Hundreds of people from Massachusetts and beyond took a pilgrimage to Plymouth on Saturday, Nov. 17, to celebrate America's original Pilgrims. The Thanksgiving celebration included a parade that was a walk through the country's history, with people dressed up representing each time period and war from the 1600s to the present.

People line Court Street, where the parade began. Many were dressed up in Pilgrim-era inspired outfits.

There were many fife and drum corps, drum and bugle corps and military bands playing patriotic tunes. Here, members of the Hanover Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps walk by.

A very tall Uncle Sam walks around greeting parade watchers.

A replica of the Mayflower passes as children watch for the next group of historical re-enactors or the next marching band.

A float celebrating the original Thanksgiving feast, in 1621, passes.

Derek Darulla, Cameron Darulla and Andreya Knight of Plymouth pose for a picture during the parade.

While the parade winded down Court Street and then along the waterfront, historical re-enactors camped out in Brewster Gardens. Here, members of the New England Brigade make lunch. "It's wonderful," one of the re-enactors, Doug Ozelius, said. "Where else would you want to be on Thanksgiving?"

Members of an Army band pass through downtown Plymouth.

Tammy Costello, Zander Zahara, Bella Zahara and Ava Zahara huddle together to keep warm as they watch the parade.

Some parade watchers found creative ways to get a good view.

A group of pirates "argh" at the crowd during a pause in the parade.

The New England Food Festival was part of the Plymouth Thanksgiving celebration. Here, Michelle Scurio of Cake Monstah sets up mini cupcakes for sampling. She said it was the Brockton cake shop's first time at the Plymouth festival.

Vendors sold handmade creations in a crafters' tent set up in Pilgrim Memorial Park. Here, Joshua Young stands with goods from The Gecko's Echo, a woodcarving shop in Connecticut. Young said Gecko's Echo comes to the Thanksgiving festival in Plymouth every year.

Plymouth's parade is one of the biggest of its kind in the nation, and the only major Thanksgiving parade that takes place before the holiday.

Plymouth's organizers say their event is America's only historically accurate chronological parade.

Matthew Speidel, Anthony Carpenito, Joshua Harbinson and Billy Davis are members of a World War II re-enactment group. They were camped out in Brewster Gardens during the parade.

One of the parade participants and her horse take a detour to say hello to spectators.

The annual parade ended along Plymouth's waterfront, with hundreds of people clapping and cheering. The Plymouth Thanksgiving celebratory weekend continues Sunday, Nov. 18, with a farmers' market, the crafters' tent, the re-enactors in Brewster Gargens, and more. For more information, go to www.usathanksgiving.com.