by Diane Walsh

Created on: October 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 26, 2009

The number one place to visit during Thanksgiving holiday has to be Plymouth, Massachusetts. The celebration is so organized; you and your family can partake of all the festivities and still make it to Grandma's house or your house for the Thursday dinner.

The celebration of America's Hometown is held the week-end before Thanksgiving. A patriotic concert kicks off the festivities on Friday evening at the Memorial Hall. The concert is intended to give thanks for all who have served the nation in uniform. National, state and local drum and bugle units and color and honor guards entertain the crowds.

Saturday, November 21, 2009, will start off with a parade. The floats, drum and bugle corps, re-enactment units, military bands and American history bands will step off at the waterfront at 10:30.

The parade is followed by a food festival. The old Plymouth summer chowder festival is now called the New England Food Festival and is held from 11 to 4. The evening brings another concert. This second concert is a completion between drum and bugle corps.

A fall harvest dinner is held at the Visitor's center beginning mid November. The dinners are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday only and reservations are required.

Thanksgiving Day starts at 10:00 a.m. with the 'Pilgrim Progress.' People walk from the Mayflower Society House, passing Plymouth Rock, the town square, and Burial Hill ending at the church. An Ecumenical Church Service is held. At 12 noon the National Day of Mourning Ceremony is held at the statue of Massasoit.

The town of Plymouth has many other sites to see while visiting. Plymouth Plantation is a must, including the English village and the Native American Home sites. Pilgrim Hall has on going exhibition. The Mayflower II is open to visitors and is floating in Plymouth Harbor near the sight of Plymouth Rock.

Another wonderful place to visit would be New York City and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. November 26, 2009 will mark the 83rd parade. The tradition was started by employees of Macy's. They were first generation immigrants from Europe. They were proud to be in America and wanted to celebrate with a type of festival from Europe. They marched from 145th street to 34th street dressed as clowns, cowboys, knights, and sheiks. They had floats, bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park zoo.

Felix the Cat was the first balloon to appear in 1927. The parade was not held for a couple of years in the 1940's because of World War II. In 1971 there were no balloons because the winds were too high.

Augustine, Florida is another city known for the first thanksgiving. A book, The Cross in the Sand, written in 1965 by author Michael Gannon, a history professor at the University of Florida, describes the gathering.. In September, 1565, a Spanish explorer, Pedro Menendes de Aviles and the Timucua Indians held a feast. After Menendes was declared governor of the new land he invited 800 Spanish settlers to join him and the Timucua Indians for a thanksgiving feast. They claim this to be the real first thanksgiving.

Many other towns and cities celebrate giving thanks for our many blessings in various ways. Check local newspaper, the internet or chamber of commerce to see if any interest you.

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