Thanksgiving Point’s Pilgrims Feast

This last weekend instead of doing a big Thanksgiving dinner my side of the family decided to try something a little different and got together for a big Pilgrims Feast at Thanksgiving Point. As we entered the big barn where our meal was to be served our feet crunched softly on dead leaves on the floor as we were led to our table furnished with other authentic decorations. We had fresh nuts (still in their shells) on our table which we used spoons to break open, berries of different kinds, mugs of apple cider, metal plates, bread and salad greens (but only oil and vinegar for dressings), animals in pens surrounding us while we eat, and we were only allowed a spoon and knife to eat with (no fork). It truly was as close as I’ve ever been to eating like a pilgrim.

They had little booths all over the barn as well where you could make dolls out of corn husks, taste goats milk (no thanks – been there done that in Mongolia and it was Yucky the first time around), play old pilgrims games, and look at old pilgrimage tools, pictures, and other memorabilia. It was really very well done.

They started out by putting on a sort of play where they had people dress up and re-enact the first dinner. They even began with a word of prayer (which I found VERY fitting and cool). Then later they had volunteer men from the audience come up and “shoot our dinner” with muskets (not loaded of course) and then served us turkey, pork, creamed corn, and some pumpkin mush. It was all very good and most of it was served with ladles dipped in buckets.

Then at different points in the evening they also had things for people to do like a tug of war with a long rope and some pilgrim dancing (which of course almost all of the Harrison Family participated in). It was really fun. For dessert they fed us berry pie with a thick sort of muffin crust on top. It truly was a fun night and interesting to be a pilgrim for a night and eat some of the foods they had. Thanks so much Mom for putting it all together! Below are some pictures from the evening.

Playing in the leaves and on the hay stacks

Pumpkins pumpkins everywhere!

The stage where the first Thanksgiving dinner was acted out

Kollin, Ray, and Luke

My Pappy Pants! (check out the nuts, berries, and leaves for decorations)

Taking turns in the stocks!

Cute cousins!

Afterwards we went up to my Mom and Dads in Alpine and had fun catching up and playing “In the Manner of the Adverb” with my family (a game I learned on my mission). Some of our favorite moments of the game were seeing Adam act out hunting in the manner of the adverb “manly,” Seeing Luke, Adam, and Jake act out belly dancing “stupidly” and seeing Jake kiss his wife “gradually!”

We ended the night with Cake and Ice cream to celebrate Kaden’s birthday and pie all around! Sure was a fun night and I sure do love that family of mine!