Cape & Islands - Happy Turkey Day

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 Falmouth at Barnstable, Nauset Regional at Dennnis-Yarmouth, Mashpee at Sandwich, Wareham at Bourne, and Upper Cape Tech at 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 25 at 3:00 PM.

Need some exercise before dinner? Those visiting, or living in, Nantucket may want to get up early and take the 25th Annual Cold Turkey Plunge at Children's Beach. The 22nd 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 23 years "We Gather Together 5K" continues this year in Sandwich with the "Thanksgiving Sandwich 5K~ 2026" 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 28. Heritage Museums & Gardens' Annual Celebration of Lights, Gardens Aglow, opens Thanksgiving weekend. The 17th Annual Glassblowers' Christmas & Special Exhibit, featuring unique hand crafted and blown glass ornaments, at Sandwich Glass Museum opens on Nov 17 and continues through Dec 30. Those on Nantucket will want to kick off the Holiday Season by checking out The Festival of Wreaths at Macy Warehouse (12 Straight Wharf) opening on Monday Nov 23. If you feel the urge to shop, please remember that November 28 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