Foodways: Colonial Thanksgiving at the Hearth

Gather at the hearth. Discover the history behind the feast.

A crackling fire, roasting chicken, and the season’s root vegetables set the scene for an afternoon exploring Thanksgiving food traditions in colonial New England.

Join Dennis Picard, a longtime historic interpreter specializing in traditional cooking, in the Whitman Tavern at Stanley-Whitman House on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at noon.

As Dennis prepares chicken, hasty pudding, and roasted root vegetables, discover how cooks used open flames, traditional tools, and available ingredients to bring a meal together. Watch the skill involved in tending the fire, managing heat, and timing the dishes without a modern stove or oven.

Through cooking demonstrations and historical storytelling, explore how the harvest, household labor, religious observances, and local customs shaped Thanksgiving gatherings in early New England. Bring your questions and curiosity for a close look at the work and resourcefulness behind the meal.

Whether you love cooking, history, or the stories behind holiday traditions, gather with us for an afternoon of warmth, discovery, and hearth cooking.

Saturday, November 14, 2026 | Begins at noon
Whitman Tavern, Stanley-Whitman House
37 High Street, Farmington, Connecticut

Reserve your place at the hearth.

About Foodways

What people ate depended on where they lived, what they could grow or obtain, and the customs they observed. Stanley-Whitman House’s Foodways programs explore these connections through historical cooking demonstrations and stories of everyday life in early New England.

About Stanley-Whitman House

Stanley-Whitman House is a National Historic Landmark museum and living history center in Farmington, Connecticut. Through research, interpretation, and participatory learning, the museum connects visitors with the lives and stories of early Farmington.