Do you know the real story leading up to the first Thanksgiving?
According to History.com, most of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower in 1620 lived on the ship after arriving in Plymouth. Only about half survived a brutal winter. When they moved ashore, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe of Native Americans, taught the Pilgrims how to fish, grow corn, avoid poisonous plants, and extract sap from trees.
After the first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bradford invited a group of Native Americans to a celebratory feast in November of 1621. This is believed to be the first Thanksgiving. New York became the first state to recognize Thanksgiving as a holiday in 1817 and President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
Today, we continue the 400-year-old tradition of gathering with family and friends in the spirit of gratitude for what we have, and the generosity to share what we have with others.
Modern-Day Thanksgiving
While you probably picture family gathered around a large table immersed in the aroma and flavors of turkey, stuffing, and fresh-baked pies, about half of Americans are expected to rely on local restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner.
According to a 2023 survey from Popmenu, 32 percent of respondents planned to order takeout or delivery for Thanksgiving dinner, while 17 percent planned to dine in person at a restaurant. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) said it’s just easier that way, 35 percent don’t feel like cooking, and 35 percent said they prefer professionally cooked food.
A separate study from Technomic in 2023 found that 22 percent of respondents planned to cook the turkey but rely on restaurants for trimmings like mashed potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables.
As a result of this trend, more restaurants are taking reservations for Thanksgiving. For example, The Perch at The Peacock Inn on Bayard Lane in Princeton, Princeton’s only luxury boutique hotel, will be open with a special holiday menu.
If you’re thinking of letting the pros handle all or a portion of your Thanksgiving dinner, we encourage you to check in with your favorite restaurants in the Princeton-Mercer region to find out about their Turkey Day offerings!
Giving Back to Make a Difference
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is typically the unofficial kickoff to the critical end-of-year fundraising campaigns for local nonprofits that do so much for worthy causes in our communities.
We encourage you to find nonprofits in the Princeton-Mercer region with missions that align with your values and passions. Support their efforts at this crucial time of year for fundraising and seek out volunteering opportunities!
To support local organizations that fight food insecurity at a time when demand for food-related services have never been higher, check out these Turkey Trot events on Thanksgiving morning:
- Mercer County Turkey Trot. This 5K race and 1-mile walk at Mercer County Park in West Windsor raises money for local food banks and pantries.
- Hopewell Valley Turkey Trot. Mercer Meadows at Rosedale Park in Pennington offers a beautiful backdrop for this annual event that supports the Hopewell Valley Mobile Pantry.
Thanksgiving Season Events
Thanksgiving week is also a time for fun family events in the region, including but not limited to:
- Nitro Circus. See world-class athletes, daredevils, and performers during the Nitro Circus at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton on November 24!
- Princeton Revolutionary Pub Crawl. Visit historical sites in Princeton and enjoy local libations before the tree lighting on November 29 from 3 pm – 5:30 pm!
- Palmer Square Tree Lighting. Kick off the holiday season on Friday, November 29 at 5 pm at Palmer Square in downtown Princeton!
To learn more about local restaurants, nonprofits, and events during this season of thanks and giving, check out the Visit Princeton-Mercer Convention & Visitors Bureau website
