2020 Events for the 400th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Mayflower

More will be published about these and other events in upcoming issues of the Mayflower Quarterly magazine.  There will be lots of chances for you to participate in fun, family friendly activities. See the January 2019 Mayflower Quarterly and the GSMD website https://www.themayflowersociety.org/  in January 2019 for reservations and event information. These spaces will fill up quickly, so plan your 2020 calendar now! This will be an excellent chance to take a family vacation to Plymouth, Massachusetts to share these once in a lifetime events with your family, children and grandchildren. 

NOTE:  This blog post was revised on May 28, 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Please see the new schedule because many events were cancelled or postponed until 2021:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/05/updated-mayflower-400-schedule.html 

January 1^st, 2020  Pasadena, California  -  At the annual Rose Bowl Parade the California Society of Mayflower Descendants has had plans for a Mayflower float approved.   There will be a chance for descendants to ride on the “Voyage of Hope” float with the Governor General,  or march behind the float as re-enactors of the 102 passengers.  Stay tuned for details for participating, or for a reserved seat along the parade route.  See the California Mayflower website for more information:  http://camayflower.org/index.php/activities/   

April 24,  Friday, Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts

                Opening Ceremony of the 400^th Anniversary Commemoration.  Time Capsule, music, readings, and invited guests from the federal government, UK, Netherlands, and many more.

June 27 – 28, Saturday and Sunday in Plymouth Harbor

                Maritime Salute to the 400^th Anniversary – a regatta of wooden ships, yachts, boats, and pleasure craft will culminate in a New England clam bake on the Plymouth, Massachusetts waterfront. 

August 15^th, Saturday, Plymouth, Massachusetts

                The Wampanoag Ancestors Walk will be led by the Wampanoag tribe members.  Participants will pay homage to Massaoit and King Philip and stop at designated sites to bless the spots where the Wampanoag ancestors lived.  It will conclude with a drum ceremony and a reception.

September 7 – 14, Monday to Saturday, Provincetown, Massachusetts

                The town of Provincetown will partner with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants for commemorative events.  The Mayflower II will be in Provincetown harbor the this entire week with daily historical re-enactments of the Signing of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown harbor in 1620.  There will be a Gala ticketed event on the evening of September 11 at the Pilgrim Monument.  On September 13, a Memorial Service and Wreath Laying in the harbor, followed by a ticket luncheon and program at the base of the Pilgrim Monument.  The commemoration will end on, September 14^th, with a sunrise toast and “Bon Voyage” as the Mayflower II sails to Plymouth.

September 14^th, Monday, Boston, Massachusetts

                There will be a Pilgrim’s Progress of Mayflower descendants across the Boston Common to the steps of the statehouse.  There will be a ceremony on the steps of the state house commemorating the Pilgrim forefathers and Native people.  The GSMD and the Wampanoag families will be in attendance.  Invited participants in a grand evening gala include the Governor of the state of Massachusetts, state legislators, federal legislators, and representatives from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. 

September 15 – 18, Plymouth, Massachusetts

                Congress Week for members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants

                Tuesday, September 15, Congress registration, insignia sales, vendors, member society tables and more events at the Hotel 1620 in Plymouth

                On Wednesday September 16^th, in the morning there will be a US Citizen Naturalization Ceremony at Memorial Hall when 102 immigrants will be naturalized, and 102 costumed descendants will escort these new citizens.  The Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants will be coordinating this event.  Stay tuned for more information.  

                In the afternoon of Wednesday September 16^th  the Pilgrims Progress will march from the Mayflower Society House to Cole’s Hill to the Meetinghouse for Congress opening ceremonies.  There will be a welcome reception for registered guests in the rose garden of the Mayflower house following this ceremony.

                Thursday and Friday, September 17 and 18 will be the GSMD congress meetings followed by a Friday night Black Tie gala ticketed event.  See the January 2019 Mayflower Quarterly and the GSMD website https://www.themayflowersociety.org/  in January 2019 for reservations and event information. These spaces will fill up quickly, so plan your 2020 calendar now!

September 19^th, Saturday, Plymouth, Massachusetts

                The Embarkation Festival will be cultural and arts celebration honoring the traditions, cuisine, and music of the Pilgrim settlers, the Wampanoag native people, and of all the diverse populations of immigrants who have come to the USA.  There will be world music, culinary events, artisan crafts, and cultural exhibits.  National and international in scope, the program will include performing groups, chefs, artists, storytellers, and student projects from around the world.

October 30 – November 1, Friday to Sunday, at Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts

                The Indigenous History Conference and Powwow will address the legacy of colonization experienced by Wampanoag and other Native people in the New England area.  This conference will be filmed and recorded as a curriculum for classroom use at all levels.

November 5 – 8, Friday to Sunday,  New York City, New York

                The Annual Mayflower Debutante Ball will be even more special for the 400^th anniversary commemoration.  All girls of Mayflower Descent from ages 18 – 22 from all states are invited by the New York Mayflower Society to participate in the Saturday evening Debutante Ball, as well as activities held all weekend for their families.

November 11, Wednesday, Provincetown, Massachusetts

                “Landing of the Pilgrims” a special evening illumination of the Pilgrim Monument and fireworks display to commemorate the day the Pilgrims landed in Provincetown on November 11, 1620.

November 20 - 26, Thanksgiving Week, 2020, special events around the town of Plymouth and Plimoth Plantation, including some of the following

                Nov. 20 Concerts

                Nov. 21 Thanksgiving Parade – the GSMD will be participating in this parade with a float. If members would like to ride in the parade on the float, or march beside the float, please see the upcoming issue of the Mayflower Quarterly for the donation levels for the 2018 – 2019 parades, as well as the donation levels required for riding/ marching in the 2020 or 2021 parades.

                Nov. 22  “One Small Candle” ceremony and the new Gov. Bradford statue

                Nov. 25, Thanksgiving Eve, “Illuminate Thanksgiving” spectacle

                Nov. 26, Thanksgiving

NOTE:

Extra buses and ferries will be made available for transportation between Boston, Provincetown and Plymouth for the week of September 13 to 19 for all the activities.  

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "2020 Events for the 400th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Mayflower", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 4, 2018, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/10/2020-events-for-400th-anniversary-of.html: accessed [access date]).