King Richard’s Faire, a vivid recreation of a 16th century English marketplace at festival time, will be held Saturdays and Sundays, from Aug. 30 through Oct. 19, including Labor Day and Columbus Day Mondays. Actors, dancers, puppeteers, jugglers, minstrels, mimes, magicians and musicians perform each weekend, while artisans hawk and display a wide array of unique hand-made wares. The Royal Chefs prepare delectable edibles authentic to Renaissance times. Exotic animals, jousting knights on horseback, challenging games and Renaissance merriment round out a day in the 80-acre wooded village. The gates open at 10:30 a.m. and the Faire closes at 6 p.m. For more information and ticket prices, visit kingrichardsfaire.net or call 508-866-5391. To get there from Plymouth, take Route 44 West to Route 58 South and then follow the signs.
Local tip: Cash only is accepted for admission at the gate but ATMs are available.
The 5th Annual Harvest Celebration will be held Columbus Day weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 158 Tihonet Road in Wareham. Co-hosted by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association and A.D. Makepeace Co., the world’s largest cranberry grower, the celebration features harvest tours of some of the world’s largest cranberry bogs. Admission to the festival is $2, and children under 6 are admitted free; free parking will be available at Tihonet Village. The event also includes wagon and pony rides, games and crafts for children, juried crafters and artisans, musical performances, cooking demonstrations, helicopter rides and more. Some fees apply. For directions, visit www.cranberries.org/festival/festival.html.
Local tip: If you’ve never seen a bog harvested, don’t miss this event.
Edaville USA presents its own cranberry festival Saturday through Monday, Oct. 11-13. Featuring arts, crafts, entertainment, food, bog tours and more, the festival will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., with fireworks scheduled at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visit www.edaville.com for admission prices and additional information.
The Second Annual Pumpkin Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. at the 1820 Courthouse Green in downtown Plymouth.
Held at Plimoth Plantation, the Harvest Dinner, a sought-after themed dining experience, will be held Oct. 7 and 20, and Nov. 3, 10, 17, 18, 21, 23 and 24 at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 800-262-9356, ext. 8353, 8364 or 8365. For more information, visit Plimoth Plantation’s Web site, www.plimoth.org.
Local tip: Reservations sell out fast.
Four different dining options are available at Plimoth Plantation on Thanksgiving Day — courtyard dining, an all-day celebration, a buffet and a Victorian Thanksgiving celebration. Prices vary and so does the need for reservations. Check the Plantation’s Web site, www.plimoth.org, for details.
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration
The two-day celebration begins Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. with a free patriotic concert at Memorial Hall featuring Tops in Blue. The Thanksgiving Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. in Plymouth center Saturday, Nov. 22. The New England Food Festival will be held on the Plymouth Waterfront Saturday in a heated tent. The admission fee is $10; kids 5 and under eat free. The National Senior Drum & Bugle Corps Reunion Concert will be held Saturday evening at 6:30 at Memorial Hall. Tickets are $27 per person. Visit www.usathanksgiving.com/2007/index.html for additional information or call 508-746-1622 for tickets.
Edaville USA presents its Christmas Festival of Lights Nov. 14-16, 21-24 and 28-30, Dec. 1-31 (closed Christmas Day) and Jan. 1-4, 2009. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 2 to 9 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled every Friday night at 8:30 in December. Edaville USA is located on Pine Street, off Route 58 in South Carver. The first train leaves one hour after opening and the last train leaves one hour before closing. Visit www.edaville.com for admission prices and additional information.
Local tip: Magical memories are made riding the narrow-gauge railroad through acres of cranberry bogs decorated with millions of lights.
Local tip: This is a truly memorable celebration for a wonderful cause.
Enjoy shopping downtown from Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, when shops will display unique holiday wreaths that match their style.
