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The New England Harvest Feasts at Plimoth Patuxet Museums give people a taste of history, says Kim VanWarmer, deputy director of education and public engagement. Not only are the meals made according to carefully selected recipes from the 17th century, but diners get history lessons from Pilgrim reenactors who serve the meals, sing psalms, and explain table manners of the times.
“It’s kind of like a 17th century dinner theater,” Van Warmer said. The food is delicious, she said, although quite different from our concept of a Thanksgiving meal with turkey and gravy. Although the museum has a traditional, modern Thanksgiving meal – and a Thanksgiving buffet with the usual fare – the harvest feasts are true to the times and tastes of the 17th century Pilgrims.
One of the most popular items on the menu is “a Chine of Pork – Roast’d” (roast loin of pork in red wine). It dates to the 1390s, so the recipe is “very ancient,” VanWormer said.
Another dish that people love is called “Stew’d Pompion” (butternut squash or pumpkin with butter, a little sugar, and a little vinegar), which has sweet and tart flavors. VanWormer said that if there’s a dish that surprises people, it’s probably the cheesecake, which is much lighter than the typical New York style version of the dessert.
VanWormer said children can have a good time, too. She recounted a story about a boy who had never tried mussels but ended up eating a whole bowl of them.
The harvest feast is a party-like celebration, according to VanWormer. The Pilgrim reenactors wander around and chat with people, telling them about the first Thanksgiving, explaining the menu items, and singing. The food is served family style. There are no forks – you can eat with your fingers, and your napkin goes over your shoulder or on your lap.
At the end of the meal, the reenactors teach the crowd a song and get them to join in. VanWormer said she enjoys seeing the smiles and expressions on people’s faces.
Tickets for the feasts include two-days admission to all of Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ sites. Tickets for adult members of the museums are $64.99, child members ages 5-12 are $48.19, and child members under 5 are $46.09. Non-member adults’ tickets are $93.34, children ages 5-12 are 66.04, and children under 5 are $46.09.
The next New England Harvest Feast is set for Saturday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and you can buy tickets here. You can find tickets for other feasts on the museums’ website. Those will take place on Saturday Nov. 22, Wednesday Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 28.
Monday, November 10
“Deliver Me from Nowhere,” the Bruce Springsteen bio-pic starring Jeremy Allen White, continues at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film focuses on a tense period when Springsteen was creating his album “Nebraska.” “Train Dreams,” starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, will also continue at the cinema. This film follows a logger who must go work on the developing railroad, taking him away from his wife and daughter. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
State Senator Dylan Fernandes will host the third in a series of community forums focused on the Cape bridges project, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Plymouth South Middle School’s lecture hall. The Cape Bridges Community Forum series offers residents a chance to hear directly from – and ask questions of – the head of the project, as well as other Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials. Fernandes will be joined by project leaders, including Luisa Paiewonsky, director of the Office of Mega Projects, to discuss updated plans for the replacement of the Sagamore and Bourne bridges.”
Tuesday, November 11
The Department of Veterans’ Services welcomes the public to join the Veterans Day celebration, at 11 a.m. at Memorial Hall. The guest speaker will be Father Paul Hurley, St. Bonaventure Parish, 24th Chief of Chaplains, U.S. Army, Retired. For more information, contact Veterans Services at (508) 747-1620, ext. 10172 or ext. 10173.
Enjoy a wine tasting and dinner at Uva Wine Bar, 46 Main St., from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will feature one of the wine bar’s trusted distributors’ top four wine choices. The selections will be paired with a four-course meal. Tickets are $71.21, and you can buy them here.
Wednesday, November 12
Join award-winning journalists Larry Tye and Walter Robinson for a discussion of Tye’s research for his upcoming book, “The Forger of Paris: Adolfo Kaminsky and the Jewish Resistance to the Holocaust,” at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Through his research, Tye interviewed 100 Holocaust survivors and discovered, surprisingly, that they had an optimistic outlook. Robinson will moderate the discussion. He is a Boston Globe editor at large and headed the Spotlight team that reported on widespread child abuse by Catholic priests, winning the Globe a Pulitzer Prize in 2002. (Robinson also serves on the Independent’s board of directors.) The event is presented by Plymouth for All.
The Plymouth Garden Club’s monthly meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at the Chiltonville Church, 6 River St. Joan Marie Driscoll will give a presentation on floral design. Attendees will learn how to create artistically designed arrangements from a professional. Driscoll is a graduate of the American Institute of Floral Design and is president and principal designer at Floral Scents in Canton, where she creates fresh and artistically arranged baskets and gifts. A traditional English tea will be served. Guests are welcome to attend for a $5 fee.
Barnaby Bright, an alt-Americana trio, will perform at the Spire at 7:30 p.m., as parts of its Lobby Series. The band, consisting of Nathan and Becky Bliss and Carmen Dieker, received the grand prize at New York City’s prestigious Songwriter’s Circle. They’ve opened for acts such as Norah Jones and The Lumineers. Tickets are $22, and you can buy them here.
Thursday, November 13
The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance will present a program titled “Where We Live: Coastal Pine Barrens,” at the Manomet Branch of the Plymouth Public Library, 12 Strand Ave., from 6 to 7 p.m. The program will explain how rare the South Shore pine barrens ecosystem is and feature a discussion about endangered species that live in the local ecosystem. Registration is required, and you can do so here.
Plymouth Bay Winery, 114 Water St., invites you to “Sip, Shop and Shine” from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a variety of food from local vendors, as well as jewelry, makeup, skincare items, artisan creations, and tarot card readings. Register for your free ticket here.
Friday, November 14
“Train Dreams” will continue for another week at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. Joel Edgerton plays a logger who must go work on the developing railroad, taking him away from his wife (Felicity Jones) and daughter. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
Matt Schofield, a British blues guitarist based in the U.S., will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m. Besides being a guitar virtuoso, Schofield is a singer, songwriter, producer, and band leader, with 30 years of experience performing. He has won the British Blues Guitarist of the Year award three times. He’s also received the “British Blues Album of the Year,” award and was the first guitarist inducted into the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame. Tickets are $39.10 and $43, and you can get them here.
Saturday, November 15
The Plymouth Stewardship Alliance will host a public forum on protecting Plymouth’s green space, from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m., in the Fehlow Room at the Plymouth Public Library. Residents are invited to come learn about the group and its efforts “to care for Plymouth’s natural systems.” Meet members of the Plymouth Stewardship Alliance and help them figure out how to “re-green our villages, protect our wetlands and wildlands, and put Plymouth’s future in the hands of its residents.” Light refreshments will be served.
Enjoy a cup of coffee during a Painting with Coffee Workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. Instructor Terry Kole will lead the class, teaching you how to paint using coffee, espresso, tea, and hot chocolate. There will also be treats to go along with the beverages. Attendees should bring watercolor or acrylic paint brushes. The other supplies will be provided. The cost for the workshop is $65. You can sign up here.
Enjoy a New England Harvest Feast from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. See the lead item in this column for details.
Sunday, November 16
Gaelic Storm, the multinational Celtic band, will perform at Memorial Hall at 7 p.m. The group has been performing for more than 20 years in more than 2,000 shows. The band started at a Santa Monica, California pub and scored a cameo in the film “Titanic.” Gaelic Storm reached the top of the Billboard World Chart six times. Tickets are $45.25, $56, $67, and $78, and are available here.
Wednesday, November 19
Enjoy a free concert by the Squeezebox Stompers in the Fehlow Meeting Room at Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 6 to 7 p.m. A renowned Boston-area American roots band, the group has been performing around New England for more than 25 years, offering a blend of Cajun, zydeco, blues, folk, and original music. This event is presented by the Dr. Richard M. Shiff Fund. Registration is required, and you can do that here.
Thursday, November 20
Get some laughs at a Comedy Coop Night hosted by Joe Fenti, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Untold Brewing, 2 Loring Blvd. Fenti will host four “up-and-coming” local comics and himself to provide some laughs, and audience members can partake of craft beer at the venue. Tickets are $20, and you can buy them here.
Friday, November 21
Singer/songwriter Vonda Shepard will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7. Shepard has sold over 12 million albums, won two Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and was the writer and performer of “Searchin’ My Soul,” the theme song for TV’s “Ally McBeal.” She is touring with her band in support of her latest album, “Red Light/Green Light.” Her band features James Ralston on guitar, Jim Hanson on bass, and Fritz Lewak on drums. Tickets are $44.50 and $49, and you can buy them here.
Saturday, November 22
Children ages 11 to 15, can sign up for Babysitter Safety Training at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Topics of discussion include infant and child care, child development, basic first aid, choking rescue for infants and children, and injury prevention. Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion. Registration is required, and you can do so here.
New workshops at the Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St., include Procreate for Beginners, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a break for lunch; Beginners Phone Photography, from 3 to 5 p.m., and Playful Book Binding, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshops are $65 each, and you can register for a course here.
Have a New England Harvest Feast at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. See the lead item in this column for more information.