America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade is widely known as America’s only historically accurate parade and a must-see for anyone who has never been. But the popular event requires advance planning to avoid traffic, get a choice spot and make the most of a day filled with history, music and holiday festivities.
This year’s celebration promises to be especially memorable as Plymouth joins the nation in marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with 25 floats and more than 20 musical groups participating in the Saturday, Nov. 21 parade.
The weekend kicks off Friday Nov. 20with a Plymouth Philharmonic concert, “An American Soundtrack” at Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., at 7 p.m. The pops concert celebrates America’s dance music, from ragtime and swing to the Charleston, jitterbug and Carolina shag, featuring music by Scott Joplin and Glenn Miller. Guest artists include conductor Neal Hampton and vocalist Philip Lima, bringing the sounds of America’s musical past to life. For information go here.
Parade organizers anticipate up to 200,000 spectators and encourage everyone to use free shuttle buses rather than park downtown. Shuttles will run about every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with drop-off and pickup on Lincoln Street. Check here for schedule information.
Shuttle parking is available off Route 3 at Exit 13, on Obery Street in Plymouth, and Exit 17, at the Kingston MBTA commuter rail parking lot on Marion Drive. Accessible shuttle buses will be available, offering the closest drop-off point to the parade route — closer than any downtown parking area. Organizers recommend the shuttle service, especially for spectators with mobility challenges.
Those traveling by commuter rail can take the MBTA to Kingston Station and connect with the free parade shuttle. For train departure and arrival times, visit the MBTA Kingston Line schedule.
Water Street, from Union Street to the rotary at Town Wharf, will close at 7 a.m. and remain closed until the parade concludes. Brewster, Howland and Chilton streets, along with Memorial Drive, will also be affected by parade staging.
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., Main Street Extension, Main Street and Court Street will close along the parade route, ending at the intersection of Court and Nelson streets, near Pioppi’s Plaza (the former Benny’s). The section from Nelson Street to Holmes Field will also close for parade exit staging.
Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. at Pilgrim Memorial State Park, 79 Water St., overlooking Plymouth Rock. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Plymouth Rock, travels south along Water Street, turns onto Main Street Extension, continues along Main Street and Court Street, and concludes at Court and Nelson streets.
The parade presents American history chronologically, from the 17th century through the present day. Special floats commemorating America’s 250th anniversary will depict Washington Crossing the Delaware, the Declaration of Independence, Knox Artillery and Dorchester Heights. Marching bands, military musicians, historical reenactors and drum and bugle corps will add to the spectacle. There will be at least floats and musical groups marching.
Spectators are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to local food banks when the Hometown Express passes along the route.
Saturday’s waterfront festivities also include the Holiday Village, Children’s Pavilion, Food Truck Alley and a beer and wine garden, along with family activities and entertainment. These events take place in Brewster Gardens, 30 Water St., and along the waterfront.
The celebration continues Saturday evening with a Drum and Bugle Corps Alumni Concert at Memorial Hall, 83 Court St. at 5 p.m. for an evening devoted to drum and bugle music. The concert brings together alumni ensembles whose powerful brass, intricate percussion and precision performances recall the traditions of competitive drum corps. Participating groups include the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Alumni, Connecticut Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, Crusaders Senior Corps, Defenders Concert Corps, Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni, Hanover Lancers Alumni, New York Skyliners Alumni and North Star Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. For information and tickets go here.
For those who can’t make it in person, WCVB Channel 5 will broadcast the parade live Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. A rebroadcast is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, from 9 to 11 a.m., so check local television schedules. Viewers can also stream the parade on WCVB.com, the Very Local app and the parade’s official website.
For the parade map, parking information, road closures and complete schedule of events, go here.
Julia Marie Davis can be reached at julia@plymouthindependent.org.