Provincetown 400: Events Planned for the Pilgrim’s Landing Anniversary

Nov 11, 2020, is an important date in Provincetown as it marks the 400^th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower on Cape Cod’s shores on Nov 11, 1620, and the signing of the Mayflower Compact. Provincetown expects about half a million people to visit to take part in the festivities surrounding Provincetown 400 throughout 2020. Clearly, this is a big deal.

Why is the commemoration of the Mayflower’s arrival attracting so much attention? The events of Nov 11, 1620, were critical in shaping the foundations of

American democracy. It is a fascinating story. The pilgrims and settlers aboard the ship had left England for northern Virginia having signed a contract with the Virginia Company to settle there. The Virginia Company was a trading company charged with colonizing sections of the eastern coast by King James I of England.

The voyage from England to Virginia, however, did not go as planned. Because of storms, the ship was forced to dock in Massachusetts.  Because they were running short of provisions, the passengers decided to exercise their liberty to discard their agreement with the Virginia Company and settle on Cape Cod instead of proceeding with the journey to northern Virginia. They would establish a government to govern themselves but under the allegiance and submission to the Crown.

The Signing of the Mayflower Compact

The settlers recognized that they had to come up with a set of laws to ensure that order prevailed in the new territory.  This recognition led to the Mayflower Compact. On the day the settlers docked on the shores of Massachusetts, 41 male adults aboard the ship signed the freshly constituted laws which would later be known as the Mayflower Compact. With laws to guide their settlement in place, the settlers elected John Carver as the governor of the new Plymouth Colony on the same date. John Carver was the official leader of the sea voyage and had played a role in funding the journey.

The above sequence of events means that Nov 11, 1620, marked the signing of the first document in the New World that ensured the first instance of self-governance. It was the first experiment in democracy and it would buttress the push for independence from British rule later on in the New World and lead to the formation of the United States of America.

Commemorative Events Planned for 2020

This year, Provincetown is celebrating this important milestone in history under the ‘Provincetown 400’ banner. This exercise is being overseen by the Provincetown Museum and the Pilgrim Monument. The task force made up of representatives from the two organizations has met several times to plan the commemorations. If you are coming to Provincetown in 2020, be assured of a smooth and seamless year of celebrations. The events calendar is as follows:

June 26^th: Opening Ceremony Plymouth, MA

Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St, Plymouth, MA 02360

The official opening ceremony of Provincetown 400 commemorations is slated for April 24, 2020, at Memorial Hall, Plymouth MA. The event is scheduled to last for two hours from 6 pm to 8 pm. There will be historical showcases, musical performances, choreographed movements, visual narrations, and various other productions. There will be other unofficial events including outdoor performances at the Pilgrim Memorial Park from 1 pm into the evening.

During the event, the attendants will get to see the Plymouth 400 Legacy Time Capsule for the first time. Invited special guests will place the first items in the capsule in honor of the past and to celebrate the future. Among the guests will be local and federal officials and representatives of the United Kingdom.

Sept 12^th: Provincetown 400 Gala

Pilgrim Monument Provincetown Museum, 1 High Pole Hill Road Provincetown, MA 02657

The Pilgrim Monument Provincetown Museum will be hosting a formal gala on September 12, 2020, to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower. The event starts at 5.30 pm and will run till 9.30 pm. 

Sept 7^th – 14^th: The Arrival of Mayflower II

MacMillan Pier, Lopes Square, Provincetown, MA 02657

There is a replica of the Mayflower ship that brought the pilgrims to the New World. Aptly dubbed Mayflower II, the ship was built in 1955 and 1956 with the help of experienced English shipbuilders who used traditional methods to put the vessel together. The vessel was a gift to Americans from the English honoring the alliance the two territories had during World War II.

Mayflower II is expected to be in Provincetown from September 7^th to 14^th as part of the Provincetown 400 commemorations.  These are tentative dates that may change depending on factors that may affect the safe voyage of the vessel to Provincetown on September 7^th. The arrival of the Mayflower II in Provincetown in September will accord people present an opportunity to learn about one of the central themes of the pilgrims’ story – the Mayflower and the Mayflower Compact.

Mayflower II will be open for visitation during its stay in Provincetown. This will definitely be one of the highlights of the Provincetown 400 commemorations and you should definitely consider being on Cape Cod at this time to relive this part of American history.  Actually, there will be a re-enactment of the pilgrims’ signing of the Mayflower Compact when they docked in Provincetown on November 11, 1620.

Sept 13^th: Re-Enactment of the Signing of the Mayflower Compact and VIP Party

MacMillan Pier, Lopes Square, Provincetown, MA 02657

On September 13, 2020, there will be a re-enactment of the Mayflower Compact signing aboard the replica ship on MacMillan Pier. The event will also include the dropping of a wreath into Provincetown Harbor for commemorative purposes. This is a ticketed event that is also meant to raise funds. VIP admission costs $50 per ticket per adult.

Sept 13^th: General Society of Mayflower Descendants Come to Provincetown

When Mayflower arrived in Provincetown in 1620, it was carrying a group of 102 men, women, and children. There are thousands of descendants of this group all across the United States. In 1897, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants was formed to honor the legacy of this group.

Currently, the society has identified more than 150,000 descendants of the 102 Mayflower pilgrims all over the world. The membership of the society stands at more than 30,000 registered members. On September 13^th, the society will host a triennial Congress with events spread over Boston, Plymouth, and Provincetown. Some of the ceremonies where you can interact with the descendants of the Mayflower in Provincetown will be at the wreath-laying at the Harbor and a luncheon at the Pilgrim Monument.

September 14^th: Mayflower II – Bon Voyage

MacMillan Pier, Lopes Square, Provincetown, MA 02657

Come to the MacMillan Pier on September 14, 2020, and join other commemorators in toasting champagne and saying bon voyage to the Mayflower II as it sails to Plymouth, MA. The departure of the vessel has been tentatively set to September 14, 2020, but the date may change subject to sailing conditions. The ship leaves early in the morning.

Other Related Events in Massachusetts in 2020

Outside of Provincetown, there are other related events in 2020 in Massachusetts that you may want to attend. On April 17, 2020, the New England Historic Genealogical Society and the American Ancestors will host an opening ceremony at the American Ancestors headquarters for their series of 2020 commemorations. The society will also organize a tour in June that will take select participants to the Netherlands and England. Further, the society will lead 3-day tours in September to the historic sites in Massachusetts that are associated with the pilgrims.

Between June 27^th and June 28^th, various vessels from Plymouth Harbor will retrace the original path taken by the Mayflower in the historic vessel’s honor. You should consider going to Plymouth Harbor on these dates to take part in the activities and enjoy seaside lobster dinners. Also in Plymouth, the Wampanoag tribes will lead a walk celebrating the Wampanoag Nation’s original 69 villages. This will be on August 1 and the walk will conclude with a reception and drum ceremony.