Cape & Islands - Happy Thanksgiving

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 Patuxet to learn about the "First Thanksgiving".

Need help with your own Thanksgiving celebration? Let's Talk Turkey! Your Safe Thanksgiving Guide offers important food safety on how to select, prepare, roast and store any leftover turkey! It's not Thanksgiving without the cranberries! Check out Ocean Spray for tasty recipes. 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... High school football non-conference Thanksgiving Day rival games include Barnstable at Falmouth, Dennnis-Yarmouth at Nauset, Sandwich at Mashpee, Bourne at Wareham, and Cape Tech at Upper Cape Tech - all kicking off at 10AM. Get out and cheer for your local high school's football team and marching band! To quote Principal McGee of Rydell High, "If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter." The Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument is Wednesday, November 26 at 3:00 PM. Those on Nantucket will want to kick off the Holiday Season by checking out The Festival of Wreaths at The Whaling Museum opening on Nov 24.

Need some exercise before dinner? Those visiting, or living in, Nantucket may want to get up early and take the 24th Annual Cold Turkey Plunge. The 21st Annual Chatham Turkey Trot steps off at 8:00AM - Please don't forget to bring bag of non-perishable grocery items for the Lower Cape Outreach Council.

The tradition of the 22 years "We Gather Together 5K" continues this year in Sandwich with the "Thanksgiving Sandwich 5K~ 2025" to benefit food pantries of Sandwich & Bourne, and the Cape Cod Military Support Foundation, Inc. Not a runner? Don't let the spirit of giving run its course, please consider making a donation to the Sandwich Food Pantry or another food pantry of your choice.

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 November 29. Heritage Museums & Gardens' Annual Celebration of Lights, Gardens Aglow, opens Thanksgiving weekend. The 16th Annual Glassblowers' Christmas & Special Exhibit, featuring unique hand crafted and blown glass ornaments, at Sandwich Glass Museum opens on Nov 15 and continues through Dec 30. For those who feel the urge to shop, please remember that November 29 is Small Business Saturday - Please support local businesses! Check our calendar for more events. Or just take a walk!

Happy Thanksgiving! from all of us at AllCapeCod.com