Cape & Islands - Happy Thanksgiving 2014

The first "Thanksgiving" in 1621 was a traditional three day English harvest celebration to which the Pilgrims invited Massasoit, Chief of the the Wamapanoag. It wasn't until the nineteenth century that this event became identified with the American Thanksgiving holiday. Visit Plimoth Plantation to learn about the "First Thanksgiving".

Need help with your own Thanksgiving celebration? Check out Ocean Spray's Kitchen Plan-it for "tasty tips for a delicious holiday". Visit Miss Scarlet's Blue Ribbon Farm for a local turkey. Don't feel like cooking, make dinner reservations at a Cape Cod restaurant or better yet, impose on a relative to make the dinner! Then relax and eat!

There's lots to do besides eat... 13th Annual Gravy Bowl, a flag football game featuring District Attorneys & MA State Police versus Defense Attorneys & Sandwich Police Department is November 26 at the Sandwich Pop Warner Field to benefit Children's Cove. West Parish is hosting an Interfaith Service Thanksgiving Eve Service with Ecumenical Choir at 7:30PM. The 103nd Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument is Wednesday, November 26 at 5:00 PM.

Need some exercise before dinner? Those visiting, or living in, Nantucket may want to get up early and take the 13th Annual Cold Turkey Plunge. The 9th Annual Chatham Turkey Trot steps off at 7:00AM. The 14th Annual Cape Cod 5 We Gather Together 5K to benefit food pantries on Upper Cape Cod follows at 8:00AM from Henry T Wing School in Sandwich; see details at www.timeoutproductions.com

The fun doesn't stop after Thursday; there is plenty to do on Cape Cod all weekend long! Work off any extra consumed calories while contributing to a good cause by running the Annual Andrea Holden Thanksgiving Race on Saturday. Artisans' Guild of Cape Cod is hosting a Thanksgiving Weekend "Fine Art & Craft Show". Doors open at 10:00 AM Friday & Saturday at the Nauset Middle School in Orleans to an array of handmade crafts and fine art by professional Cape Cod artists. Heritage Museums & Gardens' Annual Celebration of Lights, Gardens Aglow, opens Thanksgiving weekend. The 5th Annual Glassblowers' Christmas & Special Exhibit: Dolls of Yesteryear - Antique Dolls & Glass Toys Exhibit at Sandwich Glass Museum opening on Nov 15 continues through Dec 30. Check our calendar for more events. Or just take a walk!

Happy Thanksgiving! from all of us at AllCapeCod.com