Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, VA

It’s almost Thanksgiving! We stuff ourselves with food and relish time with our family. It is such a fun holiday so let’s take a look at the place where it all got started.

Berkeley Plantation, in Charles City, VA was the sight of the very first Thanksgiving, way back in 1619. Located twenty miles upriver from Jamestown, the first permanent settlement in North America, Berkeley Plantation is over flowing with years of history.

How would you like to celebrate the first English speaking Thanksgiving in the New World? You can! On November 3, Berkeley Plantation will have a re-enactment of the first Thanksgiving at their beautiful 1726 Georgian mansion and grounds. Let your mind drift back in time and come relive Thanksgiving history! The Virginia Thanksgiving Festival will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, along with arts and crafts exhibits, tribal dancers and many other fun activities. The festival hours are 12:00-4:00. Bring the whole family and have a great day!

Berkeley Plantation’s history includes much more than the first Thanksgiving. It is the birthplace of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and William Henry Harrison, our 9th president. It is also the place where “Taps” was written during the Civil War, by General Daniel Butterfield, a Union soldier.  Let’s not overlook the history of the house either- built in 1726. Berkeley Plantation is also recognized as a Virginia and National Historic Landmark.

In addition to many historical events, the plantation offers several tours of the beautiful mansion, gardens and grounds. Many weddings and corporate outings are also held here. Join some of us from Extra Attic as we celebrate Thanksgiving at this magical, time resistant setting.