childrenevent

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade & Celebration 2021 in Plymouth MA

Sharing is caring!

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will occur in Plymouth, Massachusetts the weekend before Thanksgiving. Saturday November 20th    with the huge Thanksgiving parade waterfront activities for the whole family.

The weekend of festivities has become a beloved holiday occasion as well as an important link to our nation’s history and heritage. For 20 years, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life have traveled to the historic Plymouth Harbor and Waterfront to experience a bounty of authentic Americana. The celebration of Thanksgiving becomes history-brought-to-life as Pilgrims, Native Americans, Soldiers, Patriots, and Pioneers proudly climb out of the history books and onto the streets of Plymouth.

The Saturday November 20th   morning celebration festivities begin at 9:30am with Opening Ceremonies, the parade steps off at The Plymouth Rock at 10:00am on the Plymouth Massachusetts historic waterfront with an opening ceremony featuring a variety of top-quality entertainment.

This is one of America’s only historically accurate chronological parades, visually bringing to life America’s rich heritage representing each century from the 17th through the 21st. In showing the preservation of America’s history through the years, beginning with the Pilgrim era, we promote an appreciation among our citizens for our rich heritage.

The parade is ranked the #1 Thanksgiving parade in the nation. It features beautifully decorated floats representing historic events, honoring national anniversaries and celebrating every period of American history.

The weekend of festivities includes:

Plymouth Philharmonic Concert at Memorial Hall – Friday Only
Saturday Parade and Waterfront Activities for the Family
Hometown Thanksgiving Parade- Sponsored by Rockland Trust
Craft Beer and Wine Festival – Sponsored by T MOBILE
Food Truck Alley
The Children’s Pavilion- Sponsored by FIDELITY/UFUND
Historic Re-Enactment Village- Sponsored by THE JENNEY
Alumni Drum and Bugle Corp Concert
Harvest Market- Sunday Only

 

America`s Hometown “Portal to the Past” Historic Village

Time-travel – for free! Come join Living Historians from four centuries of American History and experience American history for yourself.

On Saturday, November 20th, the historic and scenic Brewster Gardens will once again be brought to life as dedicated living historians create a Historic Village filled with authentic camps and scenarios of historical eras. The Historic Village interpreters will inform and entertain – and serve as guides as you personally travel among the centuries.

Visit with soldiers of Union Army as they campaign to preserve the United States. Chat with Old West Desperados and Lawmen, maybe witness a gunfight.

Wind your way through to the 20th century. Visit the WWII troops, and learn about the “modern” military.

America`s Hometown Historic Village offers many opportunities to truly time-travel. Units portray actual historic Military units and are happy to display their history. Visitors are invited to observe or participate in the many military, civilian, and children’s demonstrations scheduled throughout the day. Meet real historical figures, form up and drill. Most importantly, learn about our history from the folks who were there!

Allow time to stroll through our Artisan Marketplace to observe the many tradesmen using period skills to create ironware, pottery, and period trade items for sale. We guarantee a visit to remember!

Begin your journey in the 17th century with Native Peoples and European settlers, and learn to separate fact from fiction about the gathering of 1621 which some call “thanksgiving”, and others consider a dark day. Watch the 17th century Citizen Soldiers practice the defense of their town – with spears and matchlock muskets!

Travel along to the eighteenth century to hear from the local militia men about the earlier conflict with the French. Later complaints against the King and Parliament will be an issue , and their plans to establish self-rule.

The Native American Pavilion

Come and have the opportunity to learn what really happened at that first dinner between the Colonist and Wampanoag people in the fall of 1621.
Was there turkey at the dinner? How many people were actually there? Did it happen every year? Why was it so important?
These are the types of questions you will be able to ask. We will be having a Native American Pavilion and Colonial interpreters at the pavilion giving you information about that first feast known by many as “ Thanksgiving”. You can also ask questions about anything in general at our living history museum. This is great opportunity to shatter the myths about the 17th century and hear the actual truth of history. Bring you and you’re family along and turn back time to the year of 1621.

Commuter Rail from Boston

From Boston/ South Station to Kingston Station via commuter rail train: 
  • 6:20am leaving South Station arriving Kingston Station
  • 8:20am leaving South Station arriving Kingston Station
Return:
  • 1:18pm leaving Kingston Station arriving Boston/South Station
  • 3:18pm leaving Kingston Station arriving Boston/South Station
Arrive at Kingston MBTA Station and take a FREE shuttle
with service into the Parade.
FREE PARKING AND SHUTTLE BUS TO AND FROM THE WATERFRONT 
Shuttles will run from  7:00 am- 3:00 pm.
Running every 15 minutes, dropping off and picking up at Lincoln Street, Plymouth.
  • Exit 13 off of Route 3 to Obery Street
  • Exit 17 off of Route 3 to MBTA Commuter Rail Park on Marion Drive

Please be advised that face masks will be required on all shuttles and trains for the parade weekend.

DOWNTOWN ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION FOR NOV 20th

Thanksgiving Day Parade Parking update. Please plan on getting into the downtown and waterfront sections of Plymouth before 8:30 AM. Streets in the area will begin to shut down around that time in anticipation of the parade opening ceremonies starting at 9:30 AM and the parade beginning at 10 AM. All public parking lots will be open to the public, except for Memorial Hall, and Cornish and Burton Lots (see attached maps for locations) will be CLOSED to the public. If you park in one of the public parking lots, you won’t be able to leave these areas until the parade has passed and the Plymouth Police has reopened the surrounding roads. ALL on-street parking along the parade route will be closed, and residents and businesses should find alternative parking.
A free shuttle is available from the Court House at 52 Obery Street and the Kingston MBTA station. It will drop off at 11 Lincoln Street (old Town Hall) across from Nathaniel Morton Elementary School. They will run approximately every 15 – 20 Mins from 7 AM to 3 PM.