Cranberry Thanksgiving Returns October 3rd with Indigenous Foodways, Stories, and Seasonal Knowledge

Free public event in Charlestown features cranberry cooking demonstrations, Indigenous artists, stories, and teachings from the Southern Dawnland.

CHARLESTOWN, R.I. — As we enjoy the cranberry harvest season, Tomaquag Museum invites the public to Cranberry Thanksgiving on Saturday, October 3, from Noon to 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Parish in Charlestown, Rhode Island, a celebration of Indigenous foodways, seasonal knowledge, and cultural expression.

Known as sassiminneash in Narragansett, the cranberry has a long history of Indigenous use in Southern New England as a food, medicine, and remains an important source of ecological and cultural knowledge. For the Narragansett and other Indigenous peoples of the Southern Dawnland, seasonal cycles provide an important framework for understanding relationships with Mother Earth. Cranberry Thanksgiving follows the Cranberry Moon, a time to give thanks for the harvest continuing a tradition carried forward through the generations for thousands of years.

“Cranberry Thanksgiving is one of my favorite celebrations. It gives thanks for the sassimineash. We harvest this gift of the land each year near the fresh and salt waters. They usher in the change of seasons and teach us lessons of hard work, care for your community, and healthy living.” said Loren Spears, Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum. “We invite all ages to join us to learn about the special qualities of the cranberry and our relationship to this last berry of the summer season.”

This year, [LS3] the sassiminneash takes center stage in cooking demonstrations featuring Narragansett chef Charles Hankinson, a Johnson & Wales graduate. An Indigenous Artist Market will offer visitors the opportunity to meet artists, see demonstrations, and explore contemporary expressions of Indigenous culture. Experience the cranberry through your senses[LS5]  with food vendors by Indigenous chefs Willy Johnson of Fry Bread and Pearl Brown from Of the Earth.

The free public event will be held Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Parish in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Presented by Rhode Island’s only Indigenous-led museum, it offers an opportunity to experience the importance of the cranberry harvest through archival memories, traditional ecological knowledge, storytelling, social dances, food and art vendors, children’s activities and more. For more information, visit www.tomaquagmuseum.org/events.