America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade facts for kids
The America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade is a special parade that happens every year in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It started in 1996 and usually takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving. The parade gets its name because Plymouth is where the Pilgrims landed. They were involved in the very first Thanksgiving celebration back in the early 1620s!
Unlike most Thanksgiving parades that have giant balloons of popular characters, the America's Hometown parade has a very specific theme. Everything in the parade is based on the history of the United States and is shown in the order it happened, from oldest to newest.
Contents
What Makes This Parade Special?
This parade is unique because it tells the story of American history. It's like a living history book! The parade is divided into five main parts, with each part showing a different century.
A Look at History in the Parade
- The 17th Century: This part shows the colonial period, when the first European settlers arrived.
- The 18th Century: Here you'll see the Revolutionary period, when America fought for its independence.
- The 19th Century: This section covers the Civil War and the pioneer days, when people explored and settled new lands.
- The 20th and 21st Centuries: This part features military displays and cool cars from more recent times.
- The Closing Division: The parade ends with the traditional Santa Claus float, bringing a festive touch!
More Fun at the Celebration
The parade is just one part of a bigger event called the America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration. This celebration includes lots of other fun activities for everyone to enjoy.
What Else Happens?
- Turkey Trot: This is a fun running race that many people participate in.
- Concerts: You can enjoy live music performances.
- Street Fair: There's a lively street fair with vendors and activities.
A Special Year: 2020
In 2020, the parade couldn't happen completely because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The people who organize the parade thought this was a strange coincidence. It was exactly 400 years after the winter of 1620-1621, when the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony faced a lot of sickness and hard times.
