On Saturday, June 20, Plimoth Patuxet Museums welcomed guests to the Historic Patuxet Homesite to celebrate Strawberry Thanksgiving. For Indigenous communities throughout the Northeast, the ripening of strawberries has long marked the approach of the summer solstice and a season of gathering with family and community.

For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have observed ceremonial cycles connected to the natural world, including the spring and fall equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices. Strawberry Thanksgiving remains part of these longstanding traditions, offering a time to gather in community, give thanks, and honor the resilience, continuity, and living identity of Native people.

Wuttáhimneash, the Wampanoag word for “strawberry”, is recognized as the first berry of the season.

Throughout the day, Museum Educators shared the history and traditions behind Strawberry Thanksgiving through engaging demonstrations, conversations, and hands-on activities. Visitors explored Indigenous foodways during the "Foodways of the First People" cooking demonstration, where traditional ingredients, seasonal harvesting practices, and historical lifeways were highlighted.

The Historic Patuxet Homesite came alive with traditional music, storytelling, artistic demonstrations, and interactive experiences including archery and corn husk doll making. Guests also witnessed the burning of a mishoon—a traditional dugout canoe—offering a powerful opportunity to learn about Wampanoag craftsmanship and cultural practices.

Beyond the activities themselves, the celebration fostered meaningful conversations about the importance of seasonal cycles in Wampanoag culture and the enduring traditions that have shaped this region for generations.

Together, these experiences invited guests to reflect on the continued importance of Strawberry Thanksgiving and the way Wampanoag traditions have carried forward today.

Event Gallery