Thanksgiving is the official kick-off to the holiday season on Cape Cod. Booking a vacation rental and spending a week or two on the Cape in the fall ensures you can experience much of what the area offers while avoiding the summertime crowds. It also means you can check out some annual Thanksgiving events.
As one of the first places in North America inhabited by European settlers, Cape Cod has a rich history and a special connection to Thanksgiving.
In fact, the first Thanksgiving took place in nearby Plymouth in 1621, when the Pilgrims gathered with members of the Wampanoag tribe for an autumn harvest celebration.
Here’s a look at some events that will keep you busy when visiting the Cape for Thanksgiving 2022.
Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner in 2022
Of course, you’ll have to find a Thanksgiving meal somewhere if you’re spending the holiday on Cape Cod, and fortunately, plenty of places have you covered.
Chillingsworth Fine Dining in Brewster has a multi-course meal with three seating times: 1:00, 2:30, and 5:00. You can choose one starter, a soup or salad, an entree, and a dessert, with dinner options including turkey, salmon, elk, duck, beef tenderloin, and vegan ravioli. The cost depends on your selections, and take-out is available if you’d rather enjoy your meal at your vacation rental.
Another option for dinner is the Chatham Bars Inn, which will host its annual grand buffet Thanksgiving dinner on November 25. This year’s dinner has nine seatings between 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM, and the cost is $180 per adult and $70 per child 12 and under. The buffet features lobster, oysters, caviar, sushi, crab cakes, risotto, and vegetables. There’s also a carving station with turkey, stuffing, prime rib, and halibut, and a dessert buffet.
In Orleans, The Barley Neck is hosting a simpler Thanksgiving dinner featuring clam chowder, turkey, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. You can also opt for salmon or prime rib for your entree. The dinner runs from 11:30 AM until 5:30 PM and costs $55 for adults, $23.95 for kids between eight and 12, and $13.95 for children under eight.
The Pelham House in Dennis has a couple of different options for you, depending on your preferences. First, you can enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal at the restaurant featuring lobster, sushi, crab cakes, salads, turkey, roast beef, short ribs, mussels, and all the fixings. The meal is $130 for adults and $65 for children between five and 12 and runs from 11:30 AM until 5:30 PM.
You can also reserve a Thanksgiving dinner to-go from the Pelham House for $325. The meal includes turkey and all the fixings and feeds between six and eight people, but you’ll have to arrange a pickup time on November 23.
Belfry Inn & Bistro in Sandwich has a prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner that costs $65 for adults and $25 for kids. The meal includes your choice of starter, entree, and dessert, with meal options including turkey, salmon, short ribs, and ravioli. Reservations are available between noon and 5:00 PM.
If you’d rather eat at your vacation rental than head to a restaurant, The Casual Gourmet in Centerville has an option for you. This catering company is preparing full Thanksgiving dinners, including a turkey, your choice of sides, and dessert. You can pick your order up on the 23rd or 24th, and hot turkeys are available for an additional $15 surcharge. Individual turkey dinners are offered, too, if you have a small group and don’t need an entire turkey.
You can find a Cape Cod Thanksgiving dinner in multiple places in 2022, so make your reservations at your desired location as soon as possible.
Chatham Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving is about more than food, and there are other events to attend on Cape Cod during the holiday weekend, too. The Chatham Turkey Trot is a 5k run through the streets of Chatham, Massachusetts, that has become a local favorite and will return to in-person event status in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
The Chatham Turkey Trot starts at 8:00 AM on Thanksgiving Day and is the perfect way to get out and enjoy the community before your big meal. It’s a family-friendly event; you can take as long as you wish to complete the race, as it’s more about camaraderie than winning.
It costs $40 to run in the event, with proceeds going to charities in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet. However, you’ll receive a $10 discount if you register before November 9.
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade
We mentioned how the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, MA, over 400 years ago, so it might make sense to head north and check out everything the community has to experience. Plymouth’s celebration takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving, between November 18 and 20 in 2022, so you won’t have to miss your big dinner if you decide to visit.
The weekend’s big event is the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, which starts at 10:00 AM at Plymouth Rock and winds through the city’s historic streets. The parade is then followed by the Hometown Family Festival on the Waterfront, featuring live performances, food trucks, beer gardens, and a children’s area.
Heading to Plymouth for a few hours makes sense if you’re spending the entire week before Thanksgiving on Cape Cod.
Your Thanksgiving on the Cape
Vacationing on Cape Cod in the fall is a beautiful experience, as the leaves change color and the crowds slow down until the following spring. You’ll find it far easier to check out everything the Cape offers during this time, and the Thanksgiving events provide another layer of activities for you and your family.
Book your vacation rental early to ensure you don’t miss out on Thanksgiving 2022 on Cape Cod.
