What You Should Know About the Opening Ceremony of the Plymouth 400 Commemoration

In 2020, it’ll be 400 years since the sailing of the Mayflower, which brought the Pilgrims from England and the Netherlands to the present-day United States. The Pilgrims would first land near Provincetown on Cape Cod before moving to Plymouth and forming a colony.

The Pilgrims relocating to the New World changed the course of history. Without this journey, there’s no telling how long it would take to establish the colonies or for the American Revolution to take place. As a result, this 400th anniversary will be a special time in Plymouth, a town that is home to some of the country’s most historic sites and a must-see for anyone who loves American history.

If you’re visiting Plymouth or Cape Cod sometime in 2020, look into some of the significant Plymouth 400 events that are occurring and plan your vacation around them. Never again will you have the chance to celebrate the 400th anniversary of one of the events that is most integral to the formation of this country.

When and Where the Celebration Takes Place

The Opening Ceremony of the Plymouth 400 Commemoration will take place on April 24. The indoor portion of the event is between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM at the Plymouth Memorial Hall. This venue, which first opened its doors in 1926, has a capacity of only 1,500 people, so you’ll want to get your tickets early to ensure that you don’t miss out.

The hall sits on Court Street, in the downtown area, and is a short walk from Plymouth Rock, Pilgrim Memorial State Park, and the Mayflower Society House.

For the outdoor festivities, head to Pilgrim Memorial State Park from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Since these events will take place in an outdoor park, there’s a lot more space in which to watch.

There’s no better place to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower than by attending an event in the very same neighborhood where the Pilgrims of Plymouth County lived.

What the Ceremony Will Include

The Opening Ceremony of Plymouth 400 is going to be huge, and it all begins with a grand procession through the streets of the town. The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp will lead the parade, which starts at the intersection of Sandwich Street and Lincoln Street, leading the rest of the group through the town.

Other groups participating in the procession will include active-duty military and veterans, in addition to descendants of the Pilgrims and members of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and the Honourable Artillery Company of London.

Other groups, including the Kenith Guards, the Golds Dragoons, the Salem Trayned Band, the New Plimoth Gard, and the Pisquatau Scouts, will participate, as well.

Following the parade, those with tickets can enter the Memorial Hall for the indoor event, which will feature live performances, guest speakers, and military demonstrations.

Those performing at the indoor event will include the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra and a student chorus. At the same time, Wampanoag leaders and various international dignitaries will give their thoughts on the significance of Plymouth 400.

If you’re unable to get tickets to the main indoor event, you can head to the Plymouth Waterfront near Plymouth Rock for live performances by the UMASS Minutemen Marching Band, the Lambert High School Marching Band, the Colum Cille Pipe Band, and the Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Members of the Massachusetts National Guard will also be on-hand, and there will be reenactments of some of the events that took place 400 years ago.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets for the indoor portion of this event will go on sale in the middle of March on the Plymouth 400 website. Follow the organization on social media for more information about on-sale times and dates.

The parade and event at the Plymouth Waterfront are completely free to attend, but you’ll want to make sure you get there early to get a good vantage point.

Other Events to Attend

Even if you’re unable to track down tickets to the indoor event, you can watch it live from other locations throughout the town. Plymouth Hotel 1620 will have a viewing party during the festivities, as will other businesses in Plymouth and, potentially, the rest of Massachusetts.

Those who miss out on attending the Opening Ceremony won’t be out of luck entirely because numerous events are coming to Plymouth throughout 2020. Once again, by following Plymouth 2020 on social media, you can ensure that you have early access to tickets.

This year is momentous for the town of Plymouth because it marks 400 years since the arrival of the Pilgrims. If you’re booking a vacation rental in Plymouth, be sure to take in some of these events because it’s the only time something like this will occur in our lifetime.