00 Children under 5: FREE!
New England Food Festival Educational Mission
The New England Food Festival features the very best soups, chowders, desserts, party foods and décor in the region. This year will feature a cupcake war where local bakeries come together to make a quintessential New England style cupcake and matching display. Come and see their displays and enjoy live music local band The SIBS 3rd.
Last year over 2300 eager attendees lined up at famous Plymouth Rock to enter the New England Food Festival. Celebrity judges and the people vote on which restaurant entry is the best in a variety of different categories. The New England Food Festival offers winning chefs valuable prizes as well as the prestige that comes with being awarded a winner. Attendees are guaranteed a culinary experience like no other in New England!