Pilgrims’ progress
Plymouth 400 making big plans for Mayflower anniversary year
There are only months to go before the yearlong, nearly worldwide commemoration of the Pilgrims’ landing in Plymouth begins, and now is the time to get familiar
with events, make travel plans and begin your countdown to what those in the Plymouth 400 group expect to be a world-class experience.
Beginning in April 2020 and extending through Thanksgiving week that year, the town, state and nation, as well as other countries, will mark the world-changing event with programs, festivals and educational events both on land and by sea. “Millions will come to Massachusetts, and Plymouth will be the destination,” said long-time town official and Plymouth 400 President Kenneth Tavares.
It all kicks off with the Plymouth 400 Commemoration Opening Ceremony on April 24, to be held in Plymouth’s historic Memo
rial Hall, all along downtown and the waterfront, and surrounding areas. With the intention of “honoring the past and celebrating the future,” the event will be heavy on protocol and pageantry, feature live performances, historic content and more than a few world-famous personalities. At a planning meeting in Plymouth in June, committee members shared that former U.S. presidents have been invited, with two — Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — setting aside time on their calendars with the hope of being there. In addition, members of Britain’s royal family will be in attendance. And one can expect a heavy Congressional delegation.
As the ceremony unfolds at Memorial Hall, businesses across town will have live stream set-ups so those who do not score inside tickets will be able to take it all in. Businesses and restaurants will have special offerings all day, and there will also be special concerts and performances. NBC will be airing much of it.
Next up in major official events will be the Official Maritime Salute taking place June 27-28 in and along Plymouth Harbor. This salute will honor the landing of the Mayflower and include a wealth of famed ships. With the guidance of Massachusetts event guru Dusty Rhodes, the group has already secured seven vessels including the schooners Roseway and Adventure, and of course the town’s beloved Mayflower II will be back after a two-year sprucing up in dry dock.
“The Mayflower is coming back, and she’s coming back a much younger lady,” Tavares said.
The town expects to secure even more ships: wooden, historic, workboats and pleasure crafts for the event, made possible by the current Plymouth Harbor dredging project. The salute will finish with a giant waterfront lobster bake open to all that purchase tickets. (Tickets will go on sale late summer). Like the April weekend, this weekend will feature special events and programs in businesses and historic spots throughout town. On June 26, many of the ships will make their way toward Plymouth through the Cape Cod Canal, a prime preevent viewing location.
The Wampanoag Ancestors Walk takes place Aug. 1, led by — and honoring — members of the Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts. This historic event will commemorate the 69 original villages of the tribe — helping visitors learn them by name — as well as pay tribute to Massasoit and King Phillip. There will be a drum ceremony and reception, giving visitors a peek inside the history of the Wampanoags and a chance to understand the tribe and its people today.
On Sept. 14, the official Statehouse Salute to the 400th features speeches by dignitaries, and the rarely seen journal of Gov. William Bradford will be on display.
Back in Plymouth, Sept. 19-20 brings the Embarkation Festival, a giant event honoring traditions, cuisines and music not just of the original settlers and the Wampanoag, but also of the many diverse immigrants who later settled in America. Heads of state, celebrities and students from around the world will be in attendance.
Oct. 30-Nov. 1 the focus is at Bridgewater State University for the Indigenous History Conference & Powwow. Open to the public, this two-day event dives deep into the past and present impact of colonization on America’s indigenous people, and will feature talks by renowned scholars on the topic.
And then the culmination of it all: Thanksgiving Week 2020 in Plymouth, including the presentation of the “One Small Candle Award,” given to someone who has positively affected the lives of others. The week will kick off with concerts on Nov. 20, followed on Nov. 21 by the town’s large (and expected to be larger) Thanksgiving Parade, which for the first time ever will be broadcast nationally, on NBC TV. “This will be a much larger parade than we’ve ever had before,” Tavares said. There will be festival events Nov. 23 and 24 and a luminaria evening Nov. 25. There will also be pub crawls, pop-up breweries and other special events that week.
In between all this, more than 150 special sanctioned events are planned not just in Plymouth but all over New England, the United States and beyond. More than 2,000 Mayflower descendants are planning to visit Plymouth as a group in September.
Plymouth 400 officials are working on every detail, including a parking plan (they hope to secure added MBTA runs on special weekends as well as set up Uber and Lyft pick-ups and drop-offs. Shuttles are also planned). The website will update parking constantly as events unfold, giving tips on the best way to get in and out of town.
Tickets for events such as the lobster bake will go on sale late summer at plymouth400inc.org. More details on events, where to stay and how to get to Plymouth can be found there too.
For those wanting to take part in Plymouth events, now is the time to reserve hotel, Airbnb and other overnight accommodations.
With the world not just watching but visiting America’s Hometown, now is indeed the time to make plans. “We are finding there is so much interest worldwide,” Tavares said. “Calls are coming into the office daily.”