Wondering what to do this Thanksgiving weekend? Skip the mall, shop small and have a ball during this spectacular festive weekend in Provincetown!
Thanksgiving isn’t just any old holiday in Provincetown, it’s THE holiday. I know you all learned about the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock, but as an American Historian, my job is to correct all that hooey and to tell you the real story.
A group of English settlers known as the Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, boarded the Mayflower and braved a 66-day, hazardous trip across the Atlantic Ocean to establish a new home. The Mayflower, an English ship, transported the first English Puritans (known today as the Pilgrims) from Plymouth, England to the New World in 1620, with 102 passengers and crew of about 30.
On November 11, 1620, the Pilgrims came ashore on land that is now Provincetown. Yes, Provincetown! The Pilgrims intended to land in Northern Virginia, which at the time included the region as far north as the Hudson River in New York State. The Hudson River, in fact, was their originally intended destination, but dangerous shoals and poor winds forced the ship to seek shelter on Cape Cod.
Since Cape Cod was outside the area they were supposed to settle in, the group agreed to write a “compact” or “self-governing” agreement, which became known as the Mayflower Compact. The Mayflower Compact was important because it was the first document to establish self-government in the New World, remaining active until 1691, when Plymouth Colony became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony. It created laws for Mayflower Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims alike, for the good of their new colony. It was a short document which established that the colonists would remain loyal subjects to King James, despite their need for self-governance. When the Mayflower landed in 1620, a local Pokanokets leader, Squanto. worked to broker peaceable relations between the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets, playing a key role in the early meetings in March 1621, partly because he spoke English. He then lived with the Pilgrims for 20 months, acting as a translator, guide and advisor.
The Mayflower returned to England from Plymouth Colony, arriving back on May 9, 1621 and sailed to Surrey, England, on March 5, 1622. No further record of the Mayflower was found until May 1624, when it was appraised for the purposes of probate and was described as being in ruins.
Now that you know the true history of the Mayflower, let’s flash forward almost 400 years to what’s happening in Provincetown, the first home of the Pilgrims. Certainly, not what they had envisioned!
Pilgrim Monument Lighting – 11/27
This annual event has grown to become a favorite holiday tradition on the Cape, with last year’s event drawing over 1,500 visitors. The celebration begins at 5pm, on Wednesday, 11/27, with the lighting occurring at approximately 6pm and continuing through 7pm. Admission is free and light refreshments and entertainment are provided. Parking at the Monument is limited, but there is free parking on Winslow St. in the nearby Grace Hall Parking Lot and the Municipal Parking Lot by Macmillan Wharf. Because the Monument is located on one of the highest elevations in Provincetown, you can view the lighting from most locations. The Monument lights – more than 3,100 – shine nightly through early January. Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, 1 High Pole Hill Road. Big plus, it’s FREE!
Pilgrim 5K Trot – 11/28
Thursday, 11/28, Thanksgiving morning, starts the holiday weekend with the Pilgrim 5K Trot, a 5K fundraising “trot” benefiting Helping our Women (HOW). The 3.1 mile route starts at the Sandcastle Resort and Club, with registration at 7:30am and a 9am start time at the Sandcastle Resort and Club in the Far East End. Run, or walk, the Trot on Commercial Street, head down Commercial Street to Angel Foods where you will find a Pilgrim, turn around and head back to the Sandcastle. A $100 cash prize will be awarded for 1st place female and male participants. Registration costs $30. In addition, participants and onlookers are asked to bring a protein canned good for SKIP (Soup Kitchen In Provincetown).
Thanksgiving Dinner – 11/28
If you’re visiting or really don’t want to cook dinner, several of Provincetown’s restaurants are open for Thanksgiving. At this time, these are the restaurants that have confirmed seatings:
Mews – 429 Commercial St. (508)487-1500
Napis – 7 Freeman St. (508)487-1145
The Pointe – 82 Bradford St. (508)487-2365
Red Inn – 15 Commercial St. (508)487-7334
Strangers & Saints – 404 Commercial St. (508)487-1449
Tin Pan Alley – 269 Commercial St. (508)487-1648
Drag Bingo with Tiki Bronstein – 11/29
Put on your best outfit and join the fun for the annual Drag Bingo event, with your hostess with the mostess, Tiki Bronstein, who keeps the games going and keeps the crowd in stitches! This event sells out so get your tickets early. Proceeds benefit the Provincetown Business Guild, the organization that brings you Carnival, Holly Folly and so much more! Drag Bingo begins at 3:30pm until 5:30pm at Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St. The tickets are $25.
Golden Girls Holiday Musical Adventure: Thank Yule for Being a Friend – 11/29
This will be the Provincetown debut of the Golden Girls musical drag parody from the Golden Gays NYC. Before traveling to spend the holidays with their families, Blanche, Dorothy and Rose participate in a golden gift exchange full of hilarious surprises. Just as they get to the airport, a winter storm blows in, leaving them trapped! In an unexpected Charles Dickens twist of events, the three grannies must visit their past, present and future to save Christmas (and find Sophia), just in time for turkey-lurkey. Lucky audience members may even have a chance to make their stage debut with the bosom buddies and become the next #TokenSophia! Friday, 11/29 at 7pm at Pilgrim House, 336 Commercial St. The tickets are $25 – $35 VIP.
Lobster Trap Tree Lighting – 11/30
Join the town for its second lighting of the week on Saturday, the annual Lobster Pot Tree Lighting. Be sure to get there early to get a prime view. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. The tree frame consists of over 100 lobster pots and the tree trimmings include approximately 120 bows, 3,400 LED lights, plastic lobsters and buoys. This unique holiday tree was featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s article “Seven Places Reinventing the Christmas Tree!” If you can’t make it the weekend of the lighting, the tree will be lit through January. Saturday, 11/30/19 at 5:30 pm at Lopes Square.
Illusions: Thanksgiving Drag Leftovers – 11/30
Lakia Mondale, Roxy Pops and Ania Bangkoks present a post-Thanksgiving Drag Revue in this special One Night Only production! Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a drag unless you want it to be! Saturday, 11/30 at 8pm at the Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial St. The tickets are $29.
Come spend Thanksgiving in Provicetown. It’ll be a week to remember. HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!
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