Thanksgiving is a national holiday and a major time for celebration in the United States. Although there has been debate about the origins of Thanksgiving, it is without a doubt a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, have a day of feasting, and to get excited for the upcoming holiday season. However, the historic American tradition can be traced back to the year of 1623, when after the harvest crops were gathered by the Pilgrims, they declared a three day feast to thank God and his blessings. Furthermore, New England is the birthplace of this American holiday so where better to celebrate Thanksgiving? In this blog, we will highlight Thanksgiving events around New England that you and your family and friends can enjoy to keep the holiday spirit and mood in full flow!
Firstly, one major way to celebrate Thanksgiving that will surely be delicious is to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at one of Boston’s many top restaurants! Turkey will obviously be the highlight of their menu’s, but there are plenty of traditional and vegetarian options. Some of the restaurants in Boston that will have special menus for Thanksgiving are:
- Taj Boston, where their lavish buffet ranges from marinated mussels, crab claws, organic turkey breast or leg, slow-cooked salmon, and more! Located at 15 Arlington Street, Boston, it is the prime place to kick-start your holiday shopping on Newbury Street and enjoy a relaxing dinner.
- Precinct Kitchen + Bar, where they will serve a special Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 8 pm. Located inside the Loews Boston Hotel, their main specialties will include sage-crusted roast turkey, pineapple-glazed ham, peppercorn-crusted prime rib, all accompanied by traditional side dishes.
- Parker House, another famous restaurant in Boston, will be having a Thanksgiving buffet with creative dishes such as slow roasted turkey with herb stuffing, pumpkin ravioli with sage-brown butter sauce, pan-seared salmons and a lot of other traditional side dishes. It is located on 60 School Street in Historic Downtown Boston.
These restaurants are just a little snippet of the type of dishes you can expect during Thanksgiving, and if you want to check out a more elaborate list or to help make reservations click here.
Next up, another way to get pumped up for the holiday season is to visit the Boston Opera House and watch a performance of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker. This performance is one of the most highly rated shows in Boston, and it is no surprise as there are enchanting dancers, haunting music by Tchaikovsky, and the magic of the Boston Opera House in general will surely make it a performance you don’t forget. The opening night is the Friday after Thanksgiving, and shows run all the way through December. Definitely a dazzling Thanksgiving tradition for families and friends, click here to search for available tickets!
If you’re in the mood for an adventure during Thanksgiving, why not make a trip to the Plimoth Plantation on Thanksgiving Day. This is the site of the first Thanksgiving where the Pilgrims settled back in 1620. Plymouth is located South of Boston, and you can make a day trip to see the famous Pilgrim Monument or go on aboard a reproduction of the Mayflower, the ship that brought the Pilgrims to New England. Furthermore, the Plimoth Plantation is a very impressive re-creation of the original Pilgrim settlement, and there will be actors playing the roles of each of the 17th century settlers to show what life was like back then. Click this link to book a special Plimoth Plantation tour!
Furthermore, another reason to make the trip to Plymouth is the Thanksgiving parade and celebration. Plymouth will be hosting a massive 3-day Thanksgiving celebration along the harbor and waterfront, and the parade, which kicks off at 11 am on Saturday, November 22nd is ranked 1 in the nation! The parade is especially special as actors will be reenacting all periods of American history, beginning with the Pilgrims straight to the 21st century with historical accuracy.
What are your thankful for and what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Let us know! We hope everyone is excited about the holidays!
