Northern Lights Performance

The A Cappella Group, Northern Lights, from Plymouth North High School will be performing at First Parish on Friday, December 2 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm in our Sanctuary. This is an amazing group of very talented high school students, and they will fill the hall with beautiful music, youthful energy, and lots of spirit for the season.

Come Get In The Spirit at First Parish Church!

20% Discount At the Plymouth Plantation Online Store

Use the code SQUASH20 to save 20% at checkout.

Let the Phil help with the holidays!

As we move into the busy season ahead, the Phil would love to be part of your holiday traditions. Take a break and join us for a Holiday Pops concert or share the gift of music...gift certificates can be used toward any future concert. Our Spring Pops, An Evening with Livingston Taylor makes a special gift with tickets as low as $20.

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!

Boston MassPass Books Available

Around the Mayflower is pleased to announce that freshly printed 2017 Boston Masspass books are now available. These coupon books are good for restaurants, movies, stores and more.

The Masspass book costs $25 and all proceeds from the sales of these books benefits the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation. Boston Masspass and Around the Mayflower have partnered for the past several years in raising funds for this great charity! Funds raised for the Ace Bailey Children's Foundation supports The Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center.

To request your 2017 Boston Masspass, please email aroundthemayflower@gmail.com.

A History of Alms & Charity in Plymouth

Saturdays on Burial Hill  Join Us on December 3rd 'Tis the Season of Giving: A History of Alms & Charity in Plymouth   Explore the different ways the people of Plymouth have responded to the needs of their neighbors since the 17th century on this guided walking tour with Dr. Anne Reilly, Executive Director of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. While local authorities were responsible for providing aid to the poor, private giving played an important role in relief. Learn about the work of the Fragment Society, the charitable organization founded in 1818 and still operating today, and the contributions of individuals who chose to give back to their community.  Please note: There will be no tour in January; monthly tours resume February 4th, 2017.  'Tis the Season of Giving: A History of Alms & Charity in Plymouth is part of Burial Hill: History in Progress, a free program that will continue through the year 2020. Launched independently in 2011 by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, the Burial Hill series is now a collaborative program with the Pilgrim Society & Pilgrim Hall Museum. Each year, we will present a series of history expeditions on Burial Hill, one of America's oldest and most significant burying grounds. Tours will be offered on the first Saturday of every month at 1 pm (excepting January); meet at the top of the Hill.  No reservations are required for individuals and families. Participants may traverse steep and slippery slopes; please wear appropriate shoes. Severe weather may cancel tour; updates will be posted on the Plymouth Antiquarian Society Facebook page.  For more information contact pasm@verizon.net or call 508-746-0012  For a full listing of upcoming tours, visit www.plymouthantiquariansociety.org

Blood Drive

Cape Cod Healthcare will be holding a Plymouth Community Blood Drive on Monday, November 21st from 11:30 – 5:30 at the Wendy’s on Long Pond Road.

America's Hometown Celebration

Saturday, November 19

* Opening Ceremonies, DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park 10:30am

* Thanksgiving Parade, Main Street, Plymouth: 11am-1:30pm

* New England Food Festival: DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park 11am-4pm

* Portal to the Past, Historic Village and Demonstrations, Brewster Gardens, 10am-4pm

* Wampanoag Education Pavilion, sponsored by Massasoit Community College: DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park 11am-4pm

* The National Senior and Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps Reunion Concert, Memorial Hall: 6:30pm Sunday, November 20

* Harvest Market, DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park: 11am-4pm AMERICA'S HOMETOWN THANKSGIVING

ILLUMINATE THANKSGIVING

 

Saturday, November 19, 2016 - 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Join Plymouth 400 and our partners around the world as we GIVE THANKS and GIVE BACK.

Plymouth, Massachusetts will celebrate Illuminate Thanksgiving on November 19th as part of America's Hometown Thanksgiving Weekend.

Illuminate Thanksgiving will kick off at 4pm at the Hedge House on Water Street in Plymouth with an inspirational program filled with live music, inspiring words, and illuminated art.

Following the program, downtown Plymouth shops and restaurants will illuminate their windows with festive displays and offer special entertainment, programming and more!

Join us in downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts for an inspiring evening!

4PM-5PM: Illuminate Thanksgiving Location: Hedge House Lawn, 126 Water Street An inspirational candle-lighting ceremony featuring the General Society of Mayflower) and received the "One Small Candle" award last year.

5PM-8PM: #IlluminatePlymouthCulture Location: Plymouth Bay Cultural District Stroll through the Plymouth Bay Cultural District and vote for your favorite illuminated storefront below, and stop into a participating restaurant for an Illuminate Thanksgiving commemorative pint glass!

Plus, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants House will honor the 102 Mayflower passengers with 102 luminaries, and Plymouth Antiquarian Society will offer tours of the historic Hedge House.

Church Mouse Fair

Friday, December 2nd, 6pm to 9pm and Saturday, December 3rd, 9AM to 1PM at Second Church of Plymouth. We will be selling handmade crafts (knitting, crochet, quilting etc.); jewelry, Christmas decorations; Children's Room; Homemade Baking (pies, cookies, squares, fudge, etc). There will be live greens (wreaths, centerpieces, cemetery baskets) for sale. 

A wonderful luncheon will be available where you can purchase sandwiches and soup. Also we will have outside vendors selling their wares up in the Fireplace Room. 

Harvest Market

Harvest Market

Sunday, November 20th

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park, near the Mayflower

Meet over 30 local farmers and food-makers as you gather Thanksgiving feast ingredients to celebrate the fall harvest. Prepare your Thanksgiving dinner using locally grown, fresh-from-the-farm fruits, vegetables, herbs, preserves, eggs, and grass-fed meats. Local food-makers will bring fresh cheese, homemade pasta, jams, sauces, honey, and a wide selection of baked goods: hearth, artisan, and home baked breads, buns, tarts, pies, and seasonal treats.

The Harvest Market will also include a full day of live music. Sit and enjoy the music and linger over warm soups, BBQ, muffins and more. 

So come in, gather your Thanksgiving vegetables and fruits, purchase lunch, and sit and enjoy the holiday festivities on the waterfront.

For more information in regards to participating as a vendor or to see what vendors will be participating that day, please visit the Plymouth Farmer’s Market.  

First Parish Meetinghouse; A Centerpiece to the Pilgrim Story

First Parish Meetinghouse; A Centerpiece to the Pilgrim Story 

By: Shelia Fey – Communications Coordinator – Plymouth 400th 

In 1744 a new meetinghouse was erected to replace the one built in 1683 which was old and in bad repair, having been struck by lightning. 

In 1794 the bell, now 62 years old, was replaced by a bell imported from England, and weighing 564 pounds. Mrs. Elizabeth Russell presented the bell as a gift to the Town of Plymouth, the place of her birth. This bell had a short life, having been broken in 1801, and a new one was purchased from Mr. Paul Revere of Boston. In a bill made out to the selectmen dated May 21, 1801, Revere charges $375.12 for a bell weighing 844 2/8 pounds. A vote of the Parish on April 10, 1831, authorized the demolition of the 1744 Meetinghouse as it was in substantial decay. (It was around this time that separation of church and state took place.) The new church, a wooden structure of Gothic type architecture, was dedicated on December 14, 1831 and cost $10,000 to build. 

The Paul Revere Bell was hung in the tower where it rang for 61 years until the fire of 1892. At the time of the fire, the 60 year old Meetinghouse was undergoing extensive interior renovations including re-lathing and plastering. On November 22, 1892, the heating furnaces were going at their maximum to dry out the plaster when a fire started in the basement, spread to the area around the chimney, and rapidly spread from there. The church was completely destroyed! First Parish Meetinghouse is indeed fortunate to be able to provide a home for this historic bell. More recently, the Town installed an automatic ringer, so the bell can be heard several times a day, as it was when it was rung by hand. The Town Bell(s) Jan Palmer-Tarbox The Town Bell is housed in the belfry tower of the First Parish Meetinghouse as it has been since the 1600’s. 

The current bell, also known as the Paul Revere Bell, was recast in 1896 following the 1892 fire which destroyed the 1831 Meetinghouse. The tower of the Meetinghouse fell to the ground, and the bell struck the ground and broke into fragments. It was decided to build a new Meetinghouse out of stone and in so doing, to create a memorial to the Pilgrim fathers and mothers. The bell fragments were collected and recast. On November 28, 1896 a crowd of some 500 people assembled in Town Square to hear the curfew rung on the new Revere Town Bell. 

The story of the Town Bell really began in 1679 when it was first referenced in the Town’s historical records. Town Meeting voted that a bell be installed in the turret of the 1648 Meetinghouse, set at the foot of Burial Hill. In 1683 a new Meetinghouse was constructed and the bell was moved again. Alas,this bell did not outlast its new home, and a new bell was procured in 1732. continued on next column With the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony approaching, Plymouth and its surrounding areas are already buzzing with excitement over this commemoration of national and international significance. 

The story of the 102 passengers of the Mayflower who left England in the hopes of finding a better life in the New World, the hardships they faced, and the interaction between the Wampanoag Tribe and the Pilgrims are moments that shaped America’s earliest beginnings and truly altered the course of world history. In an effort to tell the story in a comprehensive, historically accurate, and culturally inclusive manner, Plymouth 400, the organization leading the planning and execution of the 2020 Commemoration and its events and programs, has been working with historians and cultural entities to highlight the lesser-known pieces of the story of the founding of Plymouth Colony. 

One central theme of this moment in America’s narrative is religious freedom. The Pilgrims’ faith is what led them to the New World, and First Parish Meetinghouse in Plymouth’s Town Square stands today as an iconic tribute to the Pilgrims’ journey to find freedom from persecution for their beliefs. Although the current Meetinghouse wasn’t built until 1899, it is believed that a church has stood on this location for nearly 400 years, as the Pilgrims’ first meetinghouse was located at this location. In fact, First Parish’s records date back to the 1606 congregation which worshiped in secret in Scrooby, England. Several of those worshippers made their way to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620, including William Bradford. Over the last 400 years, five churches have stood on the grounds upon which First Parish Meetinghouse was erected. 

The current church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 due to its historical significance to the Pilgrim story and the founding of America. It remains today an attraction sought out by visitors and locals alike for its architecture, symbolism, and Pilgrim roots, and in 2020 its history will be honored through various events and programs. 

To learn more about Plymouth 400 and plans for 2020, visit www.plymouth400inc.org.

New England Food Festival

New England Food Festival features the best soups, chowders, desserts, party foods, entrees  and decor in the region.  

Enjoy live music, good company and Thanksgiving inspired design while you sample and vote for the best of the best!

Every year over 2,300 eager attendees line up at the famous Plymouth Rock to attend the New England Food Festival.  This festival is a one of a kind experience and one of hte highlights of the celebration weekend.  This good-natured competition embraces quintessential New England style cuisine in a heated tent on the historic Plymouth Waterfront.

Saturday, November 19th 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $12.00 Adults/ $7.00 Children

Children under 5 are free!

Great Island Artisans Guild “Holiday Arts”

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 26th to visit “Holiday Arts” arts and craft fair hosted by the Great Island Artisans Guild. The fair will be at the Great Island Overlook Clubhouse, 149 Great Island Road, Plymouth, from 10 am to 4 pm featuring the work of talented artisans from the Pinehills community and beyond. 

Our show includes original art, photography, American Girl sized canopy beds, cradles and doll bedding, handbags, totes, scarves, unique jewelry, crafted woodworking, decorative painting, personalized children’s items, soaps, hand made candy, wooden toys and dried flower arrangements. Ours is an indoor craft show so rain or shine it will be a wonderful event. 

Two FREE $25 gift certificates will be given away every hour from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm to be used at any booth the day of the show. 

Take Exit 3 off Route 3 to Beaver Dam Road and follow the signs to the show.

The Christmas House

Plymouth Community Theatre would like to remind you about our next production, the original holiday tale, The Christmas House. This heartwarming production will run for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, December 9-11 at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth.

Make Plymouth Community Theatre part of your holiday tradition as we reprise our popular holiday show for a Fifth year! Written & directed by Plymouth resident Marianne Withington, The Christmas House invites the audience to relive the many Christmas holiday stories and family celebrations experienced by The Christmas House since 1788. Listen as this old house remembers Christmases past and enjoy traditional holiday carols, as well as original music composed by Withington, sung by the cast and PCT Carolers.

Withington will also direct the production and has appeared in and directed a number of past Plymouth Community Theatre productions. After taking off a year PCT is thrilled to welcome her back.

The Christmas House will be performed December 9-11 at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth. Showtimes are Friday Dec 9th at 8pm, Saturday Dec 10th at 4pm and 8pm, and Sunday Dec 11th at 4pm.

Tickets are $20 for all shows and $18 for students and seniors. Seating is general admission; first-come, first-served.

Tickets are available in advance online at our website at www.plymouthcommunitytheatre.net
Tickets will also be available at the door, thirty minutes prior to the performances.

Remember what it feels like to be "home for the holidays" with Plymouth Community Theatre and The Christmas House.

Full information can be found on our website, www.plymouthcommunitytheatre.net

Fine Art, Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event

Fine Art, Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal Event

The Exchange

44 Main St., Plymouth, MA

November 12th

9 am - 1 pm

A dream team of nine of the very best appraisers in the country will be on hand to evaluate and appraise your objects of interest--including Stephen Fletcher of Antiques Roadshow fame and executive vice president of Skinner Inc.

An appraisal fee of $10 per item will be charged and will go directly to the Phil. Consignments will also be accepted; 20% of any monies earned by The Exchange as a result of this event will benefit the Phil.

Large items or collections may be dropped off in advance by calling The Exchange at 774-283-4697.

Visit theplymouthexchange.com for more information.

Tea with Terry

(Click the photo for more details)

Plymouth Education Foundation Valentine Gala

(Click the photo for more details)